Journal 4/11
By: Brianna Monique
Tags: Slack

Discussion Questions

To begin with, Telemachus was scared to even approach the suitors of his mother about his desire for them to be gone. He also has lost hope that his father‘s whereabouts and whether or not he is alive. As Telemachus begins to mature, and desire revenge on the invaders of his house, other signs are shown of this desire. The vengeance Telemachus found against the suitors was nowhere to be found at the beginning of the book. Telemachus was too scared to even confront the suitors about his disapproval of their “invasion of his house, and ravaging of his livestock. However, he becomes much braver and less tolerant of the suitors, calls an assembly, and he even talks back to the suitors, as opposed to just letting them do whatever they please. Telemachus has made a huge transformation. He is on his return voyage to Ithaca after visiting Nestor and Menelaus. He is returning with a newfound vengeance for the suitors, as he has found out that Odysseus is still alive.

The relationship Telemachus and Pisistratus have is a very close friendship. For instance, Telemachus kicks Pisistratus to wake him up. This is a sign that they’re like brothers and are friendly. Because if they were solely acquaintances , and Pisistratus was simply a guest for Telemachus, Telemachus wouldn’t have kicked Pisistratus. Another example is when Telemachus is talking to Pisistratus and Pisistratus is telling Telemachus that he has to get home or Nestor, his father will kill him. This gives the reader an idea of how the two young men have a good connection and can converse like brothers plainly and simply.

We see throughout Odysseus disguise as a beggar his closest companions like Penelope and his maid Eurycleia find similarities in physical features between them. Although, Odysseus’s disguise is much older and raggedy he still tries to lessen encounters with these two. Even wishing to meet Penelope after sunset in order to avoid her seeing him clearly. Odysseus also suggest that another maid cleanse him because Eurycleia might notice the scar on his foot. Furthermore, personality wise these characters share similar features. For example, the narrator of his false tale had also been a fighter at Troy. His false persona also had problems controlling the selfish impulses of his crewmen. Just as Odysseus himself had troubles commanding his men to flee with their prizes from the conquered Ciconians, so too is his persona unable to command his raiding forces on the Aegyptus River. In this way, we see that Odysseus’ “lies” are never wholly false, but always include some aspect of the truth. Just as a disguised Odysseus is still a true Odysseus covered with fictional enhancements. So too are Odysseus’ storytelling personae aspects of his true personality that have been modified through the inclusion of fictional elements.

Characters who use disguise in film use it to conceal their identity in fear of persecution, to discover the true meaning or intentions of other characters or to even as a way to escape. Examples of this would the polyjuice potion in Harry Potter, disguises in Mission Impossible and even undercover agents in most cop movies.

Book 14 4/9

Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, meets his old swineherd, Eumaeus. Eumaeus gives him dinner and tells him about the suitors and his dead lord, Odysseus. Odysseus displays his gifts for disguise and improvisation in his encounter with Eumaeus. Once again, we see Odysseus inventing tales about his past life that often incorporate key instances from his actual life and experiences. He speaks of the greed of his crew, and we have seen evidence of greed in his men when they opened the bag of winds and sacrificed the ram of Helios. In his story, Odysseus implies that he, too, has chosen glory over family; on his quest for treasure, fame, and glory. Odysseus has come to doubt glory-seeking and respect humility. Odysseus’ lying to Eumaeus is a way to test the old swineherd’s loyalty if he is to execute the suitors as planned. We see right away that Eumaeus lives humbly and respects custom. He has also remained fiercely loyal to Odysseus, and has therefore grown to hate the suitors. Eumaeus, who hates the suitors and misses Odysseus dearly, tells him that the suitors are going to ambush Telemachus upon his return.

