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The Odyssey Study Guide Books XIII-XXIV

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The Odyssey Study Guide Books XIII-XXIV The Odyssey Study Guide Books XIII-XXIV Book XIII: One More Strange Island 1. How did the Phaikians make Odysseusʼ journey home easy (p.231-232)? What specifically do they do that makes Poseidon mad? (p.233) 2. How does Poseidon want to punish the Phaikians? How does Zeus change that punishment? (p.234-235) 3. What vow did Alkinoos make to regain favor with the gods? (p.234) 4. Why is Odysseus “desolate” or despairing when he awakens and finds himself on land? (p.236) 5. What is Athenaʼs advice and instructions to Odysseus (p.241-244)? 6. What disguise does Odysseus assume with Athenaʼs help (p. 243) BookXIV: Hospitality in the Forest 1. The swineherd describes his life as it would have been if his master had not left. How would the swineherdʼs life have been different? (p. 249) 2. What does the swineherd say of the suitorsʼ behavior (p.250) and how does he show his own loyalty (p.252)? 3. What does Eumaios (the swineherd) do that impresses Odysseus? (p.264) Book XV: How they Came to Ithaka 1. What information and advice does Athena give Telemkahos before he leaves Sparta? (p.267-268) 2. What new principle of hospitality does Menelaos introduce as Telemakhos asks to leave? (p.269) 3. How does Helen interpret the bird signs in Sparta? (p.273) 4. Who is the “strange man” that comes to Telemakhos and what does he want? (p.275-276) 5. How does Theoklymenos interpret the bird signs as they approach Ithaka? (p.285) Book XVI: Father and Son 1. What is ironic about Odysseusʼ first speech to Telemakhos? (p.292) 2. What is Telemakhosʼ reaction when Odysseus first reveals himself (p.295)? 3. What does Telemakhosʼ say regarding the number and strength of the suitors? (p.297) 4. What are Odysseusʼ instructions to Telemakhos? (p.298-299) 5. What is the suitorsʼ plan once they hear Telemakhos has returned? (p.302) 6. Why is Amphinomos reluctant as he hears the suitorsʼ plan (p.303) Book XVII: The Beggar at the Manor 1. What is Theoklymenosʼ prediction? (p.314) 2. Who is Melanthios and how does he treat Odysseus? (p.317) 3. How does Odysseus show restraint in reaction to Melanthios? What does this reveal about his character? (p.317) 4. Who is the first character to recognize Odysseus? What happens after he sees his master? (p.320-321) 5. According to Odysseus, who is the worst suitor and why? (p.324) 6. How do Telmakhos and Odysseus show patience and restraint while the suitors misbehave? (p.326-327) 7. What does Penelope compare Telemakhosʼ sneeze to? (p.329) Book XVIII: Blows and a Queenʼs Beauty 1. How does Odysseus show restraint in the fight against the beggar Iros? (p. 338) 2. What is Odysseusʼ advice to Amphinomos? Why does he direct his advice at this particular suitor? ((p.340) 3. Despite Odysseusʼ advice, what is Amphinomosʼ fate? What does this show us about the gods? (p.340-341) 4. Why is Penelope unimpressed with the suitors? How are they different than suitors in “times past”? (p.345) 5. Who is Melantho, and how has she dishonored Odysseus and Penelope? (p.346) Book XIX: Recognitions and a Dream 1. How does Telemakhosʼ response to his mother show his developing maturity? (p.354) 2. What does Odysseus want to keep hidden from the nurse Eurykleia? Why? (p.365-366) 3. How does Eurykleia discover Odysseusʼ true identity? How does he react when she does? (p.368-369) 4. What is the significance of Penelopeʼs dream? (p.370) 5. What is Penelopeʼs plan for choosing a husband amongst the suitors? (p.371) Book XX: Signs and a Vision 1. Why is Odysseus angry when he sees the women pass by? How does he show restraint? (p. 375) 2. What does Penelope wish for that shows her despair? (p.377) 3. What sign does Zeus send, and how does the servant woman interpret it? (p. 378) 4. Is Philoitios (the cowherd) a loyal or disloyal servant? (p.381-382) 5. Wanting to anger Odysseus, Athena riles the suitors up even more. What does Ktesippos do? (p.384) 6. What doesTheoklymenos warn the suitors of? Book XXI: The Test of the Bow 1. How does Telemakhos prove himself equal yet obedient to his father concerning the bow and arrow contest? (p.395) 2. Who is Leodes and how is he significant in the bow and arrow contest? (p.396) 3. To whom does Odysseus reveal himself to and for what reason? (p. 397-398) 4. According to Eurymakhos, why should (Odysseus) the beggar not be allowed to take part in the contest? What is Penelopeʼs reply to Eurymakhos? (p.401) 5. For what event does Zeus give his “sign”? (p.404) Book XXII: Death in the Great Hall 1. Who does Odysseus kill first and why? (p.409) What is the other suitorʼs initial reaction? (p.410) 2. How does Eurymakhos try to save himself and the other suitors? (p.411) 3. Who does Telemakhos kill first? (p.412) 4. What mistake did Telemakhos make that allowed a traitor to assist the suitors? Who was the traitor? (p.414-415) 5. How does Athena intervene in the fight against the suitors (p. 416-418) 6. How does Ktesippos die, and why is this ironic? (p.418) 7. Why does Leodes, in his opinion, deserve to live? What is Odysseus response? (p.419) 8. Two people beg for mercy, and Odysseus agrees? Who are they, and why does Odysseus agree? (p.420-421) 9. Why does Odysseus criticize Eurykleia, the nurse, and what does he ask for from her? (p.422) 10. What is Odysseus plan for the women (p.423)? How does Telemakhos execute that plan? (p.424) Book XXIII: The Trunk of the Olive Tree 1. Why doesnʼt Penelope trust Eurykleia when she tells him Odysseus is alive? (p.430-431) 2. Why is Odysseus and his family still in danger after the suitorsʼ deaths? (p.433) 3. What is Penelopeʼs plan to discover if Odysseus is truly who he says he is? (p.435) Why did she approach him this way? (p.436) 4. What does Odysseus tell Penelope about Teireisiasʼ prophecy? What does he tell her about Kalypso that is not quite the truth? (p.437-438 & p.440) Book XXIV: Warriors, Farewell 1. Why is Agamemnon surprised when he sees the suitorsʼ shades in Hades? What does he want to know? (p.448) 2. What does Agamemnon say about Penelope in response to the suitorsʼ tale? (p.451) 3. How does Odysseus approach his father, Laertes? (p.452) 4. What proof does Odysseus offer Laertes about his identity? (p.455) 5. Why do the Ithakan elders assemble? What does Eupeithes, Antinoosʼ father, argue for? (p.458) 6. What do Zeus and Athena decide to do to stop the battling in Ithaka (p.459-460)? 7. Who kills Eupeithes? (p.461) 8. How and why does the final battle end so abruptly? (p.459) .
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