Answer TWO of the following for Wednesday's class:
Q1: Eumaeus is one of the most vividly drawn characters in the book, and the poet gives him plenty of room to speak. What seems to distinguish him--a mere servant in a book of heroes and gods--from the other characters in the book? As a loyal servant, how does he compare with his master?
Q2: When Athena encounters Odysseus in Ithaca, he assumes a fake identity (like one of the gods!) and tells a ridiculous story of killing someone and having to steal off to Ithaca to avoid revenge. Athena listens to this and responds, "You were always an obstinate, cunning and irrepressible intriguer. So you don't propose, even in your own country, to drop the tricks and lying tales you love so much!" (Book 13). Is this praising or critiquing him here? Also, does this validate our suspicions that Odysseus is more of a tale-spinner than a bona fide hero?
Q3: Related to the above, why does the poet allow Odysseus to tell Eumaeus a gigantic story about his alter ego, a native of Crete, which goes on for several pages? Since we know the story is a lie, what good does it to us to hear it? OR, why doesn't he simply tell Eumaeus the truth?
Q4: Athena claims that the point of sending Telemachus off to Sparta was "so that he would win fame from his journey there" (Book 13). When we finally catch up with him in Book 15, what "fame" has he won? How has this aided him on his quest? Is fame somehow better/different than the favor he already enjoys from the gods?
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