The Odyssey
Study Guide
Book XXI-XXIV (Book 17-Book 24)
Name:____________________________
Book XVII/Book 17 (p. 175-186)
1. Telemachus and his mother reunite at the start of Book XVII (Book 17). What
does Telemachus ask his mother to do? Why?
2. Why does Telemachus decide to keep his presents from Menelaus at Piraeus’
house?
3. Who is Theoclymenus?
4. What does Theoclymenus prophesy to Penelope?
5. Describe how Melanthius, who was bringing in some goats, treats Eumaeus and
the beggar (Ody is disguised as a beggar). Be specific!
6. What reason does Odysseus give for taking to the seas and waging war? Tip:
Check out the top of page 180.
7. What ironic statement does Eumaeus say about servants and their work ethic?
Why is it ironic?
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The Odyssey
Study Guide
Book XXI-XXIV (Book 17-Book 24)
Name:____________________________
8. Who recognizes Odysseus first? What happens as soon as he recognizes
Odysseus?
9. What’s particularly smart about Telemachus telling the beggar (Odysseus is
disguised as the beggar) to go around to each of the suitors begging?
10. Antinous—perhaps the most insolent of the suitors—calls the Swineherd a
“precious idiot” for bringing the beggar to town to add to the tramps and beggars
who “waste your master’s [Odysseus’] property (181). He also throws the beggar
out of the house, saying “it is easy to be free with other people’s property when
there is plenty of it” (183). What makes these sentences ironic?
11. Who scolds Antinous?
12. Who harms the beggar (Odysseus is disguised as the beggar)? How?
13. How does Telemachus respond to this assault?
14. How does Penelope respond to this assault?
15. What Greek omen foreshadows the demise of the suitors?
16. As Book 17 ends, what has been arranged for Penelope and the beggar?
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The Odyssey
Study Guide
Book XXI-XXIV (Book 17-Book 24)
Name:____________________________
Find examples of hubris and arête in book 17. Briefly describe them and include a
page citation so you can easily re-locate them during class discussion.
Hubris
Arête
#1
#2
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The Odyssey
Study Guide
Book XXI-XXIV (Book 17-Book 24)
Name:____________________________
Book XVII (Book 18)
1. Why is Irus mad at Odysseus? (i.e. What is Irus’ main complaint?)
2. List one insult Odysseus or Irus use to taunt the other.
3. What are the rules of Irus’ and Odysseus’ bout? What’s the prize? What’s will
happen to the loser?
4. What advice does Odysseus give Amphinomus? (p. 189-190)
5. Why does Penelope go to the cloister?
6. According to Penelope, what did Odysseus predict before leaving for Troy?
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The Odyssey
Study Guide
Book XXI-XXIV (Book 17-Book 24)
Name:____________________________
7. What does Penelope concede must happen now that Odysseus has not returned
and Telemachus is a grown man?
8. What two people berate (verbally challenge) Odysseus?
9. Pick one of the people above and explain their argument AND Odysseus’
response.
10. How does Telemachus demonstrate leadership at the end of Book XVIII?
Book 19 = no study guide; read and annotate study guide
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The Odyssey
Study Guide
Book XXI-XXIV (Book 17-Book 24)
Name:____________________________
Book XX (Book 20)
1. What is keeping Odysseus awake at the start of Book XX?
2. What incident does Odysseus remind himself about in order to keep his cool?
3. Who else cannot sleep? Why?
4. What does the poor servant—the miller woman—pray to Zeus? Why?
5. How does Telemachus criticize his mother (albeit indirectly) when talking to
Euryclea?
6. Why hasn’t Philoetius—the cow and goat herder—run away?
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The Odyssey
Study Guide
Book XXI-XXIV (Book 17-Book 24)
Name:____________________________
7. Explain the omen Amphinomus interprets. Also, what form does it take?
8. What bold move and words does Telemachus make toward the suitors?
9. Who asks Telemachus to talk to his mother about marrying the best man of the
suitors?
10. What is Telemachus’ response to his request?
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The Odyssey
Study Guide
Book XXI-XXIV (Book 17-Book 24)
Name:____________________________
Book XXI (Book 21)
1. What does the bow symbolize to Odysseus?
2. Where did Odysseus get his bow and quiver?
3. Why do you think Penelope proposes the contest of the bow? Why not some other
contest?
4. What compliment does Antinous give Odysseus on pg. 216?
5. When Telemachus tries to string the bow, he throws off a “crimson robe” (217).
What might the crimson color symbolize?
6. The first suitor cannot string the bow. Why?
7. What does Antinous suggest they do to make it easier to string the bow?
8. Who are the two men who have remained loyal to Odysseus?
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The Odyssey
Study Guide
Book XXI-XXIV (Book 17-Book 24)
Name:____________________________
9. How does Odysseus prove his true identity to his loyal men?
10. What shame does Eurymachus describe on pg. 219?
11. What is Antinous’ response to Odysseus’, the beggar’s, request that he try to
string the bow?
12. Why is Eurymachus worried about the beggar stringing the bow?
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The Odyssey
Study Guide
Book XXI-XXIV (Book 17-Book 24)
Name:____________________________
Book XXII (Book 22)
13. Who receives Odysseus’ first deadly arrow? Where?
14. What do the suitors say will happen to Odysseus for killing the “foremost youth”
of Ithaca (223)?
15. How does Eurymachus initially respond to Odysseus’ attack on Antinous? When
that doesn’t work, what’s his second response?
16. How are the suitors able to arm themselves?
17. Athena visits the battle in the cloister. What forms does she take?
18. How does Athena help?
19. Who does Odysseus spare during the battle? Why?
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The Odyssey
Study Guide
Book XXI-XXIV (Book 17-Book 24)
Name:____________________________
20. What three things does Odysseus have Euryclea do?
21. What happens to the maidens of misconduct?
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The Odyssey
Study Guide
Book XXI-XXIV (Book 17-Book 24)
Name:____________________________
Book XXIII (Book 23)
22. What does Penelope say when Euryclea tells her Odysseus has returned?
23. Despite Euryclea’s proof, Penelope does not believe Odysseus is alive and in the
house. What does Euryclea say Penelope can do if this story of Odysseus’ return
is wrong?
24. What does Odysseus suggest they do to ensure news of the killings does not get to
town right away?
25. Explain how Penelope cleverly tests Odysseus’ identity.
26. Based on the summary of what Odysseus tells Penelope, create a bulleted list of
his journey in chronological order. This summary is on pgs. 238-239.
27. At the end of Book XXIII, where is Odysseus going?
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The Odyssey
Study Guide
Book XXI-XXIV (Book 17-Book 24)
Name:____________________________
Book XXIV (Book 24)
28. Where does the first part of Book XXIV take place?
29. When Odysseus first sees his father, Laertes, what is most striking about Laertes’
appearance?
30. How does Odysseus choose to approach his father?
31. Why does Laertes cover himself with dust as he talks to Odysseus?
32. What two forms of evidence does Odysseus use to prove to Laertes he is his son?
33. Back in town, what does Eupeithes, father of Antinous, say to sway the crowd to
take up arms against Odysseus?
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The Odyssey
Study Guide
Book XXI-XXIV (Book 17-Book 24)
Name:____________________________
34. What does Medon say to convince half of the crowd to go home and avoid a
confrontation with Odysseus?
35. What causes the two sides to stop fighting?
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