Death inthe Great

Now $,rugging off his rags the ¡,r.iliest fighter of the islands leapt and stood on the broad si1l, his orun bow in his hand. He poured out at his feet a rain of arrows from the quiver and spoke to the crowd: s "So much for that. Your clean-cut game is over. Now watch me hit a target that no man has hit before, if I can make this shot. Help me, Apollo." He drew to his fist the cruel head of an arrow for Antinous just as the young man leaned to lift his beautifuI drinking cup, 10 embossed,o two-handled, golden: the cup was in his fingers: 10 embossed: decorated with the wine was even at his lips: and did he dream of death? designs that are slighily raised the surface. How could he? In that revelryo amid his throng of friends 12 rcvelryi noisy festivity; who would imagine a single foe-though a strong foe indeed- merrymaking. could dare to bring death's pain on him and darkness on his eyes? 1s Odysseus'arrow hit him under the chin and punched up to the featherso through his throat. 1"6 punched up to the The arrow goes clear through Backward and down he went, letting the winecup fall throat so that only the anowls from his shocked hand. Like pipes his nostrils jetted fe¿thers remain visible in crimson runnels,o a river of mortal red, 19 runnels: streams. 20 and one last kick upset his knocking the bread and meat to soak in dusty blood. Now as they craned to see their champion where he lay the suitors iB,pl,Iç,{in uproar down the hail, everyone on his feet. Wildly they turned and scanned 2s the in the iong for arms; but not a shield, not a good ashen spear was there for a man to take and throw.o 2a-26 WildlY. " throw: they could do was yell in outrage at Odysseus: and Telemachus had All À weapons and armor from "FouI! to shoot at a man! That was your last shot!" on the previous night. "Yo17t own throat will be siit for this!"

Plat How would you describe the level af suspense at thís point in the story? Hploin. IqEE@ Lgf))r, $ot'al) u. to bump, push, or shove roughly, as with elbows in a i crowd :

886 UNIT 5 EPIC AND MYTH Odysseus Slaying the Suitors, t 9th century. Flaxman. V*u-t'fu Aa the posture and body language of the fígures in this image. what does the ímage suggest to you about Odysseus's standing among other men?

30 "OrtÍ finest lad is down! You killed the best on lthaca.' "Bszzards will tear your eyes ottt!" For they imagined as they wished-that it was a wiid shot, an unintended killing-fools, not to comprehend

3E they were already in the grip of death.o 33-35 Forthey. . . death: The ' But glaring undet his brows Odysseus answered: suitors still do not realize that their opponent is Odysseus and that he "You yellow dogs, you thought I'd never make it has killed Antinous intentionally. from the land of Troy. You took my to plunder, fwisted my maids to serve your beds. you dared 40 bid for my wife while I was still alive. Contempt was ail you had for the gods who rule wide heaven, contempt for what men say of you hereafter. Your last hour tras come. You die in blood-', As they all took this irç sickly green fear 45 pulled at their entrails, and their eyes flickered looking for some hatch or hideaway from death. Eurymachus alone could speak. He said: "If. you are Odysseus of lthaca come back, all that you say these men have done is true.

Anatyze Cause.and:Effect Relationships Whot hos cóuled Odyi;seus to deci{e ta kíll the suíørsl Exptain.

