ENGL220 Odyssey Books XV-XIX

Book XV

Athena arrives in Sparta

She lies to Telemachus to get him home

Telemachus heads to Ithaca, accompanied by the exile/seer Theoclymenus

Odyssey XVI

Penny scolds the suitors.

Book XVII

Telemachus goes home

The maids are glad to see him

Then Telemachus goes to the assembly

Athena makes him extra good-looking.

He gives the gifts he got from Menelaus to his friend Piraeus for safekeeping

Telemachus takes Theoclymenus home, and Theo tells Penelope that her husband is on Ithaca

The suitors have been frolicking in the courtyard

They break for dinner.

Ody goes to beg at his own home

Argus by Alexander PopeWHEN wise Ulysses, from his native coast Long kept by wars, and long by tempests toss'd, Arrived at last, poor, old, disguised, alone, To all his friends, and ev'n his Queen unknown, Changed as he was, with age, and toils, and cares, Furrow'd his rev'rend face, and white his hairs, In his own palace forc'd to ask his bread, Scorn'd by those slaves his former bounty fed, Forgot of all his own domestic crew, The faithful Dog alone his rightful master knew! Unfed, unhous'd, neglected, on the clay Like an old servant now cashier'd, he lay; Touch'd with resentment of ungrateful man, And longing to behold his ancient lord again. Him when he saw he rose, and crawl'd to meet, ('Twas all he could) and fawn'd and kiss'd his feet, Seiz'd with dumb joy; then falling by his side, Own'd his returning lord, look'd up, and died!

Telemachus shames the suitors into giving the new beggar food

Antinous refuses, and throws a stool at Odysseus

The suitors throw out the new beggar

The swineherd and Penelope rue the treatment of the elderly guest, but are

ignored

Book XVIII

The beggar Iros arrives

Athena showers grace on Penelope

Penny scolds the suitors, and tells them if they want to be taken seriously they must bring her gifts.

The suitors send their servants off to get wonderful gifts

The suitors and the maids continue to abuse the old beggar

Odyssey XIX

Odysseus tells Telemachus to lock up all of the weapons

Meanwhile, the maids are locked in their rooms by Eurycleia

After Telemachus goes to bed, Penelope comes downstairs to interview the beggar

Penelope tells the “stranger” her troubles

The beggar assures Penelope that Odysseus will soon be home

Penelope asks Eurycleia to wash the beggar’s feet

Eurycleia recognizes the scar on Odysseus’ thigh

Odysseus swears his old nurse to silence

The beggar interprets a dream Penelope tells him she had

He foretells the destruction of the suitors

Penelope explains the bow contest she will hold

Then Penelope goes up to bed