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TalesfromtheOdyssey
BookSix:TheFinalBattle
By:MaryPopeOsborne

Answerallquestionsattheendofeachchapter.Makesureto
usecompletesentences
andthatyou
readthequestionsfully.Youshouldhighlightunknownwords,newcharacters,andimportantorinteresting
pointswithinthestorywhenyouarereading.
Writenotesonthesideitletsmeknowwhatyoure
thinkingwhenreading.
Ifyouhavequestionsthatcomeupwhenreading,writethemdownontheright
handsidesometimesaskingyourselfquestionswhenreadinghelpsyoubetterunderstandthetext.

Chapter1:Penelope
Questions/Comments/Notes

Penelope,queenofIthaca,weptandprayedtothegodsasshe
waitedfornewsofherson,Telemachus.Fiveweeksearlier,the
youngmanhadsailedawayinsearchofhislonglostfather,
Odysseus.Shortlyafterhisdeparture,Penelopehadlearnedthat
hersuitorswereplottingtomurderhersononhisjourneyhome.

Foryears,thesewickedmenhadtriedtotakeOdysseusplace.
TheytormentedPenelopedaily,invadingherhomeanddemanding
thatshechooseoneofthemforahusband.ButPeneloperemained
fiercelyloyaltoOdysseus.Enduringthreatsandhumiliation,she
hadledthesuitorsonwithfalsepromisesofmarriage,thenput
themoffagainandagainbyrefusingtochoosewhomtowed.

NowPenelopeweptforbothOdysseusandTelemachus.Asshe
pacedinherchamber,sheheardsomeonecallingtoherfromthe
courtyardbelow.Peneloperushedtothewindowandsawtheold
swineherdwholivedonthepigfarmneartheshore.Theswineherd
wassurroundedbyPenelopesservantsandsuitors.

Mylady,weepnomore,theswineherdcalledtoPenelope.Your
sonissafe!Yesterdayhisshipdockedatourisland.Herestsnowat
myhut.

Hearingthisnews,Penelopeandherhandmaidenswepttearsof
joy.ButthesuitorswereplainlyunhappytohearthatTelemachus
hadreturnedsafelytoIthaca.WhenPenelopelearnedtheywere
makinganewplottokillherson,shewentdownstairstoconfront

them.Filledwithfury,shecalledouttoAntinous,theleaderofthe
villains.

Antinous!Doyounotrememberhowmyhusbandoncesavedyour
fatherfromanangrymob?Penelopesaid.Andnowyoutrytotake
Odysseusplaceandmurderhisson!Howdareyou?

BeforeAntinouscouldanswer,oneoftheothersuitorscalledout
fromthecrowd,Donotworry,QueenPenelope!Yoursonhas
nothingtofearfromus.Ofcourse,shouldthegodsdecreethathe
die,thereisnothingwecando.

Helplessinthefaceoftheirevil,Penelopecouldsaynomore.She
returnedtoherchamber.Sheweptbittertearsforherhusbandand
son,untilfinallythegrayeyedgoddess,Athena,closedPenelopes
eyelidsandgaveherthegiftofsleep.

Questions:
1. WhatdidPenelopeaskAntinoustoremember?
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Chapter2:ApproachtothePalace

ThegoddessAthenawasalsowatchingoverOdysseusand
Telemachus.Justtwodaysbefore,AthenahadhelpedOdysseus
returntotheshoresofIthacaanddisguisedhimasabeggar.

WhenOdysseushadhobbledtothehutofhisfaithfulswineherd,the
oldmanhadnotrecognizedhim.Later,whenTelemachusarrivedat
thehut,healsodidnotrecognizeOdysseus.Butwhenfatherand
sonwerealone,AthenamagicallytookawayOdysseusdisguise
Sincetheirjoyfulreunion.OdysseusandTelemachushadbeen
makingaplantofightthesuitors,whosenumberexceededone
hundred.

Now,huddlednearaneveningcampfire,fatherandsonreviewed
theirplot.Youwillgotothepalacefirst,Odysseussaid,Iwill

follow,inmydisguiseasabeggar.Remember,youmustnotshow
anysignthatyouknowmeevenifsomeonetriestodomeharm.

Andyouwilltellmewhenitistimetohidetheweapons?asked
Telemachus.