THE ODYSSEY, PART 4 8i87 50 Rash actions, many here, more in the countryside' But here he lies, the man who caused them all. Antinous was the ringleader, he whipped us on" 52 whipped us on: encouraged us; drove us. to do these things. He cared less for a marriage than for the power Cronion" has denied hirr,'r 54 Cronion: Zeus. 5s as king of lthaca. For that he fried to trap your son and would have killed him. He is dead now and has his portion.o Spare 57 his portion: what he deserved; your own people. As for ourselves, we'llmake what fate had in store for him. restitution of wine and meat consuneed, 60 and add, each one, a titheo of twenty oxen 60 tithe (tÎ!þ): payment; tax. with gifts of bronze and gold to warm your heart. Meanwhile we cannot blame you for yout anget" Odysseus glowered under his biack brows and said: 6s "Not for the whole treasure of your fathers, all you eryoy,lands, flocks, or any gold put up by others, would I hold my hand. There willbe killing till the score is paid. You forced yourselves uPon this house. Fight your way out, z0 or run f.or it, if you think you'll escaPe death. I doubt one man of you skins bY."o 71 skins by: gels out alive. Th"y felt their knees fail, and their hearts-but heard Eurymachus for the last time rallying them. "Frierrds," he said, "the nian i,imnlg;*þ)*- Ts Now that he's got his hands on bow and quiver he'll shoot from the big door stone there until he kills us to the last man. Fight, I saY, let's remember the joy of it. Swords out! 80 Hold up your tables to deflect" his arrows. 80 deflecf to cause to go off course; turn aside. After me, everyone: rush him where he stands. If we can budge him from the door, if we can Pass into the towry we'llcal1out men to chase him. This fellow with his bow will shoot no more." 8s He drew his own sword as he spoke, a broadsword of fine btortze,

Analyze Cause-and,Effect Relationships The suitors vostly sutnumber Odysseus ond Telemochus. Why are they so olormed?

(im plak' abal) adj. impossible to satisfy or soothe; imolacable////rt///////////// unyielding

888 UNIT 5 EPIC AND MYTH honed like a Íazor on either edge. Then crying hoarse and loud he hurled himself at Odysseus. But the kingly man let fly an arÍow at that instant, and the quivering feathered butt' 88 butt: end. sprarrg to the nipple of his breast as the barb stuck in his liver. 89 barb: arrowhead; point. 90 The bright broadsword clanged down. He lurched and fell aside, pitching across his tabie. His cup, his bread and meat, were spilt and scattered far and wide, and his head slammed on the ground. Revulsioryo anguish in his heart, with both feet kicking out, 93 revulsion: intense dislike, he dor.tmed his chai¿ whde the shrouding wave of misto closed disgusl or honor. 94 shrouding wave of mist: death. on his eyes.

gs Amphinomuso now came running at Odysseus, 95 Amphinomus (am fin' a mas) broadsword naked in his hand. He thought to make the great soldier give way at the door. But with a spear throw from behind Tþlemachus hit him between the shoulders, and the lancehead drove 100 clear through his chest. He left his feet and fell forward, thudding, forehead against the ground. Telemachus swerved around him,leaving the long dark spear planted in Amphinomus. If he paused to yank it out someone might jr*p him from behind or cut him down with a sword 105 at the moment he bent over. So he ran-ran from the tables to his father's side and halted, panling, saying: "Father let me bring you a shield and spear, a pafu of spears, a helmet. I can arm on the run myself; I'll give 110 outfits to Eumaeus and this cowherd.. Better to have equipment." Said Odysseus: 'lRun then, while I hold them off with arrows as long as the arrows last. When allare gone 115 if I'm alone they can dislodge" me." 115 dislodge: force back; kill. Quick upon his father's word Telemachus ran to the room where spears and armor lay. He caught up four light shields, four pafus of spears, 120 helms. .. manes: war 120 four helms of war high-plumed manes,o helmets decorated from front to with flowing back with a crest or ridge of long and ran back,loaded down, to his f.athe{s sí&e. feathers resembling horses' manes.

Plot /s tení,þn iíäîng oir follînE at this point? Explain. journeys How is Telemochus responding to the chollenges of the fight? l/ /!\ THE ODYSSEY, PART 4 889 41.,:-, _( He was the first to pull a helmet on and slide his bare arm in a buckler strap." 123 slide. . . strap: The Creeks' small, round shield (buckler) had a servants armed thernselves, and alJ. three took their stand The strap in back through which the lzs beside the master of battle." wanior slid his arm.. \Mhile he had arrows 125 master of battle: Odysseus. he aimed and sho! and every shot brought down one of his huddling enemies. But when all barbs had fiown from the bowman's fist, 130 he leaned his bow in the bright entry way beside the dooç and armed: a four-ply shield hard on his shoulder, attd a crested helm, horsetailed, nodding stormy upon his head, then took his tough andbronze-shod spears.

