The Odyssey
English I-HH (16)
Name:
The Return: Odysseus Goes Home to Ithaca
(excerpts from Simon Armitage’s Odyssey in the form of a play)
ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How does the process of disguise and recognition, and in grander terms, revelation and transformation, enable Odysseus to “come home”? Think of the second half of The Odyssey as a series of events through which Odysseus recognizes others or is recognized by them and thereby regains his identity and resumes his place in civilized society. Several characters disguise or hide themselves, their true feelings, or how much they know—and then are, at the appropriate moment, revealed. Scene 1: Athena & Odysseus
1. What is unusual when Odysseus first wakes up on page 200?
2. In scene one pages 200-205, list three quotes that show Odysseus is not prepared to re-enter
society. List lines that connect to either savagery or loss of identity.
3. What moments in Scene One show Odysseus has learned from his journey?
4. What does Athena do to help Odysseus get to his kingdom?
5. What aspects of his identity does Odysseus get back when Athena brings him ashore?
Scene 2: Odysseus reveals his identity to his son, Telemachus.
1. How does Telemachus recognize his father?
2. What does Odysseus make Telemachus do?
3. How does this scene show Odysseus has changed?
4. What aspect of his identity does Odysseus get back when his son recognizes him?
Scene 3 (Odysseus—as a beggar—walks with Eumaeus to the palace; Melanthius)
1. Who is Melanthius and what does his behavior show about Ithaca at this point?
2. Who is Argos? ___________________
3. What aspect of his identity does Odysseus get back when Argo recognizes him?
Scene 4 (Penelope takes in the beggar as her guest)
1. Who is Eurycleia? ___________________
2. How does Eurycleia recognize Odysseus?
3. What aspect of his identity does Odysseus get back when his nurse recognizes him?
4. In this scene, how does Odysseus show that he still retains some savagery from his time away at war
and on his journey?
Scene 5: Odysseus & The Suitors
1. When Odysseus reveals himself to Eumaeus, what does he instruct Eumaeus to do?
2. Outline several steps, what happens in Scene Five? Mention specifically what happens with
Antinous, Eurymachus, and Amphinomus.
3. Do you think Odysseus has transformed? What attributes of Odysseus stand out in this scene?
Re-read the final lines on page 258.
Scene 6: Odysseus & Penelope
1. Why doesn’t Penelope believe Odysseus is himself when he appears to her?
2. How does Penelope test Odysseus? Be specific.
3. What attributes of Penelope and Odysseus (each) are emphasized at the end of scene six?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------What are your final impressions of Odysseus “the man/hero/husband/father/ruler”?