Odyssey- book 13

Question 1

what happens at the beginning of book 13?

Answer 1

Odysseus finishes his tale to the Phaeacians all of the phaeacians remain in silence and wonder, before king Alcinous ends the silence and claims to Odysseus that now he is on the island of the Phaeacians, he will reach his home without any further wanderings.

Question 2

what does King Alcinous and Arete offer Odysseus at the beginning of book 13?

Answer 2

King Alcinous and arete offer Odysseus xenia gifts, consisting of clothing, gold ornaments, other presents that the counsellors have brought, all wrapped in a polished strong box as well as a large tripod and cauldron.

Question 3

once the xenia gifts have been handed out, what does Alcinous encourage everyone to do?

Answer 3

King Alcinous then encourages everyone to return to their beds, before waking up the next morning with their bronze-ware gifts, stowing them under the benches of the boat.
After stowing the presents under the benches of the boat (so as not to disturb the rowers), Alcinous invites Odysseus and his guests for a banquet at his palace.

Question 4

what animal is killed and to whom is it honoured to, for the feast that king Alcinous holds?

Answer 4

Alcinous slaughters an ox to be sacrificed to Zeus and Chronos, before everyone shares the meat from the thighs whilst the bard, demodocus sings.

Question 5

after the meal with the phaeacians, what does Odysseus do?

Answer 5

Odysseus then appeals to the Phaeacians, claiming that he should make his drink offerings (libations) now and see Odysseus safely off as he is eager to return home- his speech earns an applause from everyone, and king Alcinous orders his squire, pontonous to serve everyone in the hall wine so that they can pour a libation to the blessed gods. Each person in the hall pours a libation, and Odysseus places the libation cup in Arete’s hands, blessing her with fortune for the rest of her life and so that she may be happy in her home with her children and noble husband and king- King Alcinous.

Question 6

what did Odysseus do whilst the phaeacians were escorting him to Ithaca by boat?

Answer 6

Odysseus falls into a deep, sweet sleep that resembles death, and that briefly erases the memory of his twenty years away from home.

Question 7

when the phaeacian’s reach Ithaca, what do they do with sleeping Odysseus?

Answer 7

The ship lands in a harbour in Ithaca ( named after Phorcys, the old man of the sea), and the crew places sleeping Odysseus on the sand before placing his treasure by the trunk of an olive tree (sacred to Athene) and leaving for Phaeacia.

Question 8

what happened whilst Odysseus was sleeping on the sand?

Answer 8

Whilst Odysseus was still sleeping on the sand, Poseidon remembered what Odysseus had done- blinded his son polyphemus- and called upon Zeus to respect him as mortals do not. Poseidon complains that despite the curse set upon him, Odysseus has landed safely in Ithaca with the help of the Phaeacians and has in return received gifts of bronze and gold.

Question 9

why does Zeus find Poseidon’s complaint quite trivial?

Answer 9

The phaeacians are following Zeus’ code of hospitality- xenia- by welcoming Odysseus, giving him gifts and escorting him home. But poseidon considers their behaviour impious; by helping Odysseus, they impede poseidon’s anger, therefore put their humans wills against his divine will

Question 10

what does Poseidon tell Zeus that he will do to the Phaeacians and how does Zeus react to this?

Answer 10

claims that he will sink the ship that escorted Odysseus and surround their town with mountains- Zeus disagrees with this, and suggests that Posiedon should instead turn the ship that escorted Odysseus into stone as everyone from the town watches it- this will leave them astounded.
Poseidon does exactly this, as the phaeacians are left in shock.

Question 11

how does Alcinous react and what does he remember when he witnesses the phaeacian boat turn to stone?

Answer 11

Alcinous then describes the prophecy given to him by his father: he suggested that poseidon would resent the homecoming of a certain individual, and if they escorted him home, poseidon would wreck one of their fine ships and shadow their city in a ring of mountains. Now, the Phaeacians must give up the custom of escorting travellers, and must now sacrifice 12 bulls to poseidon.

Question 12

what does Alcinous encourage the phaeacians to do in response to Poseidon’s anger?

Answer 12

1. give up the custom of escorting travellers/ those seeking supplication
2. sacrifice 12 jet black bulls to Poseidon in hope to soothe his anger

Question 13

Why does Odysseus not recognise Ithaca when he wakes up?

Answer 13

Whilst the phaeacians sacrifice, Odysseus awakes from his sleep and doesn’t recognise ithaca as Athene places a mist over it, making it unrecognisable. Her intention was to make Odysseus unrecognisable by his friends, wife and the people of the town. Odysseus thinks that the Phaeacians have tricked him and brought him to some foreign land.

Question 14

In what form does Athene appear to Odysseus?

Answer 14

a young sheperd

Question 15

what happens between Athene and Odysseus and what lie does he tell her?

