Transcript The Odyssey
Books 21, 22, and 23
Page 943
Athena Warns Odysseus about one hundred suitors
that have taken over his kingdom.
Odysseus disguises himself as an old beggar.
When Odysseus gets home he tells his son,
Telemachus, who he is, but not his wife Penelope.
Page 944
Penelope poses a contest to the hundred suitors.
The suitors need to string Odysseus’ bow
After stringing the bow, they have to shoot an arrow
through twelve ax handles.
Penelope does not want to marry the suitors, but
knows that she must.
Page 946-947
All of the suitors except for Antinous and Eurymachus
fail to string the bow.
While the men struggle with the task of stringing his
bow he reveals himself to two of his servants.
Shows them a scar that he got from a boar before he left
for Troy.
The two servants are loyal to Odysseus and pledge that
they will help him.
Page 948
Odysseus’ plan:
Enter into the contest
Lock the women into a separate room where they will
not get hurt.
String the bow.
Kill all of the suitors.
Page 950
The suitors do not want to give The beggar a chance in
the contest.
Penelope steps in and says that if he is denied, they are
disrespecting Telemachus.
When Penelope leaves the men still refuse.
Telemachus steps up and says the servant holding the
bow must give The beggar the bow. Demands that the
servant obey him and not the suitors.
The men react by laughing at Telemachus.
Page 952-954
Odysseus, as the old beggar, easily strings the bow.
Odysseus shoots the arrow through the twelve axe
handles.
Zeus sends down an omen to let Odysseus know that
his curse is broken.
Clash of thunder
Book 22 Page 955
Odysseus announces that he has won the game, but
will now hit a shot that no one has been able to hit.
The shot will be an arrow through the throat of
Antinous.
Antinous does not realize the attack until it is too late.
Odysseus shoots him while he is drinking wine.
The other suitors think that it was a mistake by the old
beggar.
Page 958-959
Odysseus lists for the men all the laws they broke.
Raped his maids
Stole his food and wine
Competed for his wife and throne
Disrespected the Gods
The men realize that it is Odysseus and try to hide.
Page 958
Eurymachus’ argument:
This was all Antinous’ plan and you have already killed
him.
Antinous wanted his throne and was going to kill
Telemachus
If Odysseus let the suitors go
They would each give him 20 oxen
Bronze and Gold
They would all repay him the wine and bread they took from
him.
Page 958-959
Odysseus refuses the offer
Eurymachus rallies the men to charge Odysseus, and
get through the door.
Odysseus shoots him down and Eurymachus dies in a
fit of agony because of his guilt.
Amphimous charges Odysseus next, but Telemachus
takes him down with his spear.
Telemachus then runs to get more weapons and the
two servants for extra help.
Page 960
Athena comes to aid Odysseus in the battle.
She blocks arrows that are shot at him.
Displays her shield above the hall where the battle is
being fought.
Odysseus and Telemachus are compared to Falcons
because of how ruthlessly they kill the suitors.
Book Twenty Three
After defeating all of the suitors, Odysseus goes to see
his wife.
Athena prepares Odysseus before he meets his wife.
Makes him stronger
Makes him Taller
Makes him better looking
Page 962 - 964
Penelope does not give in to Odysseus at first
She tests him first by offering to move her wedding
bed into the hall so that he will be comfortable.
Odysseus realizes the test, and tells Penelope that
moving the bed is impossible.
The Bed is made from an Olive tree that the palace was
built around.
The End
Penelope knows that only Odysseus would know this,
and that he must really be Odysseus.
She falls to her knees and they both begin to cry.