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Summary:  (Melissa)
 Eurycleia goes to wake up Penelope and tell her that Odysseus is home. When she wakes Penelope up and tells her this Penelope does not believe her and tells her that the Gods are playing tricks on her. Eurycleia then tells her that Odysseus is the begger and she knows because he has the scar on his leg and that he killed all of the suitors. Penelope then goes downstairs but does not recognize Odysseus becuase of the raggy clothes he is wearing. Telemachus gets mad at Penelope for not recognizing Odysseus so Odysseus tells him to leave and go have a feast. Odysseus then goes and cleans up and Athene enhances his appearance. When he comes back down Penelope recognizes him but is still unsure if it is him or not so she tests him by asking about the bed that he made, when he describes how he made it she knows it is really Odysseus. He then tells her the about what happened to him and what the Gods want to go do with the oar and sacrifices.

Major Themes (and where they are):  (Kiki)
301-Loyalty the nurse is being loyal to her master 301-305- "disguise" Penelope is in denial 303-304 Growth and development of Telemachus- he is telling his mother in a strong way that that is his father and she needs to cooperate. 306-311 Homeric simile about Helen of Troy, the story of Penelope to the sea sailors, and Odysseus' story about his travel 301-03 Justice- the killing of the suitors as told by the nurse.





Odysseus' palace in Ithica (p. 301) Mentioned (p 308-309): The village of the Cicones Land of the Lotus-Eaters The Cyclops' island Aeolea Telephylus Circe's island The Hall of Hades (The Underworld) The Wandering Rocks Charybdis/Scylla's Pass The Sun God's Island Ogygia

Study Guide Questions:
How does Penelope respond when Eurycleia tells her Odysseus is back? (Mingus) She doesn't believe anything he says, even when she see Odysseus with her own eyes. What does Odysseus suggest doing to prevent the town from hearing about the suitors’ deaths right away? (Mingus) They need to lay low for a while and avoid town. How does Penelope test Odysseus? (Mingus) She asks Eurycleia to move her unmovable bed to see how Odysseus will respond. What is so special about his bed? (Mingus) It's made of a olive tree branch that has been there since the house was built. What must Odysseus do the following morning? (Mingus) Finish the rituals that he was told about when he was in the Underworld.