p 5 Father and Son
The kindly Phaeøciøns loød Odysseus with gifts and tuke him home, leøaing him fast øsleep on the shores of Ithacø. on their return jour- ney, Poseidon turns their ship into ø lump of stone for døring to øssist Odysseus.
Following Athenø's instructions,-he ølso goes to Eumaeus,s hut. INhile the loyøl swineherd is inforrning Penelope of her son's retLffn, Helmeted Atheno. c. Athenø øppears to the disguised Odysseus. BC. Roman coPY of a to From the air original attributed she walked, taking the form of a tall woman, Alkamenes or Cresilas' Paris. handsome and clever at her craft, and stood beyond the gate in plain sight of Odysseus, 5 unseery thougb by Telemachus, unguessed, for not to everyone will gods appear." 1-6 From Odysseus noticed her; so did the dogs, "cr¿ft" includes the and to w]no her. She or others ç8,;y,p¿gf,whimperinq lyuyfrom only herself visible or invisiblq'. nodded, signing to him with her brows, " already made 0dYsseus 10 a sign he recognized. Crossing the yard, be an old beggar Now he passed out through the gate in the stockade herself visible to the same time, invisible to face the goddess. There she said to him: Télemachus.
Journeys What has hoppened to Odysseus since he left Heliosb islond? Whot is happening now?
crouch or shrink back, as in
872 UNIT 5 EPIC AND MYTH "Son of Laertes and the gods of old, Odysseus, master of land ways and sea ways, dissembleo 1,s, to your son no longer now 15 dissemble: pretend. The time has come: tell him how you together will bring doom on the suitors in the town. I shall not be far distant then, for I myself desire battle." 20 Saying no more, she tipped her golden wand upon the man, making his cloak pure white, and.the knit tunic fresh around him. Lithe and young she made him, ruddyo with sirn, his jawline clean, the beard 24 ruddy: tanned. zs no longer gray upon his chin. And she withdrew qhen she had done. Then Lord Odysseus reappeared-and his son was thunderstruck.o 28 thunderstruck astonished. The Fear in his eyes, he looked down and away word is carefully chosen for its 30 as though it were a god, and whispered: additional association with the works of one of the gods (Zeus). "Sttanger, 'you are no longer what you were just now! Your cioak is new; eveR your skin! you are one of the gods who rule the sweep of heaven! J5 Be kind to us, we'll make you fair oblationo 35 make you fair oblation: offer and gifts of hammered gold. Have mercy on us!,, you good sacrifices and proper worship. The noble and enduring man repiied: "No god. IAIhy take me for a god? No, no. I am that father whom your boyhood lacked 40 and suffered pain for lack of. I am he.,, Held back too long, the tears ran down his cheeks as he embraced his son. Only Telemachus, uncomprehending," wild 44 uncomprehendíng: not 45 with incredulityf cried out: understanding. 45 incredulíty: disbelief. "You cannot be my father Odysseus! Meddling spirits conceived this trick to twist the knife in melo 47-48 Meddling...me; No man of woman born could work these wonders Telemachus assumes that interfering gods (Meddling 50 by his owneraft, unless a god came spirits) thought up into it (conceíved) fhis astonishing with ease tg turn him young or old at wiil. transformation to intensíly his pain I swear yot{ were in rags anã old, (twist the knife) over his father3 long absence and possible death.
Make Inferences About Theme Whot can the reoder infer obout the theme af Part J from these words of Odysseus?
