How Does Athena Characterize The Suitors In The Odyssey

Group 7 (Bridget K., Katie H., Gigi M., Patsy L.)

Ms. Richter

GB English, Period 6

18 August 2015

The Odyssey Study Guide

Bridget Kelly, Katie Holmes, Gigi Martin, Patsy Langmade

Book 1: A Goddess Intervenes

What is the purpose of the first ten lines of the poem?

In the first ten lines of the poem, the narrator is asking the Muse for help to tell the story of Odysseus.

Why had Odysseus not yet returned from the Trojan war?

Odysseus got lost on his way home and he is currently being held captive by the goddess, Calypso. She won’t let him leave because she fell in love with him.

What does Athena do during a meeting on Mount Olympus?

Athena asks Zeus why he is against Odysseus. She asks the gods to help Odysseus get back home.

At Odysseus’

home on Ithaka, we are introduced to the suitors. What are they doing in the house?
The suitors are drinking Odysseus’s wine, playing with dice, and sitting on the fur of the animals they killed.

Telemakhos is irritated because they are spending Odysseus’ money.

What words are used to describe the suitors?

The suitors were described as carousing, not caring, and squanderers.

How does Athena present herself to Telemakhos?

Athena presents herself to Telemakhos as Mentes, his father’s old friend.

Athena tells Telemakhos to seek information about his father Odysseus from which men?

Athena tells Telemakhos to seek information about his father, Odysseus, from Nestor and Menelaus.

Athena gives Telemakhos one piece of information about his father. What is it?

Athena tells Telemakhos that Odysseus is alive.

To whom does Athena refer when she says: They all would find death was quick, and marriage a painful

matter?
Athena refers to the suitors when she says this line.
What does Athena counsel Telemakhos to do to the suitors?
Athena counsels Telemakhos to no longer “bear this insolence of theirs” and tries to help him find ways to kill the suitors. She tells him that they are not worthy to be in his house.
How has Telemakhos changed since the beginning of Book 1, and how does Penelope react?
Since the beginning of Book 1, Telemakhos has become more brave and has grown in the strength of his heart. Because of this, he decides to go on a journey to find out what happened to his father. This makes Penelope very upset and she grieves for him because she is worried that he will be killed, but she still sees him as a boy, not a man.

Book 2: A Hero’s Son Awakens
Why does Telemakhos call the men to assembly?
Telemakos calls the men to assembly to inform the men about the trouble and harassment that is occurring at his home because of the suitors courting his mother.
How has Penelope managed to hold off the suitors’ demands for the past four years?
She held off the suitors by telling them that she would not remarry until she finished weaving a shroud for Lord Laertes, and so each day she would weave a little more and then each night she would unweave what she had done so she never finished.
What sign does Zeus send to the assembly, and what is its meaning?
The sign that Zeus sent to the assembly was a pair of eagles reeking havoc with their wings and talons.
What does Telemakhos plan to do now?
Now Telemakhos plans to get a ship, and a crew of twenty men and go to Pylos and Sparta in search of any news about his father.

Book 3: The Lord of the Western Approaches
***Note: Make note of when Nestor is telling Telemakhos what he knows of the return of the Akhaians, he describes a quarrel between “the two sons of Artreus.” These are Agamemnon and Menelaus. The quarrel had to do with a sacrifice to the gods which was evidently not satisfactory, which causes Athena to become upset and some of the Akhaians to have quite troublesome homecomings. Notice as well, Agamemnon is also called Atreides (line 193). Nestor makes clear to Telemakhos that a son’s duty is to preserve the honor of a father’s house. He also holds up the example of Orestes, as has Athena.***
Where does the action in Book 3 take place?
The action in book 3 takes place in Pylos. This is the first place they stop in search for Odysseus.
Where is Athena during this part of the story?
During this part of the story, Athena is with Telemakhos disguised as Mentor. Once she sees that Telemakhos is staying the night with Nestor, she changes into a vulture and flies away.
Describe Nestor.
Nestor is the prince of Pylos and an old friend of Odysseus. He is giving to Telemakhos and his men before he even knew their names. Nestor tells Telemakhos about the Trojan war and the story of Agamemnon and Menelaus.
What happens at the homecoming of Agamemnon?
Agamemnon is killed by Aegisthus at his homecoming. Aegisthus was his wife’s lover. While Agamemnon was away, his wife, Clytemnestra, did not remain faithful to him so she agreed to the killing of Agamemnon.
What does Orestes do?
Orestes was exiled and when he returned he found out that Aegisthus killed Agamemnon and was going to try and take his property so he killed both Aegisthus and Clytemnestra.