Odysseus ønd Telemachus, along with their two øllies, cut down ølI the suitors, Athenø also møkes øn appeørønce, røllying their spirits and ensuring thøt none of her føaorites is injured. Finølly the great høll is quiet. 135 In blood and dust he saw that crowd all fallen, many and many slain. Think of a catch that fishermen haui in to a halfmoon bay in a fine-meshed net from the whitecaps of the sea: how all are poured out on the sand, in throes foro the salt sea, 139 in throes for: in pain or 1.40 twitching their cold lives away in Helios' fiery air: struggle to retur\ to. so lay the suitors heaped orr one another. The Trunk of the Olive Tree Penelope's old nurse hurries upstairs to tell her mistress thøt Odysseus høs returned ønd thnt øIl the suitors øre dend. Penelope is ømøzed but refuses to ødmit thøt the strønger could be her husbønd. Insteød, she belieues thøt he must be ø god. The oid nurse sighed: "How queer, the way you talk! r': Here he is, large as life, by his own fire, and you deny he ever will get home! s Child, you always were mistrustful! But there is one sure mark that I can tell you: that scar left.by the boar's tusk long ago. I recognized it when I bathed his feet

Statuette of UlYsses. Roman' Analyze Cause-and"Ef{ect Relationships Whot causes ond effecfs díd Bronze. Bibliotheque you notice in this scene? Paris.

890 UNIT 5 EPIC AND MYTH and would have told you, but he stopped my mouth, 10 forbade me, in his craftiness. Come down, I stake my life on it, he's here! Let mé die in agony if Ilie!" Penelope said: j.s "Nurse dear, though you have your wits about you, still it is hard not to be taken in by the immortals. Let us join my sory though, and see the dead and that strange one who killed them." She turned then to descend the stair, her heart 2a in tumult. Had she better keep her distance and question him, her husband? Should she run up to him, take his hands, kiss him now?o 19-22 Sheturned... now: Crossing the door sill she sat down at once Penelope's thoughis reveal that she is not so uncertain of 'that $range in firelight, against the nearestwall, one" ¿s she has let on. zs across the room from the iord Odysseus. There leaning against aplllag sat the rnan and never lifted up his eyes, but énly waited for what his wife would say when she had seen him. 30 And she, for a long time, sat deathly still in wonderment-for sometimes as she gaZed she found him-yes, clearly-like her husband, but sometimes blood and rags were all she sawo 33 blood . . . saw: Odysseus is Tþlemachus's voice came to her ears: again disguised as the old beggar. 35 "Mothe1, cruel mothel, do you feel nothing, drawing yourself apaú this way from Father? Will you not sit with him and talk and question him? \¡Vhat other woman could remain so cold? 40 \¡Vho shuns her lord, and he come back to her from wars and wandering, after fwenty yearc? Your heart is hard as flint and never changes!" Penelope answered: "I am sfunned, child. 45 I cannot speak to him. I cannot question him. I caru:rot keep my eyes upon his face.

If rcaLLy he is Odysseus, truly home, 50 secret. . . two: Eurynome has beyond all doubt we two shall know each other already said that she recognized Odysseus3 scar; bu! Penelope is better than you or anyone. There are thinking of signs that are a secret 50 secret signs we knor,rl we two."o strictly between her and Odysseus.

Jomneys Why does Penelope hesitote to accept her husband?