Book 15 4/9

Athena finds Telemachus in Lakedaimon and she tells him that he must hurry home to Ithaca before the suitors succeed in winning his mother’s hand, Eurymachus. She also warns him of the ambush, and tells him to find Eumaeus and have him deliver the message to Penelope that he has returned. Athena orchestrates the meeting of father and son by commanding Telemachus to return home. She manipulates Telemachus more directly than she does Odysseus. Because she tends to help Odysseus with his own plans, but not give him orders. When Telemachus mentions Odysseus in his good-byes, an eagle with a goose in its claws flies by. Helen interprets this as a sign of Odysseus’ imminent return and the fulfillment of his vengeance against the suitors. At Pylos, Telemachus loads his gifts into his ship and sails to Ithaca; he takes along Theoclymenus, a prophet’s son who killed a man in Argos and begs for hospitality. Meanwhile, Athena also thwarts the plans of the suitors, who want to do to Telemachus what Aegisthus did to Agamemnon. Meanwhile, back in Ithaca, Odysseus decides to test Eumaeus one more time. He tells Eumaeus that he plans to leave the next morning and try his luck begging at the palace, but Eumaeus urges him to stay until Telemachus returns. Eumaeus proves the extent of his hospitality and loyalty by asking the strange beggar to stay in his home for as long as need be. Meanwhile, Telemachus lands, having safely avoided the ambush. Nearby, a hawk picks up a dove, and Theoclymenus sees this as a sign that Telemachus’ family will stay in power forever. Two omens foretell positive things for Odysseus. The symbolic depiction of Odysseus as a bird of prey fits with his persona because Odysseus acts swiftly and with cleverness and wisdom in combat. Telemachus has completed his mini-odyssey, in which he has matured from a powerless boy at the beginning of the poem to an independent young man ready to fight alongside his father. He also extends the hospitality he has received throughout his journey to Theoclymenus by allowing him to seek refuge on his ship. Odysseus asks about his parents, and Eumaeus tells him about the death of Odysseus’ mother and the loneliness of his father, Laertes. Eumaeus then relates his life story: abducted by pirates, Laertes purchased him, and Odysseus’ mother raised him as if he were her own son. Although Eumaeus was born royal, his abduction transformed him into a servant. Eumaeus’s story illustrates the uncertainty of fate in this epic. Highlighting that justice in the ancient world does not mean that each person gets what he deserves.

Book 16 4/9

Telemachus arrives at Eumaeus’ hut where he is greeted and embraced by Eumaeus and introduced to Odysseus disguised as a beggar. Odysseus tries to rally him to fight the suitors, but Telemachus insists that he is powerless against them. He asks Eumaeus to tell Penelope and Laertes that he has returned safely, but not to let the suitors know. Telemachus proves his hospitality when he offers to help the stranger. We see once again the theme of xenia repeated and can come to the conclusion that hospitality is not merely a custom for the people of the ancient world but virtue exhibited by most. Odysseus spells out the requirements of honor for Telemachus and Eumaeus. By stating he would rather die than not fight his offenders and that he would willingly die trying than tolerate their disrespect. Athena appears only visible to Odysseus. He walks outside to talk to her, and she tells Odysseus to reveal his true identity to Telemachus so that the two can plan their revenge against the suitors. We see again that Athena helps Odysseus, she enhances his own skills, but she does not control him. Odysseus devises a plan and instructs Telemachus to return to the palace, and Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, will join him later with Eumaeus. Odysseus will endure whatever abuses the suitors heap on him. Then Athena will give Odysseus the word, and he shall signal to Telemachus to hide all their weapons except for two sets of arms for them to use later. He warns him not to let anyone, even Eumaeus or Penelope, know about his identity, as a test of loyalty. Athena has assured Odysseus that he can trust Telemachus, but he does not trust any other member of his family with the news of his return. It would be unwise for Odysseus to immediately trust them because 20 years of absence can change ties. For instance, Agamemnon and his wife. Meanwhile, Eumaeus returns to the palace to inform Penelope of her sons arrival covertly, but is bested by the messenger who announces his arrival to the palace. The suitors, disappointed that their ambush has failed, huddle outside to plan their next move. Antinous recommends putting Telemachus to death before he can call an assembly but Amphinomus, one of the more thoughtful and well-behaved suitors, persuades the others to wait for a sign from the gods before doing anything so rash. We think that Odysseus’ keen planning will easily subdue the suitors, we are reminded of their great numbers and also of their intelligence. They rationally decide to consult with the gods over their planned murder of Telemachus, and they lie to Penelope about said plans.

Book 17 4/9

Telemachus goes into the city and the suitors are acting friendly towards him, but have cruel intentions. He tells Penelope what he has heard about his father and lies and states that Odysseus is still being trapped on Calypso’s island. Theoclymenus adds his prophecy: he says that Odysseus is in Ithaca as they speak, plotting revenge. Not long after, Eumaeus and Odysseus set out for the city, with Odysseus disguised as a beggar. On their way, they run into the goatherd Melanthius, who insults them and even gives Odysseus a kick. Odysseus wisely resists the temptation to fight back against both Melanthius and Antinous. Now, with so much at stake, he has learned from his past mistakes and bears the unjust blows of the suitors, knowing his revenge will have to be plotted carefully. In her room, Penelope hears the blow and wishes ill will upon Antinous. Because he lacks the proper formalities to greet guest and strangers. She asks Eumaeus to send the beggar to her room, but Odysseus says that it is too risky right now with the suitors, and that he will visit her at night. Before he returns to his hut, Eumaeus warns Telemachus to be on his guard against the suitors.