The Odyssey: Book 19 Flashcards
Themes:
- dreams
- hope
- forewarning
- anguish
- faith
- disguise
- wit
- Xenia
- loyalty
- aggression
Summary:
Odysseus still disguised as the beggar orders telemachus to remove the suitors weapons and Telemachus tells eurycleia to shut the women in their rooms and Athena lights their way in the dark. Penelope still waits for the beggar and melantho sees Odysseus and insults him again. Penelope asks what has happened to the beggar and Odysseus makes up a story about his past and reassured her that Odysseus will be back today. Penelope send to have faith and shows utmost Xenia. Odysseus requests a bath from eurycleia who senses the resemblance between him and Odysseus. Eurycleia notices the scar on his thigh and figures out it’s Odysseus and panics. Odysseus calms her down and vows her to silence and Penelope tells him her dream and he tells her it means Odysseus will kill the suitors Penelope isn’t convinced so she decides to host a contest: whoever can string Odysseus’ now and shoot an arrow through 12 axeheads then she will marry the one who wins. Odysseus promises that he will be there but Penelope is still sceptical and goes to bed
