1. Book 23
Odysseus and penelope

2. Characters and Themes
Characters ?
Themes ?

3. Sections for reading and discussion
1-50
50-100

4. 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?

5. 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

6.
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?

7.
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?

8. 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?

9.
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?

10.
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 again now?
Does Odysseus give an accurate/ realistic summary?
What significance does Odysseus sleep at the end of his tales have?

11.
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?

12. 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