Book 4: The Red-Haired King and His Lady
***Note: Klytaimnestra has been killed, yet her death is not described. Nor is Elektra (sister of Orestres) ever mentioned. Who, according to myth, encouraged Orestes to commit the murders. (lines 309-310)***
How does Nestor help Telemakhos?
Nestor helps Telemakhos by giving him a place to sleep, horses to ride to Menelaus, clothing, and one of his sons to accompany him.
Who accompanies Telemakhos to Sparta to the house of Menelaus?
Nestor’s son, Peisistratus, went with Telemakhos.
What is the setting of Book 5?
The setting of book five is Kalypso’s island where she had trapped Odysseus.

How is Telemakhos’ identity revealed to Menelaos?

Telemakhos’ identity is revealed to Menelaos after Menelaos gives a speech about the sorrows that Odysseus’ family must face, and Telemakhos starts weeping. Menelaos can infer that this is Telemakhos because he is sad for his family, and he has a striking resemblance to Odysseus.

Menelaos describes his stay in Egypt to Telemakhos. During his stay there, who told Menelaos where Odysseus was detained?

The ancient of the salt sea, Proteus, told Menelaos where Odysseus was detained.

According to Menelaos’ informant, where was Odysseus?

According to Menelaos’ informant, Odysseus was on the island Ogygia held captive by Kalypso.

Why is Menelaos to go to the Elysian Field instead of dying as other mortals do?

Menelaos went to the Elysian Field because he is Zeus’ son and Helen’s lord.

The scene shifts to the home of Odysseus. What plan do the suitors devise against Telemakhos?

The suitors plan to ambush and kill Telemakhos on his voyage home to Ithaka.

Identify the leading men of the suitors.

Eurymachus and Antinous are the leading men of the suitors.

Who comforts Penelope after she learns of the suitors’ plan and the journey of

Telemakhos?
Athena comforts Penelope after she learns of the suitors’ plan and the journey of Telemakhos disguised as Ipthime, Penelope’s sister.
Book 5: Sweet Nymph and Open Sea
What is Zeus’ command to Kalypso?
Zeus commands Kalypso to set Odysseus free. Odysseus must return home with no help from anyone. In fact, he must use trees from Kalypso’s island to construct a raft.
Which god or goddess brings Zeus’ command to Kalypso?
Hermes brings Zeus’ command to Kalypso.
What happens to Odysseus on the eighteenth day, just as he sights the shores of Skheria?
As Odysseus sights the shores of Skheria, his raft is destroyed by Posiedon because he created a storm. Posiedon came back from a vacation in Ethiopia and was angry with Odysseus.
What help does Ino give to Odysseus?
Ino helps Odysseus by giving him a magical veil that protects him in the sea from any dangers on the way to Skheria.
What happens to Odysseus at the end of Book 5?
At the end of Book 5, Odysseus floats up a river and then to shore. He throws the veil back into the water as Ino ordered. He then sleeps in the forest covered by leaves.
Book 6: The Princess at the River
Who discovers Odysseus on the shore?
King Alcinous and Queen Arete’s daughter Nausicaa and her handmaidens
Why was this person near the river?
She was near the river because Athena disguised herself as a friend and sent Nausicaa to wash clothes near where Odysseus was.
What does Odysseus’ discoverer do for him?
Nausicaa tells him how to find the palace and how to appeal to the king and queen in order to have them help him get home
Why doesn’t his benefactor bring Odysseus to the palace in person?
His benefactor doesn’t bring Odysseus to the palace in person because she fears that rumors would spread that Odysseus is courting Princess Nausikaa and that he is her husband.