Odyssey- Book 2 Flashcards
at the beginning of book 1 telemachus looks like what and why?
he ‘strode from his bedroom looking like a god’- athena makes him look particularly god-like and striking after the encounter
what quote shows what athena has done to telemachus?
“athena endowned him with such supernatural grace that all eyes were turned on him in admiration when he came up”
Aegyptius is the first to speak- what does he say?
he mentions that not since odysseus sailed away have they been called to an assembly, and he questions what the assembly might be about, and calls upon zeus to “reward him (telemachus) with his heart’s desire”
telemachus goes up to speak, and what does he say?
he mentions that he has lost a good father and calls upon the suitors to leave Odysseus palace, or go to Penelope’s father themselves and ask for her hand in marriage if they are not cowardly. Telemachus then threatens that the gods may avenge the suitors crimes, and bursts into tears
his tears are a sign of determination- the grief will drive him to take action.
this whole time while the suitors have been in the palace, was has penelope been doing?
she has been postponing choosing a husband- her duty is to wait for Odysseus so her inaction is honourable. She told the suitors that she would pick a husband once she finished weaving a shroud for laertes (odysseus’ father) during the day she would weave, and during the night she would unweave
who stands up for the suitors?
antinous- he claims that the suitors are not guilty and that penelope is to blame for the suitors behaviour and that they are justified in their behaviour as she deceived them (one of the servants told the suitors of penelope’s plan, and they forced her to finish the shroud)
what does antonious attempt to do?
he attempts to get honour on his side, but his accusations are empty- however the suitors are not justified in their behaviour because what penelope is doing (staying faithful to her husband) is honourable
what does antinous want telemachus to do?
he wants telemachus to send penelope back to her father whilst the suitors stay there
how does telemachus reply to what antinous wants him to do?
telemachus tells antinous that he can’t cast out his mother against her own will, and if he were to send his mother away then the gods would punish him terribly.
at the end of telemachus’ speech what happens?
zeus sends down two eagles from mount olympus, and over the crowd of suitors. the eagles tear each other to pieces over the crowd as a warning.
what does a prophet say to the suitors?
that something bad will happen to the suitors, and that odysseus will soon return back to ithaca- meaning a bloody doom for the suitors.
who shuts down the prophet?
eurymachus
what does eurymachus say?
he shuts down the prophet and says that Odysseus has already met his fate and won’t return. he also claims that every bird that flies the sky isn’t a bird of omen
how does telemachus reply to eurymachus?
telemachus says that the gods and people at the assembly has heard what he has said, and that he needs a fast ship and crew of twenty men to go to sparta and pylos. If he hears that his father is alive, he will make the suitors stay another year, if he hears that his father is dead, he will give him a proper burial and encourage penelope to remarry.
what does mentor say to the men?
Odysseus’ old friend mentor then stands to speak, reminding the suitors how kind and godlike Odysseus was as a ruler, and that the offences of the suitors are made worse as they are dishonouring an honourable man.
