3.4.13

WU: Justified?

Do you agree with Odysseus' treatment of the suitors? Are their deaths justified? Why or why not?

Do you agree with the maid's deaths? Are their deaths justified? Why or why not?

What are your reactions to the events in Book 22?

Read: Book 23 through the top of 463

Summary of the end of Bk 23:


 * Finally assured that it is Odysseus, Penelope and Odysseus finally embrace and are filled with joy. However, before they can get carried away, Odysseus tells her of the journey Tiresias told him he will need to take to make a sacrifice to Poseidon in the future. He also says he’ll live to a ripe old age with Penelope. She takes comfort in this.
 * Athena extends the night.
 * After some taking “delight” in each other, Penelope tells him of Ithaca and all that passed when he was away. Then Odysseus tells her of his journey in detail.
 * They sleep until Athena thinks they’ve had enough, she brings dawn to Ithaca.
 * Odysseus tells Penelope that soon enough he’ll get back all that the suitors took, but first he must go see his father. He sends her to her rooms with the women, grabs Telemachus, the swineherd, and the cowherd, and sets off in a protected “cloud of darkness/fog” created by Athena.

HW: No homework, BUT all late work associated with //The Odyssey// is due by the end of the week. NO EXCEPTIONS!