THE ODYSSEY, PART 3 875 and here you stand like one of the immortals!"o 53 the immortals: a common reference to the gods, who Odysseus brought his ranging mind to bearo never die. ss and said: 54 Odysseus... bear: Odysseus focuses his thoughts. "This is not princely, to be swept away by wonder atyour father's presence. No other Odysseus will ever come/ for he and I are one, the same; his bitter 60 fortune and his wanderings are mine. Twenty years gone, and I am back again on my own island As for my change of skin, that is a charm Athena, Hope of Soldiers,o 64 Hope of Soldiers: When she to be, Athena is a fierce uses as she she has the knack chooses 6s wiil; battle-goddess, defending to make me seem abeggar mân sometimes and favored Creels-from outside and sometimes young, with finer clothes about me. enemies. It is no hard thing for the gods of heaven to glorify a man or bring him low."o 68-69 lLis . . . low: lt is not difficult for the gods to make a To \rVhen he had spoken, down he sat. appear great or humble. Then, throwing his arms aror¡nd this marvel of a father Têlemachus began to weep. Salt tears rose from the wells of longing in both men/ 75 and cries burst from both as keen and fluttering as those of the great taloned hawk, whose nestlings farmers take before they fly. So helplessly they cried, pouring out tears,. and might have gone on weeping so till sundown, 80 had not Telemachus said: "Dear father! Tell me what kind of vessel put you here ashore on lthaca? Your sailors, who were they? I doubt you made it, walking on the sea!" 85 Then said Odysseus, who had borne the barren sea:o 85 borne the barren sea: the hardshiPs of the sea' "Only plain f¡uth shall I tell you, child. Great seafarers, the Phaeacians, gave me passage as they give other wanderers. By night over the open ocean, while I slept, s0 they brought me in their cutteqo set me down 90 cutter: a single-masted on lthaca, with gifts ofbronze and gold and stores of woven things. By the gods' will
Characterization Wy did Telemochus not believe his father at first? Whot are your impressians af Telemochus?
EAã, IINIIT q FPiC- AND MYTH Odysseus, t¡tle page of "Homer: The
Odyssey," 1 850-l 833. Francoís-Louis Schmíed. Color lithograph. Private collection.
these lie all hidden in a cave. I came to this wild place, directed by Athena, ss so that we might lay plans to kill our enemies. Count up the suitors for me, let me know what men at arms are there, how many men. I must put allmy mind to it, to see if we fwo by ourselves can take them on 100 or if we should look round for help." The Beggar atthe Manor
The next morning Telemøchus returns home ønd tells Penelope about his traaels but not øbout his father's homecoming. Odysseus, disguised øgøin as a beggar, ølso returns to his oran house. No one recognizes him excEt his føithful old dog, which lífts up its heød, wøgs its tøil, and dies. In the greøt høIl, Telemachus permits the "beggør" to øskfor food. The suítors giae him breød. ønd meøt, øs is the custom, but one of their leøders, ø møn nømed Antinous (an tin' õ as), is pørticulørly insultíng. ÍIe refuses to offer øny food, ønd rnhite Odysseus is tøllcing, he øngrily interrupts. But here Antinous broke in, shouting: "God! What evil wind blew in this pest? Get over, 5 stand in the passage! Nudge my tabIe, will you? Egyptian whips are sweet to what you'llcome to here, you nosingrat,
Journeye In what sense is.Odytsseus's journey for from over?
THE ODYSSEY, PART 3 875 making your pitch to everYone! These men have brea& to throw away on you 10 because it is not theirs. \AIho cares? \Âtrho sPareo another's food, when he has more than plenty?" With guile Odysseus drew awa!," then said: 12 With guile. . . away: Odysseus is slyly provoking Antinous. " A2IW that you have more looks than heart. You'd grudge a pinch of salt from your own larder 1s to your own handy man. You sit here, fat on others' meat, and cannot bring yourself to rummage out a crust of bread for rnel" Then anger made Antinous' heart beathatd, and, gloweringo under his brows, he answered: 19 glowering: scowling; looking at angrily. 20 "Nowl You think you'll shuffle off and get away after that iWy,fup;S*ç? Oh, no you dott't!" The stool he let {ly hit the man's right shoulder on the packed muscle under the shoulder blade- 2s like solid rock, for all the effect one saw. Odysseus only shook his head, containing thoughts of bloody work,o as he walked on, 26-27 containing thoughts of his loaded bag again bloody work keeping murderous theniat, and dropped thoughts under control. 0dYsseus upon the door sill. Facing the whole crowd imagines killing Antinous, but holds 30 he said, and eyed therr-r all: his temper. "One word only, my lords, and suitors of the famous queen' One thing I have to say. There is no pain, no burden for the heart 35 when blows come to a man, and he defending his own cattle-his own cows and lambs. Here it was otherwise. Antinous hit me for being driven on by hunger- how many bitter seas men cross for hunger! 40 If beggars interest the gods, if there are Furies pent in the dark to avenge a poor man's wrorr1, then may Antinous meet his death before his wedding day!"o 34-42 Ihereis.' . wedding daY: A man is not really hurt, the Then said Eupeithes'o sory Antinous: says, when he is iniured he is "Enough. his property; but when attacked for being hungry thafS
Charaeterizztion What have you learned sbout Antinous so far? punish wrongdoers-to bring his death. t@ 43 Eupeithes (Yoo Pe' lhéz) i W7øA;B;* (im' pya dans) n. speech or behavipr that is aggressively i forward or rude
A76 UNIT 5 EPIC AND MYTH 4s Eat and be quiet where you are, or shamble elsewhere, unless you want these lads to stop your mouth pullingyouby the heels, or hands and f.eet, over the whole floor, till your back is peeled!"
