Name:______Date:______Period:______

Book 23: THE GREAT ROOTED BED

SCENE: Ithaca

IMPORTANT CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Penelope, Eurycleia, Telemachus, Athena

Penelope cannot believe Odysseus had returned. Odysseus, worried that the suitors' relatives will seek vengeance, tells Telemachus that there should be a festive air in the court so that the Ithacans think Penelope has finally agreed to a marriage. The reunion of Penelope and Odysseus features Penelope's "testing" of Odysseus, something he, who has been testing her and virtually everyone he had met since arriving at Ithaca, seems to understand better than anyone else. Odysseus finally convinces Penelope that he is Odysseus when she implies the bed, whose construction he alone knew, could be moved. Odysseus, a master carpenter (making the raft in Book 5 was not a challenge) had made it from a still rooted olive tree. After an emotional reunion, Odysseus speaks of his one remaining chore – planting the oar inland in honor of Poseidon. As the beggar, he had already told her of some of Odysseus adventures, now he tells all, including the interlude with Calypso that he had left out before, in 33 lines! Their reunion is blessed by Athena who arranges to stay the dawn so their first night together again may be prolonged.

PAY ATTENTION TO:

  • The interaction of Penelope and Eurycleia;
  • Penelope's "hardness";
  • Penelope’s test of Odysseus;
  • the story of the bed;
  • Odysseus’ reaction to the test;
  • Odysseus’ shorter” version of his adventures;
  • the ritual and consummation of their reunion and Athena’s “gift.”

QUESTIONS:

  1. Why is Telemachus irritated at his mother? Lines ______
  2. What (who) does Penelope believe caused the deaths of the suitors? Lines ______
  3. What future problems does Odysseus see as a result of the killing of the suitors? Lines ______What does Odysseus want those outside his palace believe is happening within the palace? Lines ______
  4. Where does Penelope order Eurycleia to make up the bed? How does Odysseus react to this? Lines ______Who made the bed and what is remarkable about it? Lines ______
  5. Who is responsible for holding Dawn at bay while Penelope and Odysseus spend their first night together? What is the significance of this? Lines ______
  6. What does Odysseus tell Penelope about his next journey? Lines ______Where is Odysseus headed at the end of the book? Lines ______

Book 24: PEACE

SCENE: Hades, Ithaca (the town and Laertes' farm)

CHARACTERS: shades of the tutors, Agamemnon, Achilles, Odysseus, Laertes, Telemachus, Dolius (Father of Melanthius and Melantho); Eupithes (father of Antinous), Medon, Halitherses, Athena.

The suitors descend into Hades and meet three of the Greek Captains from the Trojan war, Achilles, Patroclus and Agamemnon. Once again we hear from Agamemnon, who not only details the nature of his death, but contrasts it with the honors the Achaeans paid to Achilles when he had died. The suitors, who tell their story hoping for solace, instead are scorned by Agamemnon, who extols the virtues of Penelope. When he reaches the farm, Odysseus decides to test his father - old habits die hard. Their ultimate reunion, like those between Odysseus and Telemachus, and Odysseus and Penelope, is emotional. It is juxtaposed to the non-reunion of Eupithes and his slain son Antinous. A number of the relatives of the suitors vow vengeance and cannot be dissuaded by the sensible voices of Medon and Halitherses. They come to fight Odysseus, his father and the faithful herdsmen and a new ally, Dolius, the loyal father of the traitorous Melantho and Melanthius. The three generations of Odysseus family stand side by side and Laertes is given a moment of glory. Another slaughter seems immanent but Athena disguised as Mentor stays Odysseus' hand and the epic ends on a note of reconciliation.

PAY ATTENTION TO:

  • the suitors escorted by Hermes into Hades;
  • the appearance of the great Achaean captains (who seem not to have come across one another that often in Hades);
  • Agamemnon's description of the honors showed to Achilles upon his death in contrast to his own end;
  • Agamemnon's lack of sympathy for the suitors and his praise of Penelope;
  • Odysseus' decision to reveal himself to his father only after "testing" him;
  • Dolius' faithfulness;
  • the contrast between Laertes' reunion with his son and Eupithes desire to avenge the death of his son;
  • the attempts by Medon and Halitherses to convince the families of the suitors not to seek revenge;
  • Athena's role (with Zeus' blessing) to resolve the conflict;
  • reconciliation (father and son; Odysseus and Ithaca)

QUESTIONS:

  1. What different views of their fates do Agamemnon and Achilles seem to hold? Lines ______When they speak to Agamemnon and Achilles how do suitors' shades feel about their responsibility for Odysseus' actions? Lines ______
  2. How does Odysseus test his father Laertes, now living a hard life, after the slaughter has been accomplished? What's the point of testing his father? Lines ______How does Odysseus prove to his father who he is? Lines ______
  3. What reasons does Eupithes give when encouraging revenge on Odysseus? Lines ______
  4. What does Athena (disguised as Mentor) do to insure that the families will not succeed in revenging the suitors' deaths? What does she do to ensure that Odysseus won't cause further havoc? Lines ______