Book 23 Odysseus and penelope

Characters and Themes Characters ? Themes ?

Sections for reading and discussion 1-50 50-100 100-150 150-200 200-250 250-300 300-350 350-372

1-50 Events Questions Eurycleia goes upstairs to wake Penelope and tell her Odysseus is home Although Penelope slept well she thinks the gods have driven Eurycleia mad Eurycleia insists Penelope asks what’s happened to the suitors? Eurycleia (although she saw nothing) says she heard groans and found Odysseus with dead suitors How is Eurycleia described as she fetches Penelope? What is the significance of Penelope’s deep sleep? What do Penelope’s words say about Eurycleia’s status among the servants? How does Eurycleia convince Penelope? How effectively does Eurycleia explain what has happened to the suitors?

50-100 Questions Events What is perceptive about Penelope’s doubt? How can Eurycleia be so certain of Odysseus identity? What does the contrast between Eurycleia’s certainty and Penelope’s doubt say about the nature of disguises/ revelation? Why can’t Penelope recognise Odysseus straight away? What is significant about Penelope taking a long time to recognise Odysseus? Penelope tempers Eurycleia’s enthusiasm and still doubts her story Eurycleia can’t believe that Penelope is still doubtful and tells her about the scar Penelope still doubts but agrees to go downstairs Penelope sees Odysseus and is confused; sometimes recognising him sometimes not

100-150 Events Questions Telemachus asks his mother why he is not rushing to greet Odysseus Penelope replies that she is in shock but she will soon be certain as her and Odysseus have secret signs Odysseus tells Telemachus to leave them while he thinks of what to do about the suitors Odysseus tells them to wash and pretend there is a wedding to prevent people finding out about the suitors What does Penelope’s reticence/ need for proof remind us of? Why does Odysseus say Penelope doesn’t recognise him? Why do we think Odysseus is not concerned about Penelope’s uncertainty? What is the usual punishment for murder according to Odysseus? How does Odysseus show his cunning?

150-200 Events Questions They sing and dance as instructed and fool passers by Odysseus washes and dresses and Athene makes him super beautiful Odysseus speaks to Penelope and asks Eurycleia to make him a single bed Penelope responds to Odysseus with a test about their bed Odysseus responds and tells the secret of how he made their bed around an olive tree What do passers by say about Penelope? Is this in keeping with our knowledge of Greek customs? What does Athene’s alteration of Odysseus remind us of? What characteristics does Odysseus rant about his bed reveal? Where else have we seen olive wood throughout the Odyssey?

200-250 Events Questions Penelope bursts into tears Penelope asks Odysseus to forgive her for not recognising him earlier Penelope talks about Helen Odysseus also cries and hugs his wife Athene holds back the dawn to give them more time in their reunion Why does Penelope claim the gods envy mortals? In what way does Penelope’s situation compare with that of Helen’s? What is the secret of their marriage bed? Who knows this secret? How are Odysseus’ feelings upon their reunion described?

250-300 Events Questions Odysseus warns his wife that his troubles are not over Odysseus wants to sleep but Penelope wants to hear about Tiresias’ prophecy Odysseus explains that he has to travel inland with an oar and that he will die of old age away from the sea Eurynome and Eurycleia prepare their bed and they sleep together Downstairs, the celebrations end and everyone goes to bed How is Penelope characterised by her need to hear about Odysseus’ troubles before going to bed? Odysseus promises to ‘tell you [Penelope] all, holding nothing back’. Does he do this? How are Penelope and Odysseus described in this passage? Look for adjectives/ epithets. How fitting an end for the whole Odyssey would this passage make?

300-350 Events Questions Penelope tells Odysseus of her time in Ithaca and he tells her of his travels Brief recap of Cicones, Lotus- Easters, Cyclopes, Aeolus, Laestrygonians, Circe, Tiresias, Syclla & Charybdis, Helios’ island, Calypso and Phaeacia Athene has ‘another idea’ and brings about the dawn How does Penelope react to Odysseus story? Why does Homer run through all the adventures of books 5-12 again now? Does Odysseus give an accurate/ realistic summary? What significance does Odysseus sleep at the end of his tales have?

350-372 Events Questions Odysseus wakes and gives Penelope instructions Odysseus says that he will have to go off raiding with the people of Ithaca to replenish the stock the suitors have used Odysseus says that immediately he will go and see his father Odysseus warns Penelope to stay upstairs, see and speak to no one to avoid the backlash of the suitors’ murder Ody., Tel., Eumaeus and Philoetius arm themselves and set off What is poignant about Odysseus having to leave Penelope so soon? How does Odysseus have to deal with the consequences of his and the suitors’ actions? Why does Penelope have to wait upstairs? What is the significance of her role in the aftermath?

Odysseus on Trial verso To what extent does Odysseus deserve to be punished for what he has done? You might want to think about: What he has done on his travels What he did on his return to Ithaca How he treats his companions and family