Yes,saidOdysseus.Athenahaspromisedtohelpus.Whenshe
appearsandgivesmethesign,wewilltakethespearsandshields
fromthehallandhidetheminastoreroomupstairs.

Theirdiscussionwasinterruptedbythereturnoftheswineherd.
AthenasmagicagaingaveOdysseustheappearanceofalowly
beggar.Asthethreemenpreparedtheirsuppertogether,fatherand
sonheldtheirplanclosetotheirhearts.

Thenextmorning,atthefirstlightofdawn,Telemachusleftthe
swineherdshut.Hismindwasfilledwiththoughtsofthecoming
fightashehurrieddowntherockypathtowardhishome.

WhenTelemachusreachedthepalace,hisoldnurse,Euryclea,
greetedhimjoyfully.Theothermaidsofthehousesurroundedhim
andembracedhim.

Soonhismotherappeared.Shethrewherarmsaroundhimand
wept.

Sweetlightofmyeyes!Penelopecried,IfearedIwouldneversee
youagain!

Ihavetraveledfar,MotherasfarasthekingdomofSparta,said
Telemachus.KingMenelausandQueenHelenshowedmegreat
hospitalitythereandshoweredmewithgifts.

Andwhatnewsdoyoubringofyourfather?Penelopeasked.

Telemachuslookedathismothersadly,rememberinghispromiseto
OdysseustotellnooneofhisfathersreturntoIthaca.Iknowonly
this,hesaidsoftly.KingMenelaussaidthatlongagotheOldMan
oftheSearevealedtohimthatOdysseuswasbeingheldcaptiveon

theislandofthegoddessCalypso.Hecannotleave,becauseheno
longerhasanyshipstocarryhimhome.

AsTelemachustoldhismothermoreabouthisjourney,Odysseus
washeadingtowardthepalace.Accompaniedbytheswineherd,he
hobbleddowntherockyroadinhisdisguise.

Astheynearedthepalacegates,Odysseussawanold,bonydog
lyingonagarbageheap.TearscometoOdysseuseyes,forhe
recognizedthedogashisbelovedhound,Argus.

WhenArguscaughtsightofOdysseus,heseemedtorecognizehis
master.Theolddogwassofeeblehecouldnotstand.Buthe
joyfullywaggedhistail.

ItpainedOdysseusthathecouldnotgotoArgus,lesthegive
himselfaway.Whydoesthathoundlieabandonedanduncared
for?heaskedtheswineherd.Helooksasifhewereonceafine
animal.

Aye,hewasoncethemastersfavorite,theswineherdsaid.But
withthepalaceinsuchdisorder,noonethinkstocareforhim
anymore.Foryears,hehaswaitedfaithfullytolayeyesuponhis
belovedmasteragain.HeknowsnotthatOdysseusdiedlongago.

AsOdysseussadlyfollowedtheswineherdthroughthepalace
gates,theolddogclosedhiseyesandquietlypassedintothepeace
anddarknessofdeath.Hisgreatestwishhadfinallycometrue:his
masterhadcomehome.

Questions:
1. Who
firstrecognizesOdysseusashecomesbackintothe
town?

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ChapterThree:TheBeggarattheTable

Leaningonhisstickandcoveredbyhisraggedcloak,Odysseus
stoodatthethresholdofthepalacethathadbeenhishometwenty
yearsbefore.

Soonthesuitorsbeganboisterouslyinvadingthegreathall.Invisible
totherudemen,thegoddessAthenaappearedtoOdysseusand
whisperedinhisear.Goaroundtheroomandbegfromeachman,
shesaid,andyouwilllearnwhoisgoodandwhoisevil.

Odysseusfollowedherbiddingandbeganhobblingfrommanto
man,beggingforfood.

Antinous,theleaderofthesuitors,tookanimmediatedisliketohim.
Whataloathsomecreatureyouare!hesaidwhenOdysseus
approachedhim.Whataloathsomecreatureyouare!hesaid
whenOdysseusapproachedhim.Howdareyoutrytotakeour
dinner?

OdysseuslookedAntinousintheeye.Andwhataboutyou,sir?he
said.Doyounotfeedyourselffromanothermanstable?

AntinouspickedupastoolandhurleditatOdysseus,strikinghim
ontheback.Odysseustooktheblowsilentlyandwalkedaway.

