[Homer2009-1] Odyssey Discussion Questions

Mon Nov 9 18:37:22 UTC 2009

Andre,
The questions didn't come thru in English!!

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"Andre Stipanovic" <astipanovic at mail.hockaday.org> 
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[Homer2009-1] Odyssey Discussion Questions

Hi fellow readers of Homer,
Please let these study guide questions for Books 17-24 help you reflect on 
your reading.  You may want to wait to read over these until you finish 
the book if you don't like finding out about the ending too soon. 
We will conclude our discussion of the Odyssey on Monday December 7 
(1-888-350-0075; passcode:  1100494#) @8pm EST.  In the meantime, please 
feel free to send out your questions to me and to the group so we can keep 
the discussion going.  I have enjoyed our discussions so far and your 
questions!
Also, please note that Stanley Lombardo will be live on Monday December 
14, reading from his translation of the Odyssey.  This is an excellent 
opportunity to HEAR the epic (the Greek word "epos" means the uttered 
word) from a master translator and reciter.  Sign up online at Reading 
Odyssey.
Best,
Andre

Study Guide Questions  - Discussion #3
Books 17-24 Revenge
17-20 Odysseus and Telemachus return to the palace in imminent danger
1.  Book 17 - Omens
As Odysseus first sets eyes on his own palace after 20 years, what are the 
ways that he is tested by Athena?  How much restraint is Odysseus forced 
to show?  Why?  How do the two omens in Book 17 work with respect to each 
other (i.e. Theoclymenus? prophecy and Telemachus? sneeze)?
2.  Book 18 - King of the Beggars
What does the fight between Irus and Odysseus symbolize/foretell?  Book 18 
can be said to be important for Amphinomus, one of the suitors.  What part 
does he play in the rivalry between Odysseus and the rest of the suitors? 
Why is his part necessary to the story?  Penelope?s timed appearance is 
significant here.  How does it heighten the mounting tension of the story? 
 How does Eurymachus? quarrel with Odysseus at the end of Book 18 balance 
that of Odysseus? fight with Irus at the beginning?
3.  Book 19 - Tease
The reunion of Odysseus and Penelope is somewhat of a tease.  How is 
Odysseus able to hold back his feelings?  Is he testing Penelope?  If so, 
why should he?  Why is Penelope so steadfast against believing that 
Odysseus will come back?
4.  Book 20 - Gods and Prophecies
For all of Odysseus? cleverness and fortitude, he still requires 
encouragement to stick with his disguise until it is time for him to 
reveal himself.  At what two points do the gods respond to him?  How 
manifest are these divine responses to the situation at hand?  What is 
Odysseus? main concern in Book 20?  What is Penelope?s?  How do these two 
differ, yet overlap?
21-24 The contest of the bow and ultimate revenge on the suitors
5.  Book 21 - Contest of the Bow
With Athena prompting Penelope to announce the contest of the bow, the 
revenge on the suitors is set into motion.  How much of this plan is 
Odysseus in control of?  What is Penelope?s role in this overall plan? 
What is Telemachus? role in the plan?  Could the plan come together 
without Eumaeus? or Philoetus? help?  According to the text of Book 21, in 
what parts does Athena actively instigate events?
6.  Book 22 - Anger Unleashed
Although Odysseus? anger is justified, shouldn?t he have taken Eurymachus? 
offer for compensation after Antinous was killed?  Wouldn?t that have made 
sense in light of the family feuds and revenge killings that are sure to 
follow?  Why does Athena let Odysseus struggle in combat with the suitors 
for as long as she does?  Why does she show the ?aegis? when she does, 
thereby making the suitors flee (p. 345), but not sooner?  In the midst of 
the killing, Leodes the soothsayer begs for mercy.  Leodes was the first 
to try the bow on p. 326 and foresaw this calamity, but Odysseus still 
kills him anyway.  Why?  Phemius the bard also begs for mercy, but he and 
Medon the herald are spared.   Why?  Are the punishments of the serving 
women and Melanthius just or too harsh?
7.  Book 23 - Aftermath of Slaughter
Ironically, Penelope wakes up from a ?sweet sleep? (line 17, p. 353).  Why 
is she now, all of a sudden, blessed with a ?sweet sleep??  Why does 
Penelope continue to hold back from believing that Odysseus has returned? 
If Odysseus himself hadn?t killed the suitors, as she says, then who does 
she believe has killed them?  Why would this be frightening to her rather 
than happy?   How is Penelope finally convinced that this stranger is her 
husband?  Penelope finally recognizes Odysseus as her long-lost husband 
and Homer uses a simile to describe the moment (p. 360).  What does the 
simile show about the relationship between Penelope and Odysseus?
8.  Book 24 - Shades and Judgment
Book 24 opens by recalling some of the shades in Hades we met in Book 11. 
Some commentators say that Agamemnon?s and Achilles? conversation is out 
of place here.  Is it or is it not?  Why does Odysseus continue to put on 
a false front with his father, even after the suitors have been killed? 
Eupeithes, Antinous? father rouses up the Ithacans against Odysseus. What 
sort of threat is posed to Odysseus and his family?  Zeus makes an 
irrevocable judgment of the situation on Ithaca.  How does Athena respond 
to what Zeus says?  Why must Zeus throw a thunderbolt?  What does the 
situation on Ithaca show about the Greeks in general? about the Greeks at 
Troy?_______________________________________________
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