Transcript Arugs & The Suitors

ARUGS & THE
SUITORS
Brought to you by: Olivia Rogo,
Emily Murphy & Jillian Koesterer
ARGUS
BACKGROUND
 After 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