17. Study Questions

1. When Odysseus is described as he is in the very first lines of the poem, do you feel that this leads us to expect a positive or negative character? Which do you feel he is by the end of the poem (with regards to these character traits)?

The word used to describe him (polytropos) can mean resourceful, cunning or crafty. They are fairly neutral, and can mean sharp and intelligent, but also perhaps shifty and enigmatic. You may feel that these traits serve him well as they enable him to survive and reach home, but they also

Further study tasks

Using the bullet points on page 20 of the textbook, note all the instances in your prescribed books where disguise and deception is used, as well as why (what function it performs in the narrative)

Also think how disguise is used in conjunction with revelation/recognition, as this will be the focus of our next session.

17. Study Questions

Further study tasks

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