The Odyssey - Book 23

(Pages 455 to 467)

The Odyssey - Book 23

The Great Rooted Bed

Hero Cycle

This book is towards the end of the his journey which would be the top left part of the hero's cycle.

12. Return with the Elixir.

Odysseus returns home to Telemachus and Penelope and can tell them about his many great adventures he has had.

"My good nurse," answered Penelope, "you must be mad. The gods sometimes send some very sensible people out of their minds, and make foolish people become sensible. This is what they must have been doing to you; for you always used to be a reasonable person" (455-456).

Question #1

Penelope can be described as wary, guarded, and composed, implying she is reluctant to believe any news of Odysseus's return. Her refusal to believe Odysseus has returned may seem cruel to Telemachus, but it is a form of self-preservation. Penelope is not cruel in refusing to embrace Odysseus at once; she is just cautious.

List some of the epithets (adjectives) that characterize Penelope when she hears the news of Odysseus's return. What do these terms imply about her? Do you agree with Telemachus that she is "cruel" for not embracing Odysseus at once? Why or why not?

In order to delay the families from seeking vengeance, Odysseus makes a plan to keep them from knowing the suitors have all been killed. "No news of the suitors' death," he says, "must spread through the town." He instructs Telemachus to have everyone in the household dress well and to have the singer play lively music, as far a wedding-feast. Odysseus will create the appearance that nothing is amiss in his palace.

Question #2

"Then here's our plan," the master of tactics said. "I think it's best. First go and wash, and pull fresh tunics on and tell the maids in the hall to dress well too. And let the inspired bard take his ringing lyre and lead off for us all a dance so full of heart that whoever hears the strains outside the gates a passerby on the road, a neighbor round about will think it's a wedding-feast that's under way" (459-460).

Why does Odysseus want to defer (hold back) the vengeance of the suitors' families? What is his plan to accomplish it?

- Odysseus then starts to depict and tell Penelope of all his adventures

- The next day, he heads for Laertes' orchard with Telemachus in order to fulfill the prophecy of Tiresias

- Odysseus and Telemachus are covered in darkness by Athena so no one can see them

Penelope orders Eurycleia to move their bed out of their bedroom and into the hall for Odysseus to sleep in, knowing full well that the bed cannot be moved because Odysseus built it himself, using a living olive tree rooted the middle of the bedroom as one of the posts. Odysseus immediately "blazed up in fury" at the thought that someone might destroy the bed, as it is their "secret sign." His anger and description of the bed confirms his identity to Penelope

"Come, Eurycleia, move the sturdy bedstead out of our bridal chamber that room the master built with his own hands. Take it out now, sturdy bed that it is, and spread it deep with fleece, blankets and lustrous throws to keep him warm" (461).

Question #3

How does Penelope test her husband to confirm his identity? How does he react?

- Odysseus suddenly flares up with that their bed is unable to be moved and explains the logic behind it

- When Odysseus says this, Penelope realizes that this man must be Odysseus and not a god

- Penelope rushes to Odysseus, hugs him, and asks for forgiveness for her maltreatment towards him

- Penelope requests Eurycleia to move her bedstead out of her quarters

- Odysseus built the bedroom around the tree and would know that the bed cannot be moved; Penelope knowing this, she waits for Odysseus's reaction

The bed cannot be moved, symbolizes the strength of Penelope and Odysseus's relationship. Just as no man could move the marriage bed, no man could tempt Penelope to betray her husband. The bed was built by Odysseus himself, making it a symbol of the depth of his commitment to Penelope and their marriage. Part of the bed is thriving, fully grown tree, symbolizing the vitality and stability of their marriage.

"The more she spoke, the more a deep desire for tears welled up inside his breast-he wept as he held the wife he loved, the soul of loyalty, in his arms at last" (463).

Question #4

Based on Odysseus's description of the bed, how does it symbolize in several ways Penelope and Odysseus's "life story"?

- Penelope is wary that a god is fooling her into thinking that that is Odysseus

- She assures this by testing Odysseus

- While Telemachus argues with Penelope, Odysseus is worrying about the fact that he killed the suitors and how the public and suitor's parents would react

- Odysseus needs to make a plan to keep them from knowing the suitors have all been killed

- He decides to have a dancing feast that night so they can pretend the noise was just from Penelope's wedding so no news of the suitors' death spreads

Brief Summary

of Book 23 of the Odyssey

Question #5

Odysseus's joy is compared to that of sailors, shipwrecked by Poseidon, who catch sight of land and finally "plant their feet on solid ground again." This simile is appropriate because Odysseus was tormented and shipwrecked by Poseidon during his long journey, and Penelope is the "solid ground" for which he has longed.

"Joy, warm as the joy that shipwrecked sailors feel when they catch sight of land-Poseidon has struck their well-rigged ship on the open sea with gale winds and crushing walls of waves, and only a few escape, swimming, struggling out of the frothing surf to reach shore, their bodies crusted with salt but buoyed up with joy as they plant their feet on solid ground again, spared a deadly fate" (463).

Explain the simile that describes Odysseus's joy at being reunited with his wife. Why is this simile so appropriate?

Vocabulary Quiz!

- Penelope refuses to believe

- Penelope goes downstairs and encounters Odysseus, but she still remains in disbelief

- Telemachus claims she was too cruel

What does hardy mean?

b. bold, courageous, daring

a. fearful, safe, reserved

b. bold, courageous, daring

This sentence correctly uses the word hallmark.

Is hallmark used correctly in this sentence?

Callous means unfeeling, insensitive, and cruel disregard of others

What does callous mean?

He demonstrated an example of hallmark when he stood up for his friend that was being bullied.

No multiple choice, use your brains and not your guessing skills.

Odysseus mentions "Circe's cunning magic wiles" but does not mention that he enjoyed her bed for a year. Similarly, he tells Penelope of Calypso "craving him for a husband" but does not admit to sleeping with her, saying only that "she never won the heart inside him, never..."

Circe

"He told her of Circe's cunning magic wiles. He told how he reached Ogygia's shores and the nymph Calypso held him back, deep in her arching caverns, craving him for a husband-cherished him, vowed to make him immortal, ageless, in all his days, yes but she never won the heart inside him, never..." (466).

Calypso

Question #6

- The book starts with Eurykleia going upstairs to inform Penelope (who is sleeping during the fight that went on) of Odysseus's return

According to Homer's description, what does Odysseus not tell Penelope about the time he spent with Calypso and Circe?

- Before Book 23 starts, Odysseus and Telemachus fight the suitors and killed them

Vocabulary

Hardy-

bold, courageous, daring

Callous-

unfeeling, insensitive, and cruel disregard of others

Hallmark-

a distinctive mark or token of genuineness, good breeding, or excellence