Book 17 Odysseus Goes To The Town

• Which goddesses does Homer compare Penelope to in Book 17?

  Artemis and Aphrodite
• What does Theoclymenus prophesise to Penelope?

  That Odysseus is in his home and- in that very moment- plotting the Suitors' downfall
• Who insults Odysseus while he is on his way to the town?

  Melanthius
• Who was Argus?


  Odysseus's dog who recognised his master despite the beggar disguise. He dies soon after wagging his tail at Odysseus
• What had Athene decided about the Suitors?


  That they were all fated to die whether they were good or bad
• What is peripeteia?


  Reversal of fortune
• What does Antinous do to beggar Odysseus?


  He insults him and throws a stool at him
• How did Penelope interpret Telemachus's sneeze?

  As a blessing on her talk about Odysseus and Telemachus killing the Suitors
• How does Homer imply that Penelope already knew Odysseus was in disguise?

  "A timid beggar is a bad beggar" this suggests that she thinks Odysseus was acting out of character for a beggar