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

SUMMARYDisguised 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.

SUMMARYWhen 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.

CHARACTERSAntinous- 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.

MOTIVATIONOdysseus 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