8th+The+suitors+bk+16

__Book XVI__ Main Characters - Odysseus - Telemachus - Athena - Eumaeus - Penelope - Eurymachus - Penelope - Suitors

Summary:


 * Eumaeus and Odysseus sitting in a hut on a farm
 * they are talking, Telemachus walks in (he has just returned from his adventure)
 * Overwhelmed by his arrival, Eumaeus hugs him and welcomes him in. Telemachus then asks Eumaeus if Penelope has taken a suitor as a husband while he was gone, to which he answers no
 * Telemachus does not recognize Odysseus
 * After they have something to eat, Telemachus asks Eumaeus where his guest (Odysseus) is from
 * He tells him that Odysseus is a man form Crete and requests that Telemachus takes him in his care.
 * Odysseus knows that Telemachus is his son but decides not to tell him and remain a stranger.
 * Odysseus tells Telemachus that if he were Odysseus he would go kill every suitor in his house and that he would rather be struck dead by a suitor then to not fight
 * Athena appeared to Odysseus (but not Telemachus) and he followed her outside the house
 * It was time to tell Telemachus that he was his father so that they may plot revenge against the suitors together
 * Athena removes the disguise of Odysseus and he returns to the hut to tell Telemachus the truth
 * Odysseus tells him that he is his father, Telemachus still does not believe him
 * They both tear up and father and son are reunited
 * They then begin to plot their revenge
 * At first Telemachus is doubtful but Odysseus reminds him Zeus and Athena are on their side
 * The plan: **Odysseus is going to be disguised again as an old man and enter the house He explains that if the suitors scorn him or make him suffer. When Athena gives Odysseus the “go”, he will nod his head at Telemachus. Telemachus is then supposed to take every weapon in the house, except for 2 spears, 2 axes, and 2 shields which is for themselves, and put them in the attic**
 * He then tells Telemachus to not tell anybody of his return. Shortly after Eumaeus returns, they eat, and they fall asleep.
 * The suitors learn of Telemachus’ safe return to Ithaca and their failure to cut him off and kill him
 * Penelope starts to worry about the fate of her son She is assured by Eurymachus that he will protect him but he wants to kill Telemachus as well.

Themes: The themes that are progressing throughout the epic the most prominently are the themes of hospitality and justice of the gods. Justice of the gods is seen when Athena reverse ages Oddyseus to help him prepare for his fight with the suitors. When the gods allow for Telemacus to find and stay with Ody justice and hospitality is shown. When Eumaeus alows Odysseus to stay with him he shows hospitality. The conections between the themes in this book and the themes inb the others is that ofference of hospitality usualluy costs those that offer it. An example of a connection would be when the Phaecions offer help to Ody and then they suffer Posidens rage. That ties in with when Eumaeus goes to tell Penelope that Ody is alive he can became the target of the a surviving sutors rage. The justice of the god is however not as prominent as the hospitality issue and justice in this book could be mistaken for hospitality. __The Trojan War - Final Act __ The Trojan War ended on a smart plan by Odysseus. That plan was to leave a large wooden horse filled with Greek men at the gates of Troy. The Trojans had noticed Greek ships sailing away earlier that day and they thought that the giant horse was a peace or sacrificial offering given to them by the Greeks. They rejoiced and led the horse into the city. Then, the Trojans partied, drinking hard, eating and then falling asleep. During the night, the Greeks stationed inside the horse and opened the trap door. They then crept down, opened the gates and let their countrymen in. Then, the Greeks burned Troy. They killed the men, and took the women prisoner. This was the Final Act of the Trojan War.   __ Athena and Arachne __ Arachne was a women in Lydia who was the best weaver of the mortals, may people would come to see her weave, nymphs excitedly watched her weaving. Until one day she boasted that she was better than the God of Weaving herself, Athena. Athena heard this and became furious, she decieced to give Arachne a second chance, by disguising herself as an old lady and ask Arachne to apologized. Arachne scoffed at the old lady(Athena) and then Athena became so furious she reverted to her true form and challenged Arachne. She foolishly agreed to the contest. Anthena weave a tapestry of the story of the naming of Athens it was a magnificent peace, but Arachne created a tapestry showcasing scenes of [|Zeus] ' various infidelities: [|Leda] with the Swan, [|Europa] with the bull, [|Danaë] and the golden rain shower. So exquisite was the mortal's work that the bull seemed lifelike, swimming across the tapestry with a real girl on his shoulders. Even Athena herself was forced to admit that Arachne's work was flawless. Athena grew so jealous she destroyed the work of Arachne and punished her with the mark of guilt. Arachne was so ashamed she hung herself. Athena moved by her morose turned Arachne into a spider. So that she continue to create silk tapestries. This story illustrates the justice of the Gods, and how hubris brings ruin.