THE ODYSSEY, PART 4 891 :.lv A smile came now to the þs of the patient hero, Odysseus/ who turned to Telemachus and said: "Peace:let your mother test me at her leisure. ss Before long she will see and know me best. These tatters, dirt-all that I'm caked with now- make her look hard at me and doubt me still. As to this massacre, we must see the end. \Mhoever kills one citizen, you know, 60 and has no force of armed men at his back, had better take himself abroad by night and leave his kin. WelI¡ we cut down the flower of lthaca, the mainstay of the town. Consider that'" Tþlemachus replied respectfully:

65 "Dear Father, enough that you yourself study the danger, foresighted in combat as you are, Youth Singing and Ploying they say you have no rival. the Kitharo, c. 490 B.c. Terra' cotta, height: 16% in. The We three stand Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY, 70 ready to follow you and fight. I say for what our strength avails,o we have the courage." Odysseus, answered: And the great tacticiarço TL avails: is worth; helPs. "Good. 72 tactician: one skilled in and carrying out (military) tactis Here is our best maneuveÍ/ as I see it: plans. Ts bathe, you three,o and put fresh clothing on, 75 yôu three: Telemachus, order the women to adorn themselves, Eumaeus, and Philoetius. and let our admirable harper choose a tune for dancing, some lighthearted air, and strum it. Anyone going by, or any neighboq, B0 will think it is a wedding feast he hears. These deaths must not be cried about the town till we can slip away to our own woods. ![e'll see what weapon? then, Zeus puts into ou¡ hands."o is this: First, stall for ilme Thuy listened attentively, and did his bidding, making people think that 85 bathed and dressed afresh; and all the maids

adorned themselves. Then Phemiuso the harper in Zeus, took his polished shell" and plucked the strings, 86 Phemius (fe' me as) 87 polished shell: harP' moving the company to desire

Analyze Cause,andr8ffect Relationships Whot does odysseus fear will be the effect of kis sioughtèr of the suitars?

Plat l.low is Homer íntroducing rising tension?

892 UNIT 5 EPIC AND MYTH for singing, for the sway and beat of dancing, until they made the manor hall resound with gaiety of men and grace of women. Anyone passing on the road would say: "Marcied atlast,I see-the queen so many courted. Sly, cattish wife! She would not keep-not she!- the lord's estate until he came." So travelers' thoughts might run-but no one guessed the truth. Greathearted Odysseus, home at Iast, was being bathed now by Eur;mome and rubbed with þolden oil, and clothed again in a fresh tunic and a cloak. Athena lent him beauty, head to foot. She made him taller, and massive, too, with crisping hair in curls like petals of wild hyacinth but all red-golden. Think of gold infused on silver by a craftsmanv whose fine art Hephaestuso taught him, or Athena:" one 107 Hephaestus (hi fes' tas): whose work moves to delight: just so slire\g;;Sþ9,$ the god of fire and metalworking. Athena: ln addition 1o all her other beauty over Odysseus' head and shoulders. roles, she was the goddess of arts He sat then in the same chair by the pillar, and crafts. facing his silent wife, and said: "Sttange woman/ the immortals of Olympus made you hard, harder than any. Who else in the world 115 would keep qlg,pÅ as you do from her husband if he returned to her from years of trouble, cast on his own land in the twentieth year?o 112-117 Strange . . . year: Finally, after all his other battles have been Nurse, make up a bed for me to sleep on. won, Odysseus must win back his Her heart is iron in her breast." wife. Now he questions and criticizes her with uncharacteristic direclness. 120 Penelope spoke to Odysseus now. She said: "Sttange man/ if man you are . . . This is no pride on my part nor scorn for you-not even wonder, merely.