But now the rest were mortified,' and sómeone 49 mortífied: deeply embanassed, spoke from the crowd of young bucks to rebukeo him: shamed, or humiliated, s0 50 rebuke: to scold sharply; " Apoor show, that-hitting this famished tramp- criticize. bad business, if he happened to be a god. You know they go in foreign g.*IF,S, the gods do, looking like strangers, turning up ss in towns and sdttlements to keep an eye on manners, good orbad." But at this notion Antinous only shrugged Tþlemachus 60 after the blow his father bore, sat sti1l without a teat, though his heart felt the blow Siowly he shook his head from. side to side, containing murderous thoughts. Penelope 6s on the higher levei of her room had heard the blow, and knew who gave it. Now she murmured: "Would god you could be hit yourself, Antinous- hit by Apoilo's bowshot!"o 68 Apollo's bowshot: Among other things, Apollo is the archer And Eurynomeo god and the god of truth. His sacred To her housekeeper, put in: silver bow can kill literally with an anow and figuratively with the truth. "Ffe and no other? 69 Eurynome (yoo rin' a me) If all we pray for came to pass, not one would live till dawn!" Her gentle mistress said: 7s "Oh, Nan, they are abad lof they intend ruin for all of us; but Antinous appearc a blackeråearted hound than any;
Make Inferences About Theme What do these thoughß of Telemachus tell you obou't the implíed theme of Port 3?
Charac¿erizatian Èrom what you hove rcød so fsq, how would you desuibe Penelope? IE@ i grtis* @12) n' outward appearance; false appearance
THE ODYSSEY, PART 3 877 Odysseus Reunited with Penelope. Terra-cotta relief. Louvre Museum, Paris. U*¡, il" AA The artwork shown here is made of terra cotta. Terra cotta is porous clay that has been used over time to make pottery sculptures, tiles. and other buílding materials. Why do you think Penelope is looking down, away from Odysseus?
Here is a poor man come,'awandetet, driven by want to beg his breád, and everyone 80 in hall gave bits, to cram his bag-only Antinous threw a stool, and banged his shoulder!" So she described it, sitting in her chamber among her maids-while her true lord was eating. Then she called in the forester and said: 85 "Go to that man on my be}".:ralf, Eumaeus,o E5 Eumaeus (Yoo më' as) and send him here, so I can greet and question him. Abroad in the great world, he may have heard rumors about Odysseus-may have known hirn!"
Liaely action continues in the greøt hall, where ønother beggør attempts to bully Odysseus. Antinous mockingly ørrønges ø boxing møtch between the two, znhich Odysseus wins. Telemøchus orders the disorderly crowd to leøae for the eaening, Surprised by his nuthority, the suitors obey, giaing Odysseus and Telemachus time to remove øll weøpons from the hall as pørt of their prepørøtion for bøttle. Tlrcn Odysseus goes to meet his wife for the first tíme in neørly twenty years. Carefully Penelope began: go "Friend,let me ask you first of all:
878 UNIT 5 EPIC AND MYTH t, who are you, where do you come frorn, of what nation and parents were youborn?" And he replied "My lady, never a man in the wide world t. ss should have a fault to find with you' Your name has gone out under heaven like the sweet honor of some god-fearingking, who rules in equity" over the strong: his black lands bear 98 equity: fairness and justice. both wheat and barley, fruit trees iaden bright, 100 new lambs at lambing time-and the deep sea gives great hauls of fish by his good sttategy, so that his folk'fare well. O *y dearLadY, this being so, let it suffice" to ask me 1,04 suffice: be enough 105 of other matters-not my blood, my homeland. Do not enforce me to recall mY Pain. My heart is sore; but I must not be found sitting in tears here, in another's house: it is not well forever to be grieving. r10 One of the maids might say-or you might think- I had got maudlin" over cups of wine." 111 maudlin: excessivelY and emotional. And Penelope replied: foolishly "sttantget, my looks, my face, my carciage,o were soon lost or faded L14 carriage: manner of movíng or the head and body. 11s when the Achaeans crossed the sea to Troy, holding Odysseus my lord among the rest. If he returned) lf he were here to care for me, I might be happily yÊÐÐy,Ð9,91 But grief instead heaven sent me-years of pain- r20 Sons of the noblest families on the islands, Dulichium , Same, wooded ZacFthus, with native Ithacans, are here to court me, against my wish; and they consume this house. Can I give proper heed to guest or suppliant" 124 supplíani (sup' lê ant): one who humbly begs or requests 12s/ or heraldo on the realm's affairs? something, How could I? l-zs herald: court messenger. wasted with longing for Odysseus, while here they press for marriage.
