The Odyssey - Books 17-20 Flashcards
Character: Melanthius
The goatherd who kicks Odysseus on his way to the palace. He is disloyal
Character: Melantho
sister of Melanthius, one of Penelope’s maids, Eurylochus’ lover
What does Antinous do that seals his fate and upsets the rest of the suitors?
He throws a chair at the beggar
Character: Argos
Odysseus’ dog who dies upon seeing him return
What does Argos represent?
Argos represents the state of Ithaca. He is covered in fleas in the same way that Ithaca is covered in suitors who are sucking the life from the palace
Character: Irus
The beggar out in front of the castle. Odysseus fights him and, ultimately, kills him to gain a spot with the suitors
Why does Odysseus want to meet Penelope at night?
Because it is darker and his disguise will be even more obscured.
Why does Athena make the taunts of the suitors worse?
To help readers understand and remember why they are so bad and deserve to die.
What directions does Odysseus give Penelope before he leaves for Troy?
- Take care of my parents
- When Telemachus grows a beard, choose someone to marry
How does Penelope make Odysseus proud the first time he sees her again? What other purpose does this have?
Penelope asks the suitors for gifts. It allows readers to continue to see her cunning and ability to have her own kleos on her own.
It also replenishes what the men have taken away from the palace all these years.
How does the beggar prove he has seen Odysseus?
He describes Odysseus’ purple cape, golden brooch, and the herald, Eurybates.
What is the significance of the beggar saying that he has not seen Odysseus for 20 years?
Odysseus has not seen himself as what he once was, the king of Ithaca, for the twenty years since he has been gone at Troy.
Why might this be the thesis of the Odyssey:
But then if a man is kind by nature, kind in action,
his guests will carry his fame across the earth
and people all will praise him from the heart. (19.401.381-383)
Please see your notes for the answer to this, you may all have different answers, but generally they should be about Xenia and Kleos
What might signify that Penelope does know that the beggar is Odysseus?
She tells Eurycleia to come “wash her masters… equal in years” She might have almost said “your masters feet”. She also might be telling Odysseus her plan to test the suitors in a coded conversation
Define: anagnorisis
the point at which a character realizes another character’s true identity.