Twenty Years Gone
What people does Athena warn Odysseus about?
Suitors. (People are trying to marry his wife and take over his role.)
Who is Argus?
Odysseus' dog.
What does Penelope ask to see at the end of the section?
The beggar whom Antinous hit (Odysseus in disguise).
How does Odysseus react to seeing his son?
He weeps.
A dung pile.
After being hit by Antinous, Odysseus speaks out to the crowd. He asks for justice to come down upon Antinous, hoping he's killed before a certain date. What is that date?
Antinous' marriage.
In order to learn about Odysseus' fate, Telemachus travels to two places. What are those places?
Pylos and Sparta
How does Argus react to seeing Odysseus? What happens in the moments after they leave?
How do the other suitors react to seeing Antinous hit Odysseus?
They react disgustedly. Even they refuse to support Antinous hitting the beggar, seeing it as rude and immoral (which is ironic considering many of them intend to try and marry Odysseus' wife).
"If son of mine you are and blood of mine, let no one hear Odysseus is about. Neither Laertes, nor the swineherd here, nor any slave, nor even Penelope."
Who said this and what is the context behind this quote?
Odysseus speaks these words. He tells his son not to let anyone in on their plan, including Odysseus' own wife. This lack of trusts towards his own wife is ironic because of Odysseus' incapability to be faithful to her.
Upon seeing Argus, Odysseus doesn't greet Argus. Explain this choice.
Explain what Odysseus is doing at the start of this section. What might be the purpose of doing this?
Odysseus is going around begging people for any scraps of food they may have. One reason he may be doing this is to identify which suitors to kill or spare. Those who are generous have hearts, whilst those who are cruel are likely selfish.
Summarize Odysseus' plan to get rid of the suitors.
First, Odysseus will disguise as a beggar. Odysseus will then enter disguised and signal Telemachus when the time is right. Once he receives this signal, Telemachus is to go hide all of the suitor's spare weapons, saving a few for the two of them. They will then slaughter the suitors with their weapons.
After seeing Odysseus one last time, Argus dies. Using context clues, explain what the likely cause of Argus' death is.
The dog is likely neglected, sick, and died from either old age or sickness.
"Enough. Eat and be quiet where you are, or shamble elsewhere, unless you want these lads to stop your mouth pulling you by the heels, or hands and feet, over the whole floor, till your back is peeled!"
Who said this and what is the meaning behind this quote? Is the speaker correct in their theory?
Antinous speaks these lines. He tells Odysseus to stop whining about being hit, threatening that the other suitors might shut him up (through violent force) if he doesn't.
Antinous is incorrect in theory. The other suitors are just as disturbed as Odysseus is. They feel as if Antinous was too harsh and cruel to the poor beggar.