Answer 15

Athene then appears, disguised as a young shepherd, and tells Odysseus that he is in Ithaca, after all. Odysseus conceals his joy and tells Athena (who he doesn’t recognise) that he’s a fugitive from Crete, wanted for killing a man (idomeneus’ son Orsilochus) who tried to steal his treasure from the Trojan war. He says that the Phaeacians took pity on him (as well as the fact that he had paid them with some of his treasure from the trojan war) and brought him to pylos originally, before the wind drove them off their course, making them land in Ithaca.

Question 16

what form does Athene change into after Odysseus lies to her and what happens between the pair?

Answer 16

Athene now changes into a woman, and praises Odysseus for his cunning and reveals her true identity. She admits to the fact she helped Odysseus along his journey, and that she will continue helping Odysseus. She warns Odysseus not to tell a single soul that he has arrived from his wanderings, and warns him that he must suffer further even under his own roof. Odysseus then speaks, claiming that Athena was kind to him as the Acheans were campaigning in Troy and that she protected him but she seemed to abandon him during his long travels. Athene delights in his grace and cunning, these qualities, she says, are the reasons she can’t help but stick by him. She explains that she had not helped him during his travels for fear of inciting Poseidon’s anger.

Question 17

What does Athene instruct Odysseus to do?

Answer 17

Athene instructs Odysseus that the first thing they must do is hide his treasures and goods in some corner of the sacred cave where they may lie in safety.
After they stow away the gifts from the Phaeacians within the cave, Athene blocks the cave entrance with a large stone as the two of them sit at the trunk of the sacred olive tree.

Question 18

what does Athene inform Odysseus about Ithaca and the suitors?

Answer 18

Athene tells Odysseus of the suitors and how they have been living in his palace for three years, awaiting the hand in marriage of Penelope. Whilst Penelope has been awaiting the return of Odysseus, she has been giving them false hope, secretly awaiting the return of her husband, Odysseus. Odysseus hears this news and is immediately grateful of Athene and for her knowledge on the suitors, as he would have likely faced the same death as Agamemnon if he had not disguised his identity. Odysseus asks the Goddess if she will stand by his side whilst he banishes the suitors, and she happily agrees- she will first make him unrecognisable and change his identity by turning him into a beggar.

Question 19

who must Odysseus approach first at Ithaca (whilst he is disguised as a beggar)?

Answer 19

Odysseus must first approach his swineherd (the man who looks after his pigs)- Odysseus must stay there and question him about whatever Odysseus wants to know. Meanwhile, Athene will go to Sparta and summon Telemachus.

Question 20

What does Athene inform Odysseus about his son?

Answer 20

Odysseus is immediately concerned for his son, who has travelled the sea’s in misery, looking for his father, but Athene assures him that she escorted him with safety and that he is living comfortably, and in luxury in Menelaus’ palace. She tells Odysseus that the suitors plan on killing him as he returns to Ithaca, but that they will not succeed in their attempt.

Question 21

what happens at the end of book 13?

Answer 21

Athene transforms Odysseus into a beggar

Question 22

how is Alcinous characterised during book 13?

Answer 22

He is very keen to keep Poseidon appeased through his reaction of the boat turning to stone, he doesn’t want to risk what could happen to his people if Poseiden decided to put up a wall of mountains around Scheria and his willingness to ban helping foreigners shows how keen he is to keep Poseidon happy and then in turn protect his people.

Question 23

how is Poseidon characterised during book 13?

Answer 23

He is vengeful as he plots the punishment of the Phaeacians with Zeus. However, the reader gains insight into Poseidon’s respect for his brother being the King of the Gods, due to the fact that as soon as Zeus proposes the alternative punishment of turning the Phaeacians’ ship into a rock, Poseidon abandons his original plan.

Question 24

how is zeus characterised during book 13?

Answer 24

Serves to counter Poseidon’s irrational hatred of Odysseus and his need to punish the Phaecians. His role as the god of hospitality is important in this segment as it is the chapter where Odysseus returns to his homeland.

Question 25

how is the theme of concealment and disguise shown?

Answer 25

not only did you have the introduction of turning Odysseus into the beggar so that he could trick the suitors which will end up playing a major role but you also have the concealment of Ithaca when he returns which causes him to become disorientated and it shows more of Odysseus untrusting side and furthers his character to the audience.

Question 26

how is the theme of endurance shown in book 13?

Answer 26

Even after the long, arduous journey he has just undertaken, Athene proceeds to tell Odysseus that he must not tell anyone who he really is and that he has returned. He must continue to endure ‘all aggravation in silence’ and ‘submit himself to the indignities that will be put upon him’. So, his journey is still not yet over and he must endure the last part.

Question 27

how is the theme of cunning (metis) shown in book 13?

Answer 27

Athene presents cunning when she approaches Odysseus on Ithaca. She speaks in riddles when answering Odysseus’ question concerning his whereabouts, leaving clues in her speech that relate directly to his homeland. Additionally, Odysseus displays cunning by convincing her to help him through flattery ‘Ah, Lady of the Bright Eyes, if only you would aid me with such eagerness as you did then.’ After saying this, Athene quickly agrees to ‘stand by his side’.