Telemachusstruggledagainsthisfiercedesiretodefendhisfather,
forheknewhemustnotrevealthebeggarstrueidentity.Butwhen
servantstoldPenelopeabouttheattackonthepoorraggedman,
shewasfurious.

IhopethegodApollostrikesAntinousdead!shesaid.Allmy
suitorsareloathsome,butAntinousistheworst!Bringthestranger
tome.Perhapshehasheardsomethingaboutmyhusband.He
seemslikeamanwhohastraveledfarandseenmuch.

TheservanthurriedtorelaythemessagetoOdysseus.

TellyourqueenthatIwillcometoherafterdark,saidOdysseus,
andbringhernewsofherhusband.

WhileOdysseuswaitedforthedaysend,thesuitorsfilledthe
courtyardofthepalacewithloudsinginganddancing.They
quarreledandfoughtwithoneanother.Theyshoutedinsultsat
Odysseusandthreatenedhim.

FinallyTelemachuscouldbearthemnomore.Areyoumad?he
shouted.haveevilspiritspossessedyou?Leavethispalaceat
once!

Thesuitorswereamazedbytheyoungmansboldness.But,
grumbling,theyfinallydidasTelemachuscommandedandtook
theirleave.

Whenallthesuitorshadleftthepalace,thegoddessAthenamade
asigntoOdysseus.OdysseuswentimmediatelytoTelemachus.
Wemustpreparenowfortomorrowsbattle,hesaid.Wewill
removethearmorandspearsfromthedownstairshall.Ifanyone
asksyouwhywearedoingthis,saythatyoufeartheyarebeing
damagedbytheheatandsmokeofthehouseholdfires.

Holdingagoldenlamp,Athena,nowinvisible,ledOdysseusand
Telemachusthroughthedownstairshall.Thelampssoftglow
shoneuponthewallsandrafters.WiththehelpofAthenaslight,
fatherandsonremovedhelmets,shields,andspearsfromthewalls
andcarriedthemtoanupstairsstoreroom.

ThenOdysseusbidgoodnighttoTelemachus,Gotobed,myson,
hesaidgently.Restfortomorrowsbattle.Imustgonowandspeak
withyourmother.

Questions:
1. WhatdoesAthenatellOdysseustodotojudgethesuitors?
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2. WhatistheexcuseTelemachusmusttellthesuitorsifthey
askwhythearmorandweaponshavebeenremovedfrom
thedownstairsarea?
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3. DoyouthinkPenelopewillrecognizeOdysseus?Whyor
whynot?
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Chapter4:TheNightBeforetheBattle

Darkhaddescendedandthepalacewasquiet.QueenPenelopesat
inherivoryandsilverchairbythefireofthegreathall.Herbeauty
shonelikethatofthegoldengoddess,Aphrodite.

Pleasebringabenchsomyguestwillbecomfortable,shesaidto
hermaids.

Abenchwasbroughtandcoveredwithasoftsheepskin.Thena
servantbidOdysseustocomebeforethequeen.

Welcome,myfriend,Penelopesaid.Now,pleasetellmewho
areyou?Wheredoyoucomefrom?Whereisyourfamily?

Hisfacehiddenbyhisraggedcloak,Odysseusspokeinalowvoice:
HonorablewifeofOdysseus,pleasedonotaskmeofmyhomeland
ormyfamily.Donotforcemetoremembermypainandgrief.

Iunderstand,saidPenelope.Myowngriefbegantwentyyears
agowhenmyhusbandlefttofighttheTrojanWar.Formanyyears
now,menhavecometocourtme.Theyhavetakenoverourhouse.
TheytellmeOdysseusissurelydeadanddemandthatIchoose
oneofthemtomarry.

Itriedtotrickthemforawhile.ItoldthemIwouldmarryagainwhen
IhadfinishedweavingashroudforOdysseusfather.Iworkedon
theshroudeveryday.ButeverynightIunraveledmydaysweaving,
sotheworkwouldneverbedone.

Afterthreeyearsofthistrickery,aservingmaiddiscoveredmy
secretandtoldthesuitorsofmydeceit.Ihadnochoicebuttofinish
myweaving.Now,theydemandthatIkeepmywordandchoose
oneofthemforahusband.Iknownotwhattodo.Myyearsofgrief
andworryhaveleftmewithnomorestrengthtofightthesemen.

