The Odyssey

Book  24 ~ Study Guide

from John McIlvain

An Overview for the Student Book-by-Book Study Guide Literary Responses to the Odyssey

Image source: http://www.beloit.edu/~classics/main/courses/classics100/museum2/art_museum2.html

Note: This site is designed to be used with Robert Fagles' translation of the Odyssey, published by Penguin USA. It was prepared for a 9th grade English class.

Books:

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

PEACE

SCENE: Hades, Ithaca (the town and Laertes' farm)

CHARACTERS: shades of the tutors, Agamemnon, Achilles, Odysseus, Laertes, Telemachus, Dolius (Father of Melanthius and Melantho); Eupithes (father of Antinous), Medon, Halitherses, Athena.

The suitors descend into Hades and meet three of the Greek Captains from the Trojan war, Achilles, Patroclus and Agamemnon. Once again we hear from Agamemnon, who not only details the nature of his death, but contrasts it with the honors the Achaeans paid to Achilles when he had died. The suitors, who tell their story hoping for solace, instead are scorned by Agamemnon, who extols the virtues of Penelope. When he reaches the farm, Odysseus decides to test his father - old habits die hard. Their ultimate reunion, like those between Odysseus and Telemachus, and Odysseus and Penelope, is emotional. It is juxtaposed to the non-reunion of Eupithes and his slain son Antinous. A number of the relatives of the suitors vow vengeance and cannot be dissuaded by the sensible voices of Medon and Halitherses. They come to fight Odysseus, his father and the faithful herdsmen and a new ally, Dolius, the loyal father of the traitorous Melantho and Melanthius. The three generations of Odysseus family stand side by side and Laertes is given a moment of glory. Another slaughter seems immanent but Athena disguised as Mentor stays Odysseus' hand and the epic ends on a note of reconciliation.

PAY ATTENTION TO:

• the suitors escorted by Hermes into Hades;
• the appearance of the great Achaean captains (who seem not to have come across one another that often in Hades);
• Agamemnon's description of the honors showed to Achilles upon his death in contrast to his own end;
• Agamemnon's lack of sympathy for the suitors and his praise of Penelope;
• Odysseus' decision to reveal himself to his father only after "testing" him;
• Dolius' faithfulness;
• the contrast between Laertes' reunion with his son and Eupithes desire to avenge the death of his son;
• the attempts by Medon and Halitherses to convince the families of the suitors not to seek revenge;
• Athena's role (with Zeus' blessing) to resolve the conflict;
• reconciliation (father and son; Odysseus and Ithaca)

QUESTIONS:

1. What different views of their fates do Agamemnon and Achilles seem to hold?
2. When they speak to Agamemnon and Achilles how do suitors' shades feel about their responsibility for Odysseus' actions?
3. How does Odysseus test his father Laertes, now living a hard life, after the slaughter has been accomplished? What's the point of testing his father?
4. How does Odysseus prove to his father who he is?
5. What is reasons does Eupithes give when encouraging revenge on Odysseus?
6. What does Athena (disguised as Mentor) do to insure that the families will not succeed in revenging the suitors' deaths? What does she do to ensure that Odysseus won't cause further havoc?

QUOTATIONS TO REMEMBER

 . . . and the ghosts trailed after (Hermes) with high thin cries		(6)
as bats cry in the depths of a haunted cavern,
shrilling, flittering, wild when one drops from the chain -
slipped from the rock face, while the rest cling tight.

Hearing the news (of Achilles' death), your mother, Thetis, rose from the sea, (50)
immortal sea nymphs in her wake, and a strange unearthly cry
came throbbing over the ocean. . . .
and the Muses, nine in all, voice to voice in choirs,
their vibrant voices rising, raised their dirge. . . .
					You were dear to the gods,
so even in death your name will never die . . .
		

					"So we died,			(205)
Agamemnon . . . our bodies unattended even now . . ."

					"Happy Odysseus,		(210)
Agamemnon's ghost cried out. "Son of old Laertes -
mastermind - what a fine faithful wife you've won! . . .
The glorious gods will lift a song for all mankind
a glorious song in praise of self-possessed Penelope.
A far cry from the daughter of Tyndareus, Clytemneastra . . .
She brands with a foul name the breed of womankind,
even the honest ones to come.

					At these words				(352)
a black cloud of grief came shrouding over Laertes.
Both hands clawing the earth for dirt and grime,
he poured it over his grizzled head, sobbing in spasms.
Odysseus' heart shuddered . . .
	

					Living poof - and Laertes 		(383)
knees went slack, his heart surrendered . . . 

". . .we'll hang our heads together,					(478)
all disgraced, even by generations down the years,
if we don't punish the murderers of our brothers and our sons!
Why life would lose its relish . . ."

(Zeus to Athena) Do as your heart desires -					(531)
but let me tell you how it should be done.

"Hold back you men of Ithaca, back from brutal war!			(584)
Break off - shed no more blood - make peace at once!"
So Athena commanded. Terror blanched their faces,				
they went limp with fear, weapons slipped from their hands . . .
They spun in flight to the city, wild to save their lives,
but loosing a savage cry, the long-enduring great Odysseus,
gathering all his force, swooped like a soaring eagle -
just as the son of Cronus hurled a reeking bolt
just at her feet, the mighty father's daughter,
and blazing eyed Athena wheeled on Odysseus, crying,
"Royal son of Laertes, Odysseus, master of exploits,
hold back now. Call a halt to the great leveler, War -
don't court the rage of Zeus who rules the world!"
  So she commanded. He obeyed her, glad at heart.				(598)

Odyssey Guide