Odyssey - Book 22

What does Od. do at the start of the book? (2)

1 Throws off his rags 2 Prays to Apollo

What is Antinous about to do as he is shot?

Drink from a cup of wine

Where is Antinous shot?

Through the neck

What does Antinous do when he is shot? (2)

1 Blood gushes from his nostrils 2 He lies amid the bread and meat on the floor

What do the Suitors think?

This is an accident

What charges does Od bring against the Suitors? (4)

1 They fleeced his house 2 raped his maids 3 courted his wife 4 did not fear the gods

Who replies to Od.'s charges?

Eurymachus

What does Eury say to Od? (3)

1 He accepts the charges 2 but blames Antinous 3 he promises they will pay Od back

How does Od. reply to Eurymachus?

Nothing will stop him paying back the Suitors for their wrongdoing

What does Eurymachus do when he sees Od.'s anger? (2)

1 Encourages the Suitors to stand and fight 2 and attack together

What happens to Eurymachus? (3)

1 He is shot through the breast 2 by the nipple 3 piercing the liver

What does Eurrymachus do as he dies?

Drops his food and wine-cup

How does Tel. deal with Amphinomus? (2)

1 Hits him in the back 2 with his spear

What error does Tel. make?

He leaves his spear in the corpse

Why does Tel. not pull out the spear?

He fears an attack by the Suitors

What does Tel offer to do for the four men? (2)

1 Collect weapons 2 from the storeroom

Why does Od. need weapons?

His arrows will soon run out

What plan does Agelaus, the new leader, suggest? (2)

1 To use a passage to the courtyard 2 to raise the alarm

Why is this plan no good, according to Melanthius?

The passage is easily guarded

What does Melanthius suggest instead?

That he fetches weapons from the store room

How many sets of armour does Melanthius fetch?

Twelve

Why is Melanthius able to enter the store room?

Tel. forgot to shut the door

What is Od.'s response when he sees the Suitors armed? (2)

1 His knees quake 2 His heart fails

Who spots Melanthius going back again to the store room?

Eumaeus, pig man

What does Od. order they do to Mel.? (4)

1 Bind his hands 2 tie him to a plank 3 leave him hanging from a rope 4 torture him

Who arrives to help Od.?

Athene

Who does Athene look like? (2)

1 Mentor 2 a great friend of Odysseus

Who does Od. think Mentor is?

Athene

What does Agelaus threaten to do? (2)

1 Kill Mentor if he helps Od 2 take away his family lands

How does Athene help Od.? (2)

1 She rebukes him 2 She reminds him of his bravery at Troy

What does Athene then do? (2)

1 Turn herself into an swallow 2 sat on a roof beam

What does Agelaus now plan? (2)

1 For the six best warriors 2 to throw their spears at once

What happens to the first throw of six spears?

Athene deflects the spears

What happens when Od's men throw?

Four men are killed

What happens when the next six spears are thrown by Agelaus? (3)

1 Athene deflects them 2 one grazes Tel's wrist 3 one hits Eumaeus' shoulder

When happens when Od's men throw again?

Four men are killed

Who does Eumaeus kill? (2)

1 Ctesippus 2 the man who threw a cow's hoof at Od.

Who kills Agelaus?

Odysseus

How does Athene finish the fight?

She raises her aegis ( a breastplate with the gorgon's face)

How are the Suitors scattered? (2)

1 Like a herd of cattle 2 attacked by a gadfly

How are Od. and his men described?

Like vultures killing their prey

How does Leodes beg for mercy?

1 Clasps Od.'s knees

What arguments does Leodes use? (4)

1 Calls himself a suppliant 2 says he never wronged the women 3 tried to stop the Suitors 4 says he is a priest

How does Od. respond to Leodes? (2)

Claims Leodes must have prayed 1 for Od. not to return 2 for Leodes to win Penelope

What is Od.'s response to Leodes' plea for mercy?

He lops his head off

Who is Phemius?

The bard (singer of songs)

What does Phemius decide to do?

Clasp Od.'s knees

What grounds does Phemius have for mercy? (2)

1 He is a great bard 2 He was forced to sing for the Suitors

Who confirms Phemius' story?

Telemachus

Who is Medon?

The herald

Where is he hiding? (2)

1 Wrapped in the hide of an ox 2 Under a chair

What does Medon do to secure his safety?

Clasps Tel.'s knees

What does Od. want Medon to tell others?

'Doing right in a much better policy than doing wrong.'

To what are the Suitors now compared? (3)

1 Fish on a beach 2 Longing for the water 3 until they are killed by the sun

What does Od. look like when Eurycleia enters the hall? (3)

1 Like a lion 2 fresh from killing a bullock 3 spattered with blood

What is Eurycleia's response to the scene?

She cries out in triumph

What does Od. tell Eurycleia to be quiet?

'These men fell victims to the will of the gods and their own infamy' (= ill fame)

How many maids does Eurycleia reveal as being disloyal?

12 out of 50

What orders does Od. now give? (3)

1 Remove the bodies 2 clean the furniture 3 put the disloyal maids to the sword

What does Tel. do with the two servants?

Scrape the floor clean

What does Tel. do with the maids?

Hangs them

How are the hanged maids described? (2)

1 Their feet twitch 2 like birds in a snare

What happens to Melanthius? (3)

1 nose and ears cut off 2 genitals ripped away 3 hands and feet lopped off

How is the house purified?

With sulphur

What does Od also order?

A fire to be lit

What does Od. feel when the other maids welcome him?

A sweet longing came on him to weep and sob