Penelopesigheddeeply.There,shesaid.Ihavetoldyouofmy
familyandmygriefandmytorment.Now,speaktomeabout
yourself.Whereareyoufrom?Iknowyouwerenotbornfromarock
oratree.

Odysseusdidnotblinkashebegantospinataleforhiswife.I
livedontheislandofCrete,hesaid.Mygrandfatherwasthegreat
KingMinos.IrememberatimewhenyourhusbandOdysseuswas
blownoffcourseonhiswaytoTroy,andhecametoourisland.I
entertainedhimatthepalace.Heandhismenstayedwithusfor
twelvedays.Thentheyputouttoseaagain.Hearingeventhis
simplestoryofherlosthusbandmadePenelopeweep.Justasthe
snowsmeltedbytheeastwindrundownthemountainside,sodid
thetearsrundownherlovelycheeks.Odysseuslongedtocomfort
hiswife,butheforcedhimselftoremainsilent.

WhenPenelopehadspenthertears,shelookedatOdysseusagain.
Stranger,howshallIknowifyouspeakthetruth?Ifyoutrulyhave
seenmyhusband,tellmewhatdidhelooklike?Howwashe
clothed?

Ithasbeentwentyyears,somymemoryofOdysseusisweak,
saidOdysseus.ButIwilltellyouhowIrememberhim.Heworea
thickpurplecloakwithagoldenbrooch.Onthebroochwere
engravedahoundandafawn.

OdysseuswordsmadePenelopeweepevenharderthanbefore.It
wasIwhopinnedthatgoldenbroochtohispurplecloakbeforehe
sailedawaytowar,shesaidthroughhersobs.

OdysseuscouldbearPenelopestearsnolonger.Pleasedonot
weep,mylady,hesaid.IhaveheardrecentlythatOdysseusis
alive,thoughallhismenaredead.Hewillsoonreturnhomebearing
greatgifts.Ibelievehewillcomethisverymonth,betweentheold
moonandthenew.

Iprayyourwordsaretrue,saidPenelope.Iftheycometopass,
youwillbegreatlyhonored.

Thequeenthencalledforherservantsandtoldthemtopreparea
comfortablebedforthestranger.

Ihavenoneedofasoftbed,Odysseussaid.Ihavelongslepton
thehardground.

ThenatleastallowmyservantEurycleatobatheyou,said
Penelope.ShecaredforOdysseusfromthedayhewasbornuntil
thedayhesailedawaytowar.

Odysseussmiledandagreedtoabath.Hesatsilentlybythe
firelightasPenelopetookherleaveandtheoldmaidservantfilled
thewaterbasin.AsEurycleabegantobathehim,Odysseus
rememberedthescarabovehisknee.Thescarwasfromawound
madebyaboarstuskwhenOdysseuswasayoungman.Beforehe
couldhidehisleg,Eurycleasawthelongwhitemark.

Theoldwomanslowlytracedherfingersoverthescar.Thenshe
lookedupatOdysseus.Hereyesfilledwithtears.Oh!she
whispered.YouareOdysseus!

OdysseusgrabbedEurycleaandpulledherclosetohim.Woman,
youmustpromisetotellnoonewhoIam,hewhisperedfiercely,
untilthegodshavedeliveredtheseevilsuitorsintomyhands.

Ipromise,Eurycleawhispered.Ishallbeassilentasastone.

Afterhisbath,PenelopecametoOdysseusagain.Ifearthedark
dayhasarrived,shesaid,andImustfinallymarryoneofthese
wretchedmen,ormysonshallsurelycometoharm.Sothisiswhat
Ihavedecidedtodo.Longago,myhusbandOdysseuscouldshoot
asinglearrowthroughtheringsattheendsoftwelveaxhandles.
WhoeveramongthesuitorscanstringOdysseusgreatbowand
shootwiththesameskillhewillIwed.

Odysseusnoddedslowly.Ibelievethisisagoodplan,hesaid.
Letthecontestbeheldtomorrow.

Penelopesmiled.Itisagreatcomforttotalkwithyou,myfriend,
butImustgotobednow.Nomortalcangoforeverwithoutsleep.

OdysseuswatchedPenelopeclimbthestairstoherchamber.Then
hespreadanoxhideonthefloorofthehallandlaydowntosleep.

