The Odyssey - Books 17-20 Flashcards

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1
Q

Character: Melanthius

A

The goatherd who kicks Odysseus on his way to the palace. He is disloyal

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2
Q

Character: Melantho

A

sister of Melanthius, one of Penelope’s maids, Eurylochus’ lover

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3
Q

What does Antinous do that seals his fate and upsets the rest of the suitors?

A

He throws a chair at the beggar

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4
Q

Character: Argos

A

Odysseus’ dog who dies upon seeing him return

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5
Q

What does Argos represent?

A

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

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6
Q

Character: Irus

A

The beggar out in front of the castle. Odysseus fights him and, ultimately, kills him to gain a spot with the suitors

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7
Q

Why does Odysseus want to meet Penelope at night?

A

Because it is darker and his disguise will be even more obscured.

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8
Q

Why does Athena make the taunts of the suitors worse?

A

To help readers understand and remember why they are so bad and deserve to die.

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9
Q

What directions does Odysseus give Penelope before he leaves for Troy?

A
  1. Take care of my parents
  2. When Telemachus grows a beard, choose someone to marry
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10
Q

How does Penelope make Odysseus proud the first time he sees her again? What other purpose does this have?

A

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.

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11
Q

How does the beggar prove he has seen Odysseus?

A

He describes Odysseus’ purple cape, golden brooch, and the herald, Eurybates.

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12
Q

What is the significance of the beggar saying that he has not seen Odysseus for 20 years?

A

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.

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13
Q

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)

A

Please see your notes for the answer to this, you may all have different answers, but generally they should be about Xenia and Kleos

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14
Q

What might signify that Penelope does know that the beggar is Odysseus?

A

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

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15
Q

Define: anagnorisis

A

the point at which a character realizes another character’s true identity.

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16
Q

Why is Odysseus’ scar so important to his identity?

A

The scar is described in a long story that tells readers not only how Odysseus got this scar, but also describes how Odysseus got his name.

People did not have DNA evidence as to who they were, so scars and names were very important markers of who someone is.

17
Q

What does Odysseus’ name mean? Who gave it to him? Why is it fitting?

A

Odysseus - Man of Pain
Autolycus gave it to him (Anticleia’s father)
Throughout the Odyssey, Odysseus both gives pain and receives pain.

18
Q

How did Odysseus get his scar?

A

At a boar hunt. It is a coming of age moment for him.

19
Q

What does Penelope dream about? What does she think it means?

A

The dream is about twenty geese and an eagle who kills the geese and identifies himself as Odysseus.

Odysseus will kill the suitors

20
Q

Define: Portent

A

a sign or warning that something, especially something momentous or calamitous, is likely to happen

21
Q
A