Endings distinguish fictional worlds from real ones. His breathless survey can be contradicted on most of these points, especially the last. While Herodotus' closure is unOdyssean, it is demonstrably Iliadic with its pointing to further inevitable conflict despite the close of certain figures' and states' careers. Lowe discusses how small and large spaces contribute to plot-structure, not to fictional psychology. Given his interest in literary cognition, the psychology of reading, I regret that he never explores proxemics, the human structuring of space, by characters within the plot and by the reader.
Direct speech is the only device allowing deep access to Homeric characters' inner life.
The system fails but nearly everyone behaves as though it still works. Again, Lowe unwisely eschews acknowledging the powerful dynamics of oral poetics. We are amused not only by Odysseus' detective powers and mind-games, but also by the powers of others to recognize him. Goals in tragedy are often misconceived or backfire or find achievement with devastating consequence. Information is tightly controlled in the brief texts to enrich plotting.