The Odyssey Book 20

PLOT
PART 1
Odysseus is cant sleep because he keeps thinking of
ways to get rid of all the suitors. Athena appears to him
as a mortal woman and encourages him by saying she
always has, and always will help him. (p.403)
Penelope wants the arrow of Artemis to strike her down
because of her sorrows. (p.405 1st complete stanza)
o Grief Just wants Odysseus, not any other man
Bearable if you weep during the day but you
forget everything when you sleep
Unbearable if it hunts you even in your
dreams
Odysseus heard Penelope
o Prayed to Zeus and asked for 2 signs:
INSIDE: let someone speak some work of
augury (omen/prophecy)
Woman who was grinding barley and
wheat tired of turning mills for suitors
(p.407)
Knew that Zeus sent someone a
sign
Today is the last day the suitors will
eat within Odysseuss house; final
feast
OUTSIDE: send another sign (thunder)
Telemachus wakes up
o Asked Eurycleia how the beggar spent his night, if
he was given food and a bed
Eurycleia said the beggar was very humble,
refused many commodities, but spoke
honestly with Penelope
drank wine
no appetite for food
slept on an undressed oxhide and fleece
of sheep
o Said that Penelope is attending to the lesser
visitors (suitors), and sends off the best visitors
PART 2
Odysseus Meets:

o Swineherd (Eumaeus)
Asked if the Achaeans show him any more
respect
Odysseus told him that the suitors dont have
shame and that the gods may punish them
for their behavior
o Goatherd (Melanthius)
Asked Odysseus if he was planning to be a
nuisance to them or if he would be leaving;
sided with the suitors
Odysseus did not reply
o Captain of Men (Philoetius)
Came to Ithaca to deliver cows for the meal
Offered Odysseus his hand shows sympathy
for the weary, tells him of the lack of
obedience of the suitors to the gods
thinks of his master when he saw the
beggar
The beggar told him that Odysseus will come
back while he is still here, and he might be
able to see the slaughter of the suitors
PART 3
The suitors were discussing of a way in which they can
kill Telemachus
o An eagle flew high with a dove in its claws (p.411)
Amphinomus said that the plot wont work so
they should just think of eating/feasting
Agreed
PART 4
They went to eat
o Telemachus picks a special seat for the beggar (to
anger the suitors), reminds them that he is in
charge of the house so he commands them (just
kill him, he doesnt want to see the violence in his
house)
o Telemachus made sure that the beggar receives
his share of the feast
Athena wanted to tempt Odysseus by
provoking him

 Ctesippus said that Odysseus does not

deserve any more food from the palace
(p.413)
He hurled an ox hoof to Odysseus
Missed
PART 5
Suitors address Telemachus about his mother
o Agelaus told them to stop mistreating Odysseus
and tried to convince Telemachus to marry the
best man, the giver of the most gifts (p.414)
Telemachus said he didnt want to make
Penelope go out of this house since she didnt
want to
o Athena made the suitors laugh
Theoclymenus (seer) got mad
o Suitors criticize the hospitality of Telemachus to
the beggar
Telemachus ignores them
o Penelope heard everything outside the door
VOCABULARY
1. Grime (n), p. 379- dirt that covers a surface
2. Comber (n), p. 388 - a long curling wave of the sea
3. Stint (v)- p. 392 to use or give something in limited amounts
4. Delude (vt)- p. 398 to cause (someone) to believe
something that is not true
5. Harangue (n)- p.413 a forceful or angry speech
6. Strew (vt)- p.408 to spread or scatter things over or on the
ground or on some surface
7. Maraud (v)- p.410 to roam around and raid in search of
plunder
8. Greave (n)- p. 408 a piece of plate armor for the leg
between the knee and the ankle, usually composed of the front
and back pieces.
IMPORTANT LINES

You stubborn one! Most mortals trust a friend, yet you are
ready to distrust a goddess who always cares for you in your
distress. But Ill speak plainly: Though we were besieged by fifty
squads of mortals, all most keen to butcher us in battle, youd
succeed in capturing their cattle and plump sheep. But now,
give way to sleep. For you to keep an all-night watch is, too, a
harsh ordeal. You soon will see the end of all your trials. - p.
404
This quote was said by Athena to Odysseus when he is
very angry with the suitors. Athena comes to him and
tells him how she will be there for him, like it says in the
quote. She has stuck with him through the whole quest
and wont give up on him now. She is his protector. It
shows how Athena sticks with Odysseus through thick
and thin. Any god is usually willing to do so for the
mortal that they are fighting for, but this is a good
example because it has come towards the end of the
journey and Athena is still with him.
O, father Zeus, if I who have so long been tried by the
gods, at last am favored now, if over land and sea theyve
brought me back to my own home, do show two signs to me:
Let one of those who now, inside the halls, are walking, speak
some word of augury while, out the doors, you send another
sign. - p. 406
This is important because Odysseus wants a sign that
his life as he knew it, will return to normal after
everything he has been through. He really doubts it at
that time because the suitors are still in his home and it
really doesnt feel like home yet. He also thinks that
Zeus might not give him a break so he asks for a sign
on confidence. This is important to the book because
Zeus has given Odysseus a hard time the entire book
and he wants to know if Zeus will finally let him conquer
his quest and he asks Zeus so that he knows what is
ahead of him.