Book 20
Summary: Oddy Spends the night. The Suitors taunt fate.
Commentary: Odysseus reflects on escaping Polyphemus: "Nobody, only guile,/ got you out of that cave alive." If only he had kept his mouth shut after, they'd have been home years ago. Athena has "body like a woman." The suitors fail to be hospitable to Odysseus, illustrating one of the main themes of the poem. This is why they have to die. (Odysseus later has a meal that doesn't specifically mention an offering to the gods, which is surprising.)
Book 21
Summary: Oddy does a trick shot.
Commentary: There's a good eight lines of Penelope opening a door in this section when she goes to get the bow. I guess it's dramatic buildup, like when someone opens their secret lair or whatever. Penelope finally calls out the suitors for being inhispitable. Odysseus makes the axe-ring-shot (I like to think the axes have rings at the base of the handle to hang them. Apparently is a matter of some debate.) And declares it time, "to cook their lordships' mutton--/supper by daylight."
No comments:
Post a Comment