Make Inferençes About Theme Why might Odysseus say this to his wife, Penelope? i pprllBrly"y;r$ (ri nound') adj. famous; widely known
THE ODYSSEY, PART 3 879 Scenes From the Odyssey, ca. 1509. Bernardino Pintoricchio. National Gallery Collectión, London. V;ryltl¿ Ao¿ Bernardino Pintoricchio was one of the artists who worked on the Sistine Chapel. How does the scene through the window create a sense of tension in this image?
Ruseso served my turn 129 Ruses: tricks; schemes. 130 to draw the time out-first a close-grained web I had the happy thought to set up weaving on my big loom in hall. I said, that day: 'Young men-my suitors, now my lord is dead, let me finish my weaving before Imarcy, 135 or else my thread will have been spun in vain. It is a shroud I weave for Lord Laerteso 136 ltis...Laertes: cold Death comes to lay him on his bier.' claimed to be weaving a when (shroud for OdvsseusS father' The country wives would hold me in dishonor ìsz u¡ér, a obúorm on which a if he, with all his fortune, lay unshrouded.' corpse or cofiin is placed before burial. 1.40 I reached their hearts that wayt aîd they agreed. So evqry day I wove on the great loom, but everlr nfght bi torchliglrt I unwove it;
Characterization What choroderistic do Odysseus and Penelope share?
880 UNIT 5 EPIC AND MYTH and so for three years I deceived the Achaeans. But when the seasons brought a fourthyeaï oÍ\ 145 as long months waned," and the long days were spent, 145 waned: drewto an end. through impudent folly in the slinking maids they caught me-clamored up to me at night;' 146l:47 through... night After outwitting the suitors for more than T had no choice then but to finísh ít. three years. Penelope is finally And now, as matters stand atlast, betrayed by some of her own I have no strength left to evade a martiage, sneaky (slinking) maids, who crept rs¡ into her room at night and caught cannot find any further way; my parents her in the act of undoing her urge it upon me, and my son weaving. will not stand by whíle they eat up his property. He comprehendsit, being a man fuli grown, rss able to oversee the kind of house Zeus would endow' with honor. 156 endow: provide or equip.
Test of the Bow ' The Resigned to ending the suitors' reign ouer her home, Penelope cries herself to sleep thøt night, dreøming of the husbønd she belieaes is lost to the hall, more unruly thøn foreaer. The next døy the suitors return eaer. Penelope øppears, cørrying the huge bow thøt belongs to Odysseus. Her maids follorn, bearing tutelue iron øx heøds. Penelope høs a proposi- tion for the suítors. "My lords, hear me: suitors indeed, you commandeeredo this house 2 commandeered: seized by force or threats. to feast and drink in, day and night, my husband being long gone, long out of mind. You found s no justificationo for yourselves-none 5 justification: a reason for an just, me. Stand up, then: action that shows it to be r¡ght, except your lust to marry or reasonable. we now declare a contest for that ptize. Here is my lord Odysseus'hunting bow. Bend and string it if you can. \¡Vho sends an arrow 10 through iron axe-helve sockets, twelve in line?' 9-L0 Bend .. . line: The challenge join his, and leave this place, my home, has two parts: First, a suitor must I my life with bend and string the heavy bow- my rich and beautiful bridal house, forever a task requiring strengh and skill. to be remernbered, though I dream it only'" Second, he must shoot an anow through the nanow holes of twelve ax-heads set in a row One by one the suitors try to string the bow, ønd øll føil' Only Antinous deløys his øttempt. In the meantime, Odysseus steps outside with the srnineherd Eumøeus ønd Philoetius (fi loi' tê es), another faithful herds- møn, nnd reueøls his identity to them. Odysseus returns to the høll ønd ,:i øsks to try his hønd øt stringing the bow. Antinous sneers øt this ideø,
Journeys Why wos this the perfea time for Odysseus to orríve home?
