The Odyssey Book 21 Odysseus Strings His Bow Book 22 Slaughter in the Hall Book 23 The Great Rooted Bed Reading Comprehension Quiz Book 21 Odysseus Strings His Bow 1. Who owned the bow before Odysseus? 2. To whom does Odysseus reveal his identity before the contest? 3. Why does Antinoos respond so angrily when the beggar asks if he can try to string the bow? 4. Who hands Odysseus the bow at the key moment? 5. What simile does Homer use to describe Odysseus stringing the bow? The Moment Odysseus Strings His Bow: 21. 451-458  - Great Apollo the god of wisdom and learning is recognized at this key moment. Odysseus plucks the bow and the sound is answered by Zeus' clap of thunder. The gods are truly present and directing the action of this individual who is literally in harmony with life. The lyre is also the accompaniment to the singer of this great song. You can actually see Homer himself plucking his lyre at this moment. Remember that the song is the way man's achievements are immortalized and thus the greatest kleos is earned. Book 22 Slaughter in the Hall 1. Which is the first suitor to die? How does it happen? (Be graphic.) 2. How does Eurymachos try to save himself? 3. How does Telemachus prove himself in battle? (Be specific.) 4. Describe Athena's intervention in the battle. How does she appear? 5. Which two people are the only ones spared? 6. What happens when Leodes supplicates Odysseus for his life? 7. What simile does Homer use to describe the scene of destruction after the battle? 8. What happens when Eurykleia begins the ritual boast of victory? 9. How are the disloyal servant girls executed? Athena's Appears with her Aegis Displayed at the Height of the Battle: 22. 311-324 Athena typically appears in disguise- a type of metaphor in and off itself. She arrived at the battle disguised as Mentor, the old friend of Odysseus. Despite the suitors scorn, Odysseus is heartened: he recognizes her divine identity beneath appearances. She flies up into the rafters in the form of a sparrow and there influences the flight of the suitors' spears, sending them astray. When Telemachus kills Leocritus (by slamming his spear clear through the poor guy's groin (!)), Athena 'looms out of the rafters high above them,/ brandishing her man destroying shield of thunder…" (22. 311-12) The gorgon Medusa's head emblazoned on the shield of Athena strikes the suitors with terror and the suitors stampede to escape like a herd of cattle driven mad by gadflys. The attackers strike like eagles streaking down upon smaller birds and tearing them apart. Book 23 The Great Rooted Bed 1. How does Penelope describe the sleep from which Eurykleia awakens her? 2. What is her first reaction to the news that Odysseus has slain the suitors? 3. What secret sign does she use to test Odysseus one last time? 4. What simile does Homer use to describe their embrace? 5. What do Odysseus and Penelope spend the night doing? 6. What is the last thing Odysseus remembers as he slips off to sleep? Homeric Similes: Symbol and Divine Meaning in The Odyssey Let's review the action of this final section of The Odyssey by considering the moments when Homer uses his favorite literary device: the simile. The symbols he uses must be interpreted imaginatively. You must look beyond the surface and trust your intuition to grasp the divine truth of the moment. There is no other way to understand these moments, but Doing so helps us grasp essential themes of the whole poem. Explain Homer's specific intention at these key moments. 1. The Moment Odysseus Strings His Bow: 21. 451-458  - simile of the lyre 2. Athena's Reveals Her Divinity at the Height of the Battle: 22. 311-324 - Athena's aegis; the herd crazed by gadflies; the eagles plunging down on their prey 3. Odysseus Surveys the Bloody Hall After the Battle Ends 22. 408-414 - simile of the fisherman's catch vs.  4. Eurykleia sees Odysseus Triumphant 22. 428-435 - simile of the mountain lion engorged with prey 5. Odysseus Weeps in Penelope's Arms 22. 261-269 - simile of the shipwrecked sailor finding land Think about how Homer has used symbol throughout his great poem to force us to use our imaginations to discern the central meaning of the poem. Book 23 The Great Rooted Bed Finally, let's review the action of Book 23 and the final, long awaited reunion of Odysseus and Penelope. How is the action of this episode typical of the action of the whole poem? How do both Odysseus and Penelope demonstrate the lessons learned about life from their long experience with pain? 1. What is Penelope's first reaction when Eurykleia awakens her from the soundest sleep of her life to tell her that Odysseus has arrived home? (23. 11-14) 2. Even after allowing tears to spring to her face, Penelope maintains her skepticism. Why does she tell Zeurykleis not to laugh and cry out in triumph quite yet? (23. 65-71) 3. How does Penelope react when she sees Odysseus leaning against the central column of the hall? (23. 95-108) 4. Why, even after Odysseus has bathed and appears before her as himself, does Penelope hesitate? (23. 195-200) 5. How does Odysseus pass the final test? (23.214-30) Explain the symbolism of this moment. 6. Even after their embrace, the two hesitate. What does Odysseus explain to Penelope before they can make love? How does she react? (23. 325-28) 7. What do they spend the night doing? (23. 343) 20 Minute Essay About The Final Section of The Odyssey Write a good topic sentence for a paragraph which explains Homer's intentions in the poem's second half.