Julia Veit

Period #5

The Odyssey
Books 21-23
The Test of the Bow, Death in the Great Hall, and The Trunk of the Olive Tree

Objective: Analyze how successfully Odysseus lives up to Greek hero status by gathering and analyzing
textual evidence from The Odyssey. You will be allowed to use these notes and evidence on your
upcoming essay test.

Traits of a Greek Hero: intelligent, ruthless/skilled fighter, strong (physical), sly/clever, resourceful,
ladies man, in favor of the gods, special ability, loyal/honorable, embodies ideals of race/nation

Text Evidence How this evidence proves or

Note: You can cite the text directly or Example
or
disproves Odysseus as a hero.
paraphrase it. Just make sure you cite
exact page numbers and lines. Non-example?

Example: In the hushed hall it smote the
suitors and all their faces changed. Then Zeus
thundered overhead, one loud crack for a sign.
And Odysseus laughed within him that the son
of crooked-minded Cronus had flung that omen
down (207-210).
This is right after Odysseus strings the bow
successfully after several suitors were unable to.
Example of a When Zeus thunders overhead, it shows that
Greek hero Odysseus is in the gods favor (heroic trait).
Its like Zeus is celebrating Odysseus victory.

He Turned back into the courtyard and the
beautiful house and took the stool he had
before. They followed one by one, the two
hands loyal to him. (104-106) 948
This is after Odysseus told Eumaeus and
Example of a Philoetius the plan. It shows that his servants are
Greek Hero loyal enough to him to fight with him against the
suitors. Hes also being a trickster which is a
heroic trait. And his men are loyal to him.

There will be killing tiell the score is paid. You
forced yourselves upon this house.Fight you
way out, or run for it, if you think youll escape
death. I doubt one man of your skins by.
Example of a This is an example of a heroic trait because he is
Greek Hero being ruthless and not going to leave any
survivors, and ruthless and fighting are heroic
traits. Hes also fighting for his house and his
wife.

Athena lent him beauty, head to foot. She made
him taller, and massive too, with crisping hair in
curls like petals of wild hyacinth but all red-
golden.
Three abreast I tied them slightly together,
twining cords of willow from the Ogres bed; then
slung a man under each middle one to ride
safely, sheilded left and right. So three sheep
could convey each man. (336-342) page 908
This shows hes a hero because after his long
Example of a fight in the courtyard the Goddess Athena comes
Greek Hero
to his aid to help him relax and make him
beautiful and restore him to his former beauty.
Trait of a god by his side.
This quote shows how intelligent Odysseus
which is a greed hero trait. And how he got most
Example of a of his men out from this tight situation down in
Greek Hero the Cyclops cave. By tying the sheep together to
get out unseen.
Trait of intelligence.

In this scene he is about to string his bow and

 Julia Veit
Period #5

May his fortune grow an inch for every inch he
bends it! But the man skilled in all ways of
contending, satisfied by, the great bows heft,
like a musician, like a harper, when with quiet
hand upon his instrument he draws between his
thumb and forefinger a sweet new string upon a
peg: so effortlessly Odysseus in one motion
strung the bow.
the men are making fun of his fortune because
hes dressed like a beggar. This shows the
heroic trait of strength because no one can string
Example of a his bow and he is the only one that can.
Greek Hero

But here he lies, the man who caused them all. He is ruthless by wanting to kill everyone not just
Antinous was the ringleader; he whipped us on Antinous the leader of the mem.
to do these things. He cared less for marriage Example of a
than for the power Cronion has denied him as Greek Hero
King of Ithaca. For that he tried to trap your son
and would have killed him. He is dead now and
has his portion. Spare your own people.