THE ODYSSEY, PART 3 88I but Penelope ønd Telemøchus both insist he proceed. Telemøchus orders the women to leøae, Philoetius locks the gøtes of the hall, ønd Eumøeus presents to Odysseus the greøt bow hè høs not held for twenty yeørs' And Odysseus took his time, 15 turning thzuþoW tapping it, every inch, for borings that termites might have made while the master of the weapon was abroad. The suitors were now watching him, and some jested among themselves: 20 "Abow lover!" "Dealer in old bowsl," "Maþe he has one like it at home!" "Or has an itch to make one for himself."
zs "See how he handles it, the sly old buzzardt"o L4-25 And 0dysseus... old buzzard: As Odysseus examines, And one disdainful suitor added this: old bow for termite holes "May his fortune grow an inch for every inch he bends itl" that might have weakened the since he last used it, the suitors But the man skilled in all ways of contending, the chance to make fun of the "beggar" satisfied by the greatbow's look and heft," z9 heft: weight. 30 líke a musician,like a harper, when with quiet hand upon his instrument he draws between his thumb and forefinger a sweet new string upon a peg: so effortlessly Odysseus in one motion strung the bow. 3s Then slid his right hand down the cord and plucked it, so the taut gut'vibrating hummed and sang 36 taut gut: tightlY drawn (made animal "gut" a swailow's note. bowstring of or intestíne). In the hushed hall it smoteo the suitors 38 smote: struck, as though and all their faces changed. Then Zeus thundered hard blow; affected suddenlY poweful and unexPected feeling, 40 overhead, one loud crack for a sign. such as fear. And Odysseus laughed within him that the son of crooked-minded Cronus had flung that omeno down." thunder as a sign that Zeus ts He picked one ready arrow from his table ¿ side. where it lay bare: the rest were waiting still 42 omen: a sign or event to foretell good or bad foftune; 4s in the quiver for the young men's turn to come.o forewarning. lhe He nocked it,o let it rest across the handgrip, 44-45 the rest come: will be used and drew the string and grooved butt of the artow, remarnlnS arrows the contefants who follow aiming from where he sat upon the stool. 0dysseus. ¿6 nocked it fitted the nocr' Now fiashed into notched end, of the anow 50 arrow from twanging bow clean as a whistle string.
Characterization To what is Homer comparinE Odysseus in línes 28-34? What do these comporisons cantribute to his characterizotion?
882 UNIT 5 EPIC ,AND MYTH Odysseus Competes with the Suifors (detail). Sth century ec, Greek. Attic red-figured skyphos. Staatliche Museum, Antikensammlung, Berlin, Germany. V,q'g tÁo Ar¿ A form of pottery a skyphos is a deep, trruo-handled wíne cup' This image of Odysseus aPPears on a skyphos dating back to 5th century e'c. What do you suppose Odysseus is thinking as he takes aím?
through every socket fing, and gtazedo not one, 51 grazed: touched. to thud with heavybrazer-heado beyond. 52 brazen head: brass arrowhead. Then quietly Odysseus said:
55 "Telemachus, the stranger you welcomed in your hall has not disgraced yotr. I did not miss, neither did I take all day stringing the bow. My hand and eye are sound/ not so contemptible as the young men say. 60 The hour has come to cook their lordships'mutts¡e- 60 cook their lordshíps' mutton: supper by daylight. Other amusements later, literally, cook their sheep meat. But 0dysseus is using a phrase that with song and harping that adorn a feast." Telemachus can take metaphorically, like the phrase cook their goose He dropped his eyes and nodded, and the prince ("get even"). Telemachlrs, true son of King Odysseus, t'.1'r 65 belted his sword on, clapped hand to his spear/ and with a clink and glitter of keen bronze stood by his chair, in the forefront near his father. c'v
Journeys Do you think thot odysseus's long iourney is finolly over? Why or why not?
THE ODYSSEY, PART 3 885