The Odyssey - Book 17 - Stranger at the Gate

• Telemachus goes into town

• Telemachus and Odysseus slip back into their plan of not letting anyone, even Eumaeus, know who Odysseus is.
• When Telemachus arrives at the place, he is greeted first by his nurse, Eurycleia, and then by his mother. Why, since the purpose of his trip to Pylos was to find out about Odysseus and when his mother asks him about Odysseus, does he stall and tell her to take a bath and get changed first? Why when he does tell her about Odysseus on lines 120-160, doesn't he tell her that Odysseus is back? Some critics find Telemachus coldhearted. What do you think? [Discuss Ody Bk17 Q01]

• Odysseus and Eumaeus set out for town.

• Homer constructs this book in a sophisticated way with parallel action of both Telemachus and Odysseus coming to town separately, Odysseus slightly behind Telemachus.
• When the lout Melanthius confronts Odysseus with foul language and a kick, why doesn't Odysseus strike back and kill the guy? (221-285)
• The pathos of the meeting of Odysseus and his dog Argos is one of the most memorable scenes in the epic.
• Antinous, when he throws the stool at the beggar Odysseus, seems to expect that everyone will be on his side, but all are aghast, because he has dishonored a suppliant.
• We see Penelope's hatred of the suitors building as she watches how they treat the beggar.
• The book ends with Penelope asking to talk with the beggar. Odysseus says he will meet her after dusk. The book ends on an ominous note as the suitors party on but Odysseus and Penelope ready to meet. Discuss a bit about how Homer is constructing the build up to the climax. [Discuss Ody Bk17 Q02]