What happens in chapter 20 of the Odyssey?

Summary: Book 20 Her distress wakes Odysseus, who asks Zeus for a good omen. Zeus responds with a clap of thunder, and, at once, a maid in an adjacent room is heard cursing the suitors. The suitors enter, once again plotting Telemachus’s murder.

Who is Philoitios and how does he greet Odysseus the beggar?

Afterwards another man approaches the beggar—Philoitios, the resident cowherd. He greets the beggar warmly and notes his resemblance to Odysseus. We quickly see that he is ashamed and outraged at the suitors’ behavior in his lord’s house.

What God does Odysseus help?

So it must be hugely satisfying for Odysseus to get some payback when he whispers a brief prayer to Apollo and fires an arrow straight through Antinous’s throat. Apollo, among other things, is the god of archers.

Why is Odysseus success so remarkable?

Odysseus’ success is remarkable because he was able to defeat a monster much stronger than himself, without using physical force and without much effort.

Why can’t the suitors string the bow?

None of the suitors can even string the bow so none of them even gets a shot at the axe handles. The reason that this is so hard is that the bow is very stiff. A stiffer bow is more powerful, but it is much harder to use — you have to be way stronger.

What are the themes in book 20 of the Odyssey?

The Odyssey Book 20 Summary & Analysis. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Odyssey, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Odysseus lies awake and worries about fighting an entire crowd of suitors – and the crowds that will come to avenge their deaths.

What did Athena do in book 20 of the Odyssey?

In book 20, Athena compels the suitors to reveal their true nature, further emphasizing her primary role in The Odyssey —to watch over events and reveal, alter, or conceal. Even when she joins the battle in book 23, she does not manipulate all of the suitors’ arrows—thus Telemachus, Eumaeus, and Philoitios are wounded.

Who are the swineherds in book 20 of the Odyssey?

Summary: Book 20. As the palace springs to life the next day, Odysseus and Telemachus meet, in succession, the swineherd Eumaeus, the foul Melanthius, and Philoetius, a kindly and loyal herdsman who says that he has not yet given up hope of Odysseus’s return. The suitors enter, once again plotting Telemachus’s murder.

Which is the best summary of the Odyssey?

The Odyssey Summary and Analysis 1 The Odyssey Summary – Introduction. The Odyssey is an epic poem written by the celebrated Greek poet in approximately 700 B.C. 2 Literary Elements. Published Date: Unknown, but estimated to be written around the year 700 B.C. 3 Literary Significance of The Odyssey. 4 Homer’s Odyssey Summary.