Odyssey+24

Summary:
Hermes goes to the souls of the suitors and rallies them from the palace. They see many great men, including Achilles. They witness his funeral and hear about it in depth. Then, Agemememnon sees the 108 men come flooding down into the spirits' domain. He is astonished and wonders how they all came to be in this place. Amphimedon tells the story of Penelope's web, Telemachus, and of how Odysseus returned to withstand the torture of the suitors while in disguise. They gossip further about the family and claim Penelope disgraced the name of all women. Back on Earth, Odysseus, his son, and his 2 servants went to the orchard where Odysseus' father lived. He instructed them to kill a boar while he spoke to his father. Odysseus does not tell his father who he is. He asks him how he can maintain such a well cared-for orchard, but take such poor care of himself. He tells Odysseus about his son. (He does not know he is speaking with Odysseus) However, his father wants to know who he is. Odysseus, as usual, weaves a tale. He continues until he sees how it affects his father. He then runs to his father revealing himself. Laertes wants proof, so he shows him the scar and tells him things Laertes and his wife had done for him as a child. This is proof enough for Laertes. They sit down for a meal and people begin to recognize him. Medon appeared then and he told everyone that a divine figure that looked like Mentor helped him. He gave a speech that enraged his listeners. Athene went to her father for his advice on what to do. He told her to have them make a treaty of peace. She made Laertes kill Eupeithes which angered Odysseus and his son. They attacked. It was not until Zeus intervened that Athene, still in the shape of Mentor, established peace between Odysseus and his countrymen.

Major Themes (and where they are):
page 313- hospitality page 316- homeric hero page 318- homeric hero

Locations Traveled (and mentioned): (Tess)
page 313-314- Ithica and Underworld page 312- Troy pylos- page 314page page 318- Alybas

Study Guide Questions:
**What happens at the beginning of this chapter?**

Cyllenian Hermes summons the souls of the Suitors from the palace to the meadow of asphodel which is the dwelling-place of souls, the disembodied wraiths of men.

**Whose funeral is described in detail in this chapter?** Achilles.

**What story does Amphimedon tell Agamemnon about Penelope?**

Amphimedon tells Agamemnon that the suitors all want to married Penelope, but Penelope lied to them, she sat up a great web and began weaving a large and delicate piece of work. After three years one of he women in Penelope's house told the turth to the suitors. And then Odysseus and Telemachus came back. They sat up a competation, and of cource Odysseus won. And then he killed the suitors.

**How does Agamemnon react to the story of the suitors’ deaths?** Agamemnon thinks that Penelope is a very pre-eminent woman.

**Where is Odysseus going?**
Laertes's farmlands.

Why does he drop his story? Laertes starts to cry. How does he prove to his father that he is Odysseus? He shows him his scar, and tells a story about himself when he was a little boy. What happens when the town finds out about the suitors’ deaths? They surround the palace, crying, and they bury each of them. What does Medon tell the assembly? Odysseus was encouraged and helped by a god. How do Zeus and Athene propose to resolve this problem? They wipe the memories of the slaughtering of the Suitors. How does the story end? Athene ends the fight and brings peace to the two sides.