The Odyssey: Books 17-24 Vocabulary and Comprehension Study Guide

Vocabulary terms and key literary concepts from Books 17 through 24 of Homer's Odyssey.

brood

Thinking moodily or anxiously about something.

craven

Cowardly.

scrounge

Obtain or seek to obtain by begging, pleading, or flattering.

gentry

People having high social status or power in a society.

qualm

Uneasiness about the fairness of an action.

wry

Humorously sarcastic or mocking.

scathing

Marked by harshly abusive criticism.

heed

Careful attention.

debauch

Corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality.

rogue

A person who acts in defiance of authority or rules.

affront

Treat, mention, or speak to rudely.

glib

Artfully persuasive in speech.

leer

Look suggestively or obliquely.

denounce

Accuse or condemn publicly as disgraceful.

dissent

To have a different opinion.

hackles

A feeling of anger and animosity.

riffraff

Common or disreputable people.

strapping

Muscular and heavily built.

pique

A sudden outburst of anger.

incite

Urge on; cause to act.

wily

Skilled in deception.

rousing

Caused to act or feel strong emotion.

pelt

Throw repeatedly.

blowhard

Boastful or talkative person.

heady

Recklessly or defiantly daring.

skulk

Move stealthily.

convulsive

Involuntary jerking.

fumigate

Disinfect with smoke.

purge

Rid of impurities.

lunacy

Foolish or senseless behavior.

unhinged

Affected with madness or insanity.

spurn

Rejected with contempt.

callous

Emotionally hardened.

allude

Make an indirect reference to.

scud

Run or move quickly or hastily.

loathing

Hate coupled with disgust.

unseemly

Not keeping with accepted standards of what is proper.

folly

Foolish or senseless behavior.

Argos

Odysseus's loyal dog who recognizes his voice after twenty years but dies right after seeing him.

Theoclymenus

A prophet who tells Penelope that Odysseus has returned to Ithaca, and who later interprets dinner walls covered in blood as a sign of inescapable doom.

Melanthius

A goatherd who abuses and kicks the disguised Odysseus, later raids the armory to give weapons to the suitors, and is the last person killed.

Antinous

The arrogant suitor who refuses to share food with the disguised Odysseus, insults him, and throws a heavy wooden stool at him.

Amphinomus

A suitor whom Odysseus feeds and warns to return to his own land before the impending slaughter.

Melantho

A palace maid who insults the disguised Odysseus for being poor.

Eurycleia

Odysseus's nurse who recognizes his identity from his hunting scar while washing his feet and weeps tears of joy after the suitors' defeat.

Penelope's Geese Dream

A dream where an eagle slaughters twenty geese and perches on Penelope, interpreted by Odysseus as a omen that her husband has returned to kill the suitors.

Contest of the Bow

A competition announced by Penelope stating she will marry whichever suitor can string Odysseus's bow and shoot an arrow through twelve axe handles.

Eurymachus

A suitor who attempts to offer restitution to spare their lives after Odysseus reveals himself, but is shot through the liver with an arrow.

Phemius and Medon

The palace bard and herald whom Odysseus chooses to spare from the slaughter because they remained loyal.

Prophecy of Tiresias

A mandate instructing Odysseus to journey inland with an oar until mistaken for a winnowing fan, plant it in the earth, and offer sacrifices to Poseidon to appease his anger.

Laertes

Odysseus's father whom Odysseus reunites with on his farm and convinces of his identity using his scar and knowledge of childhood fruit trees.

Restoration of Peace in Ithaca

The resolution orchestrated by Athena (disguised as Mentor), who stops the blood feud by killing Antinous's father, erasing the townspeople's grief for the slain suitors, and establishing Odysseus as king.