| What is Odysseus disguised as at the beginning of “Father and Son”? | A beggar |
| What is ironic about the way that the swineherd meets Telemachus, Odysseus’s son? | The swineherd greets Telemachus like he is Telemachus’s father. |
| Why does Telemachus go to see the swineherd? | Telemachus wants to find out if Penelope married one of the suitors while he was away. |
| How does Telemachus treat the beggar? | Telemachus is respectful to the beggar. He shows him hospitality, an important Greek custom. |
| What problems face Father and Son? | Father and Son must confront the Suitors at the palace. |
| What is significant about the way that the palace servants have treated Argos? | The way that a society treats its animals reflects how the society treats its weakest members. |
| What do dogs represent in many stories? | Loyalty. |
| How does Argos recognize his master, Odysseus? | Argos recognizes his master’s voice. Then, Argos wags his tail since he is too old to do anything else. |
| How does Odysseus react when he sees Argos? | He is deeply touched but he tries to maintain self-control. |
| When Odysseus is dressed as a beggar, what does he tell Penelope? | Odysseus tells Penelope that Odysseus is on his way home. |
| What is the test of the Great Bow? | The Suitor must string Odysseus’s bow and then shoot an arrow through twelve ax handles. |
| Why does Homer use visual, auditory, tactile and smell imagery in this story? | Homer uses imagery in the story to allow listeners to more clearly imagine the story and engage all the reader’s senses. |
| Why does Odysseus hide his identity from the swineherd and the cowherd? | Odysseus is not sure if the cowherd and swineherd will be loyal to him or to the Suitors. |
| What is ironic about Penelope’s weaving? | Penelope weaves a funeral cloth for her father-in-law during the day but unravels what she did at night. As a result, she does not make any progress; therefore, she will not have to marry a Suitor. |
| Why do the Suitors think that the beggar, Odysseus, will not be able to string the bow? | The Suitors have not been able to string the bow so it would seem unlikely that a beggar would be able to do so. |
| What is one of the biggest obstacles about fighting the Suitors in the Great Hall? | One of the biggest obstacles about fighting the Suitors is that there are four “heroes” versus one hundred Suitors. |
| To what is Odysseus compared as he prepares to string the bow? | Odysseus is compared to a harpist, a musician who plays a harp. |
| Who removed the weapons and shields from the Great Room? | Telemachus removes the weapons and shields from the Great Room. |
| Which two gods support Odysseus in his fight against the Suitors? | Zeus and Athena. |
| Why does Antinous die first? | Odysseus hates Antinous because he called the beggar names, hit the beggar with a chair, and was the ringleader among the Suitors. |
| What does Eurymachus’s speech to Odysseus reveal about Eurymachus’s character? | By blaming Antinous for his bad behavior, Eurymachus shows that he is unable to take responsibility for his actions. |
| To what are Odysseus, Telemachus, the cowherd and the swineherd compared at the end of “The Death at the Palace”? | Odysseus, Telemachus, the cowherd and the swineherd are compared to falcons with sharp talons. |
| Why does Penelope not immediately run to greet Odysseus? | Penelope is afraid of a trick by the gods. |
| At the beginning of their conversations, were Odysseus and Penelope kind to each other? | No, Odysseus and Penelope are cruel to one another after the fight in the Great Hall. |
| Who do both Odysseus and Penelope blame for their problems? | Both Odysseus and Penelope blame the gods and goddesses (immortals) for all of their problems. |
| What is the secret of the marriage bed? | Odysseus built the bed and it cannot be moved from its location. |
| What is the final image of the story? | The final image of the story is a sailor who has been saved from the sea. |
| How does Odysseus conquer temptation and hardship throughout the stories? | Odysseus overcomes temptation and hardship throughout the stories by using his guile in peace and war. |
| Is Odysseus a resourceful planner? | Yes, Odysseus is a resourceful planner. |
| Does Odysseus take reckless chances when he confronts the Suitors in the hall? | No, Odysseus has a plan to conquer the Suitors that is well thought out and can be successful. |
The Odyssey Part II
April 22, 2020