ARUGS & THE SUITORS

Brought to you by: Olivia Rogo, Emily Murphy & Jillian Koesterer

ARGUS

BACKGROUNDAfter 20 years, Odysseus comes back to town as

a beggar, to finds his old dog outside the palace.

Athena is a goddess that helps Odysseus to

transform into a beggar

Eumaeus is Odysseus’ old friend who helps him

into the palace

Telemachus is Odysseus’ son and they plan to

kill all the suitors in the palace

SUMMARY

Disguised as a beggar, Odysseus returns to the palace with

Eumaeus to find his old dog abandoned outside the palace

doors. Although Odysseus misses his dog, he knows that he

must present himself as someone else. Eumaeus explains to

him that Argus was once a swift and strong dog owned by a

hunter who tragically died in some far place. Since his owner

has left, not even the women slaves will take care of him, and

now he is old and weak. Argus knows that he is seeing his

owner after 20 years, but when Odysseus does not greet him,

the “death and darkness” comes upon him and he closes his

eyes.

CHARACTERS

Odysseus- He comes disguised as a beggar, he is

the owner of Argus

Eumaeus- He is Odysseus’ friend and tells him

about Argus

Argus- He is Odysseus’ dog that has been

abandoned for 20 years, he dies at the end of the

story

MOTIVATION

Odysseus’ motivation is to go to the

palace to kill the suitors that are

trying to marry his wife, Penelope

He wants to become king again and

restore his palace

SIGNIFICANT PASSAGES

“But when he knew he heard Odysseus’ voice nearby, he

did his best to wag his tail, nose down, with flattened ears,

having no strength to move nearer to his master.”

“ Now misery has him on a leash. His owner died abroad,

and here the women slaves will take no care of him.”

“…but the death and darkness in that instant closed the

eyes of Argus, who had seen his master, Odysseus, after

twenty years.”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Why is this episode important to the

story of the Odyssey?

What would have happened if

Odysseus had greeted Argus?

THE SUITORS

BACKGROUND

Telemachus is Odysseus’ son and

they plan to kill all the suitors in

the palace

Argus, his dog, died symbolizing

the country’s fall since he has

left for war.

SUMMARY

When Odysseus enters the palace as a beggar,

Antinous refuses to give him scraps to eat. Odysseus

retaliates by saying that he “has more looks than

heart”. Antinous throws a stool at him and the other

people in the palace defend Odysseus. They tell him

that if Odysseus turned out to be a god, then he would

bring disgrace upon them. Penelope asked to see the

poor beggar because she was disgusted with Antinous

and she hopes that Odysseus will have information

about her husband.

CHARACTERS

Antinous- He is a suitor who tries to marry

Penelope and he is the won who threw the stool at

Odysseus and refused to give him food

Penelope- Odysseus’ wife who refuses to remarry

because she believes that Odysseus is still alive

Eurynome- Penelope’s housekeeper who prays that

the suitors will “not live ‘till dawn”

Eupeithes- Antinous’ son

CONFLICT

Antinous refusing to give Odysseus the food is the main conflict. It

gets aggressive and initiates the following:

Penelope and Eurynome as well as the other “young bucks” in the

crowd defend Odysseus.

Eupeithes says that Odysseus should eat and be quiet or be

dragged out of the palace by the other suitors.

Telemachus struggles with the fact that he cannot defend his

father and must sit there and watch as the other men degrade his

father.

MOTIVATION

Odysseus is still motivated to kill the suitors

and get his palace back

Antinous thinks he is better than any beggar,

therefore treats Odysseus horribly

Telemachus’ motivation is to listen to his father

and help him accomplish what he needs to do in

order to get the life that he had back.

SIGNIFICANT PASSAGES

“God! What evil wind blew in this pest?” – Antinous

“The stool he let fly hit the man’s right shoulder on the packed muscle under the

shoulder blade – like solid rock.”

“There is no pain, no burden for the heart when blows come to a man, and he

defending his own cattle – his own cows and lambs.” – Odysseus

“Telemachus, after the blow his father bore, sat still without a tear, though his heart

felt the blow. Slowly he shook his head from side to side, containing murderous

thoughts”

“Oh, Nan, they are a bad lot: they intend ruin for all of us: but Antinous appears a

blacker-hearted hound than any.” – Penelope

“Abroad in the great world, he may have heard rumors about Odysseus – may have

known him!” - Penelope

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Why do you think Antinous treated Odysseus

that way?

Why do you think the conflict escalated to

violence?

What did Euynome mean when she said “If we

all pray for came to pass, not one would live till

dawn.”

What do you think Penelope hopes to hear from

Odysseus about her husband?

The End