Butsleepwouldnotcome.Odysseustossedrestlessly,worrying
aboutthecomingfight.
Ihavesufferedworsethanthis,
hethought.
I
sawmyownmenhideouslymurderedbytheCyclopsmonster,and
stillIendured.IjourneytotheLandoftheDead.Isurvivedstorms
andshipwrecksandescapedcannibalgiants...B
utnomatterhow
hetriedtoreassurehimself,Odysseuscouldnotrest.

Odysseus.

Odysseusopenhiseyes.ThegoddessAthenawasstandingover
him.

Whycanyounotsleep?shesaid.

Yourwifeishereandsoisyourson.Youarefinallyhome.

Whatyousayistrue,saidOdysseus.YetIwonderifIcanridmy
homeoftheseshamelesssuitors.Theyarealwaystogetherina
greatcrowd.EvenifIkillthemall,surelyotherswillcomeandtryto
avengetheirdeaths.

Faithlessmortal!saidthegrayeyedgoddess.HaveIeverceased
towatchoveryou?Canwenotdefeatan
army
ofmentogether?Go
tosleepnow.Ipromiseyouthatwithmyhelp,youwillprevailover
yourenemies.

Questions:
1. HowdidPenelopetrickthesuitorsforsolong?
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2. HowdoesEuryclearecognizeOdysseus?
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3. WhatisthechallengetowinPenelope?
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Chapter5:SignsfromtheGods

Odysseusawokewiththefirstlightofday.Whenheheardthe
soundsofweepingcomingfromPenelopeschamber,afreshwave
ofworrywashedoverhim.

Heliftedhishandsandprayedtothemostpowerfulofthegods.O
fatherZeus,hewhispered,ifitisyourwillthatIwinthisbattle
today,pleasesendmeasign.

Amomentlater,thunderrumbledintheclearblueheavens
overheard.

Aservantwasgrindingcornnearby.

Thunder!sheexclaimed.Andnotacloudinsight!LordZeusmust
besendingusasign.MaythisbethelastdaythatIslaveforthese
terriblemen!

Odysseuswasgladtohearherwordsandgladtoheartheomen
fromthemightygodoftheskies.

Asdawnspreadherrosyfingeredlightthroughouttherestofthe
palace,Telemachusrosefromhisbedanddressedforthecoming
battle.Heslunghisswordoverhisshoulderandtiedonhissandals.
Hepickeduphisbronzepointedspearandlefthisroom.

Inthecourtyardoutside,thesuitorshadagaingatheredtodiscuss
howtheymightslaytheyoungpring.Butastheyplottedagainstthe
sonofOdysseus,astrangesightappearedinthesky:aneagle
soaredoverhead,grippingadoveinitstalons.

Look!saidoneofthesuitors.Thatissurelyabadomenforus!I
fearitmeansourplotwillfail!

Theothersuitorsshruggedoffthesignandstreamedintothegreat
hallfortheirmorningfeast.Astheypassedaroundbowlsofwine,
TelemachusenteredthehallwithOdysseus.Stilldisguisedasa
beggar,Odysseussatonastoolnearthetable.Telemachuspoured
wineintoabowlandofferedittotheraggedman.

Oneofthesuitorslaughedandstoodup,Let
me
makea
contributiontothebeggarsbowl!hesaid.Thenhehurledacows
footthroughtheairatOdysseus.

Odysseusducked,thensmiledthroughclenchedteethathis
attacker.ButTelemachuswhirledontherudesuitorinfury.You
mayeatfromourtableanddrinkfromourwinebarrels!heshouted.
Butyoumaynotabuseastrangerinthisnoblehouse!

Thesuitorsallburstintolaughter.Thenastrangewindswept
throughthehall,carryingaspellfromthegoddessAthena.The
suitorscouldnotstoptheirlaughter.Astheyhowleduncontrollably,
theirbloodseemedtospattertheirfood.

Whentheywerefinallyabletoregaincontrolofthemselves,oneof
themenleapttohisfeet.Olostmen!Ihavejusthadaterrible
vision,sentbythegods!Ihaveseenwhatistohappenheretoday!I
sawthewallsofthisroomcoveredwithblood!AndIsawthetable
andhallsfilledwithghostsghostshurryingtothedarknessofthe
LandoftheDead...

**Questionsonthenextpage**

Questions:
1. Whatarethethreeomenssentfromthegods?
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2. WhatdoyouthinkOdysseusandTelemachusplanistoget
ridofthesuitors?
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