Book 19:

Penélopê and Her Guest

Characters

• no new characters

Settings

• Ithaka

Thought Questions

• How does the book show Penélopê the equal to her husband?
• Do you think it is possible that someone would love their spouse as much as Penélopê says she does and not recognize her husband even though he has been gone 20 years?

Questions

1. What reasons is Telémakhos to give the suitors about removing the arms and armor from the hall?
2. How does Athena help remove the armor?
3. Does Penélopê hold an audience with Odysseus in her chambers or in the great hall of the house?
4. Which maid berates Odysseus?
5. What does Eurynome do with the chair before one sits in it?
6. What story we've already heard does Penélopê tell Odysseus about herself and the suitors?
7. What clothing items does Odysseus say he saw on Penélopê's husband when he saw him, which convinces her he knew Odysseus?
8. Why, according to Odysseus, is Penélopê's husband not home yet?
9. What does Penélopê ask Eurykleia to do for Odysseus?
10. How does Eurykleia recognize Odysseus?
11. Where had Odysseus gotten his name?
12. How had Odysseus gotten the scar on his thigh?
13. How does Odysseus react to Eurykleia's recognition of him?
14. What dream does Penélopê describe to Odysseus?
15. What contest does Penélopê propose at the end of the book?

Book 20:

Portents Gather

Characters

• Ctesippus
• Philoetius
  

Settings

• Ithaka

Thought Questions

• What evil omen does Amphinomus see?
• There is foreshadowing in the type of festival being held
  

Questions

1. What kind of bed does Odysseus sleep on?
2. What comfort does Athena offer Odysseus?
3. What prayer does Penélopê make to Artemis?
4. What 2 signs (one from Zeus and one from a woman grinding grain) offers comfort to Odysseus?
5. What convinces Odysseus that Philoetius is trustworthy?
6. What festival day is going on in town?
7. How does Athena use Ctesippus to anger Odysseus?
8. What indication do we have that Athena is driving the suitors crazy?
9. What prophecy does Theoclymenos make regarding the suitors before leaving?
10. What time of day does the book end with?

Book 21:

Odysseus Strings His Bow

Characters

• Leodes
  

Settings

• Ithaka

Thought Questions

• How has Homer built up the expectations of his listeners for the slaughter that is about to take place?
  

Questions

1. What contest does Athena inspire Penélopê to propose?
2. What is so special about Odysseus' bow?
3. What prize does Penélopê propose for the contest?
4. Who sets up the axes?
5. Who is the first person to try to string the bow? Does he succeed?
6. Identify Leodes.
7. What does Melanthius bring to try to help the suitors string the bow?
8. How does Odysseus prove to Eumaeus and Philoetius that he is their master?
9. How are the men convinced to let Odysseus try to string the bow?
10. Why does Penélopê leave the contest? What does she do?
11. What sign does Zeus send when the bow is strung?
12. How does the book end?
    

Book 22:

Slaughter in the Hall

Characters

• No new character
  

Settings

• Ithaka

Thought Questions

• Does the slaughter of the suitors meet your expectations?
• Among the power of Homer's talent are his similies. Why is his description of the women servants' deaths particularly effective?
  
  

Questions

1. Who is the first suitor killed?
2. How is the first suitor killed?
3. How does Eurymachus try to save them all?
4. How is he killed?
5. How is Amphinomus killed?
6. What equipment does Telemachos fetch to help them?
7. How does Melanthius betray his master? How is he eventually punished for it?
8. What do the two servant do to him?
9. Who does Athena come disguised as?
10. What moment do they realize it is actually Athena?
11. What does Leodes do to save himself? Does it work?
12. What does Phemius do to save himself? Does it work?
13. Only two men are saved. Who are they?
14. What response does Odysseus have to Eurykleia regarding a cry of triumph?
15. What job are the dozen unfaithful servants given?
16. What happens to the dozen servants?
    
    

Book 23:

The Great Rooted Bed

Characters

• No new character
  

Settings

• Ithaka

Thought Questions

• How does Penélopê show herself Odysseus' equal?
• Why doesn't the epic end here, when Odysseus is back in the arms of his wife?
  

Questions

1. What does Odysseus do to purify the house?
2. Where do Odysseus and Penélopê have their reunion?
3. How does Penélopê act when she goes to meet Odysseus?
4. What does Odysseus ask Phemius to do?
5. How does Athena change Odysseus?
6. What does Penélopê ask Eurycleia to do which angers Odysseus?
7. What is the secret of the bed that Odysseus reveals?
8. What does Athena do to make the reunion of Odysseus and Penélopê special?
9. What prophecy about his death does Odysseus tell Penélopê?
10. How do Odysseus and Penélopê end their evening?
11. What instructions does Odysseus give Penélopê in the morning?
12. Where does Odysseus go and who goes with him?
13. How does Odysseus propose restocking the herds depleted by the suitors?

Book 24:

Peace

Characters

• Eupeithes [Eupithes]
• Dolios [Dolius] and his sons
  
  

Settings

• Ithaka
• Mt. Olympus

Thought Questions

• What burial customs are described in two places of this book?
• How does Homer create a symmetry to the book by including Agamemnon and his story in this last book?
• Who are the Kephallenians [Cephallenians]?
• How does the book justify the murders of the suitors?
• A recent film of the book leaves off this book. What does it lose by not including it?
  
  

Questions

1. Who leads the dead suitors to Hades?
2. Why does Agamemnon feel that Akhilleus [Achilles] had the better death?
3. What argument does Amphimedon give to Agamemnon to justify their actions?
4. How does Agamemnon judge Penélopê?
5. In what is Laertes living?
6. Why does Odysseus tell Laertes that long lie about who he is?
7. How does Laertes change after his bath?
8. What decision does Zeus make regarding Odysseus?
9. Who kills Eupeithes?
10. How does Athena disguise herself?
11. Who forces the men to make peace?