THE ODYSSEY Book Two BOOK TWO Telemachus summons
THE ODYSSEY Book Two
BOOK TWO Telemachus summons an assembly. It is the first one in twenty years. His attempt to step into his father’s shoes is, however, short lived. He begins confidently by calling the suitors to account for their wickedness, their exploitation of the palace, its goods and their pestering of Penelope. He has some support from the older generation. However, Antinous (a leading suitor) interjects and blames Penelope for the situation at the palace. He claims she is leading them on, by failing to make a decision about who to marry. Telemachus fails to master his emotions and, boyishly, flings the speakers’ staff away.
BOOK TWO Penelope’s trickery is clear: she said she would remarry when she had completed a burial shroud for Laertes, Odysseus’ father. However, what she wove during the day, she undid at night – delaying the completion of the task. Her trickery was not discovered for three years. Now she still fails to make a decision. As far as the suitors are concerned, Penelope should be sent home, back to her father, given a handsome dowry and prepare for remarriage.
BOOK TWO When Telemachus calls down the vengeance of Zeus two eagles appear overhead and begin to fight with each other in front of the assembly (an omen sent by Zeus). Two Ithacans Halitherses and Mentor speak on behalf of Odysseus. The two are shouted down by the suitors and the assembly breaks up in chaos. A shaken and disturbed Telemachus is given help by Athene who, disguised, gathers together a ship and 20 men for him to set off to Pylos.
BOOK TWO Athena’s help to Telemachus is instrumental in this book: she allows him to sail away undetected. After finding the 20 men, she then returns to the palace and makes the suitors fall asleep, so Telemachos can steal out with the supplies he had been gathering. Telemachus journey is both physical and psychological. He has embarked on his own personal journey to find, Kleos, his personal identity. Another theme running throughout book 1 -2 is the despicable flaunting of the rules of hospitality by the suitors - consistently developed throughout the epic. The book ends with Telemachos out at sea, heading for Pylos.
BOOK TWO: IMPORTANT POINTS Note the intelligence of Penelope. She delays marriage through trickery. Note also the inability of the young Telemachus to handle the suitors: he has much to learn. He cannot even control the assembly. Note the role of Athene in helping Telemachus. Note the omen from Zeus (eagles). The gods have set the return of Odysseus in motion; the suitors seem to be unaware of this divine plan. Note also the increasing violence and ruthlessness of the suitors. They surely deserve the death that they will finally get. Our sympathies are completely orientated against the suitors.
BOOK TWO QUESTIONS 1. What happens at the assembly Telemachus holds – what does he say? 2. Discuss the involvement of the suitors at this assembly. 3. How does Penelope demonstrate her shrewdness? 4. Describe the role of Athena in this book.
- Slides: 7
