Chat:

• Find the life stories for Eumaios (15.470--549) & Antinoos (16.459--477; what is an "infatuate" in this context?). Who has better reasons to be grateful to OD?  The predictable forecast for who would be the better citizen turns out opposite to what we expect.  What does this suggest about policies to foster loyal citizenship?  Consider also Melantho's story (she is a servant): 18.3.58-377; 22.439-450.
• What do you make of the implied morality here?

14.90    the suitors
            cold-hearted men, who never spare a thought
            for how they stand in the sight of Zeus.
14.95    Even the outcasts of the earth, who bring
            piracy from the sea, & bear off plunder
            . . . even those men
            deep in their hearts tremble for heaven's eye.
Near the end of the ODY, OD tells Penelope:
24.363  as to the flocks that pack of wolves [suitors] laid waste
            they'll be replenished: scores I'll get on raids
After hundreds of pages through which we thought OD was changed from "the sacker of cities" to become "the restorer of Ithaka," does he now promise to go back to the ways of The Iliad?  At the very end is OD going back to piracy?  Does this illustrate a total failure?  Or can you reconcile this attitude or policy with OD's conversion to civility?  Think of parallels, say, in American foreign policy.
• 16.317    Tempered iron can magnetize a man.

What does this mean?  What does OD do to avoid a situation in which this might occur?  What happens in this regard?  Was OD's foresight accurate?  How do you know?
• Explain the implied civics lesson evident in Antinoos' cynical remark:

17.523    These men have bread to throw away on you
              because it is not theirs.  Who cares?  Who spares
              another's food, when he has more than plenty?
Here is a hint.  The food/bread is city property.
• When Antinoos throws a stool at OD, it is not a serious blow, but Homer makes a big deal out of the incident.  Why?

17.537    The stool he [Antinoos] let fly hit the man's [OD] right shoulder
OD comments:
17.550    Antinoos
              hit me for being driven on by hunger
Even one of the suitors comments:
17.563    A poor show, that--hitting this famished tramp
PEN also comments:
17.584    Here is a poor man come, a wanderer [hoping for hospitality]
              . . . Antinoos threw a stool, & banged his shoulder!
There are civics lessons here, both for us & for OD.  What are they?

1. When the Phaiakians put OD ashore on Ithaka, he is still asleep.  What do they do with OD's treasure?
2. OD tests the patience & generosity of Eumaios, including:

14.516    trying
              to put it in his head to take his cloak off
              & lend it [to OD for the night]
What happens?  Does OD get a coat or blanket?
3. How many suitors are there?
4. What is the name of OD's dog who waits 20 years for his master's return?
5. "Blasphemous lies in earnest tones he told."

Who is this?