Analyze Cause-and-Effect Relationships tAlåaf is Atheno doing? Why? E@ i tp¿SSb (|av' ish) v. to give generously; provide in abundance i glppj (e lo-of') adj. emotionally distant; uninvolved; disinterested; i standoffish

THE ODYSSEY, PART 4 895 1.2s I know so well how you-how he-appeared boarding the ship for Troy, But all the same . . ' i Make up his bed for him, EurYcleia'" 127 Eurycleia (yoo' ri kle'a) Place it outside the bedchamber my lord built with his own hands. Pile the big bed 130 with fleeceï rú1s, and sheets of purest linen'"o 127-:130 Make up.. . linen: Sounding sweetly hospitable, With this she tried him to the breaking point, Penelope now tests the man who and he turned on her in a flash tag)ng: says he is her husband. She proposes that her maid move "Woman, by heaven You've stung me now! Odysseusb big bed out of the and make it up. Who dared to move mY bed? bedchamber 13b No builder had the skill for that-unless a god came down to turn the trick. No mortal in his best days could budge it with a crowbar. There is our pact and pledge, our sectet sign, built into that bed-mY handiwork 140 and no one else'sf An old trunk of olive grew iike a pillar on the plot, . and I laid out our round that tree, lined up the stone walls, built the walls androof,

3.4s gave it a doorway and smooth-fitting . . Íhen I lopped off the silvery leaves and branches, hewed and shaped that sfump from the roots up into a bedpost, drilled it' let it serve as model for the rest. I planed them all, 150 inlaid them a1l with silver, gold and ivory, and stretched a bed between-a pliant web of oxhide thongs dYed crimson. There's our sign! I know no more. Could someone else's hand 1ss have sawn that trunk and dragged the frame away?"o 133-L55 Woman, original bed could not be moved, Their secret! as she heard it told, her knees One bedpost was a tree a grew tremulous" and weak, her heart failed her' rooted in the ground, known only by PeneloPe, a With eyes brimming tears she ran to him, and 0dysseus, who built the throwing her arms around his neck, and kissed him, with his own hands. Furious hurt, Odysseus thinks PeneloPe L60 murmuring: allowed someone to saw "Do not tage at me, OdYsseus! frame from the tree. 157 tremulous: charadenzeo No one ever matched your caution! Think trembling shakY. what difficulty the gods gave: they denied us

?lst How does Odysseus respond to Penelopeb suggestion thotthe maíd move the bed outsíde the bedchamber?

Journeys How hos Penelopeb tone shífted? Why?

894 UNIT 5 EPIC AND MYTH Ulysses and Penelope Embracing, t9th century. Flaxman. V*ut tl" Aø ln ancient Roman tellings of the Trojan War, Odysseus was called Ulysses. How well do you think this image captures the end of the epic?

life together in our prime and flowering years, 1.6s kept us from crossing into age together. Forgive me, don't be angry.I could not welcome you with love on sight! I armed myself long ago against the frauds of men, impostors who might come-and all those many 170 whose underhanded ways brtng evil on! . . . But here and now, what sign could be so clear as this of our own bed? No other man has ever laid eyes on it- only my own slave, Actoris,o that my father 174 Actoris (ak tôr'is) r75 sent with me as a gift-she kept our door. You make my stiff heart know that I amyours." Now from his breast into his eyes the ache of longing mounted, and he wept atlast,

his dear wife, clear and faithful, in his arms, i

180 longed for + :¡ as the sunwarmed earth is longed forby a swimmer spent i in rough water where his ship went down I Poseidon's sea. under blows, gale winds and tons of I Few men can keep alive through a big surf

185 to crawl, clotted with brine, on kindly beaches i tn joy, joy, knowing the abyss behind:' 181-186 a swimmer.. . behínd: and so^ she too rejoiced,Iter gaze upon her husband, Odysseus is compared to someone who swims to shore after a her white arms round him pressed as though forever. shipwreck. Coated with sea salt i (clotted with brine), he rejoices that I The next døy, Odysseus is reunited with his føther, Løertes, øs news of his wife is in his arms and his hellish l experience (the abyss) is over. the denth of,the suitors pñsses through town. Fømilies go to Odysselts's I I ',i mønor to gøther the bodies for buriø\. There, Antinous's father røllies the families to øaenge the deøths of their sons ønd brothers. As bøttle l begins, hoTneaer, Athena appeørs ønd cølls the islønd to peøce. cw I i THE ODYSSEY, PART 4 895