When the old woman is bathing Odysseus, she sees a scar on his leg and remembers “how the white tusk of a wild boar had gashed his leg” (405.526-8). Killing a wild boar while hunting on Parnassus with the injure to his leg showcases his strength and perseverance.

After years of waiting for Odysseus to come back, Penelope decides “the hand… that shoots an arrow clean through all twelve axes... forsa[kes her] house” (19.649-50). Penelope will “follow” any suitor who can shoot an arrow through the axes, however the only man ever capable of doing so is Odysseus (19.651).

Alicia Chapman
Now home, Odysseus reveals to two of his old servants that he has returned “after bearing twenty years of brutal hardship” (21:233). To endure such a long period of trial and persevere through it shows the strength that an epic hero is known to possess.

21:456:
Wesley Wu
Odysseus is illustrated as an epic hero when he “strung his mighty bow” “with his virtuoso ease.” Meanwhile, none of the other suitors are able to string it, demonstrating Odysseus’ uniquiness to the situation and superiority over the suitors w2

22: 5-7: 

Carol Sujet
Odysseus is portrayed as an epic hero when he successfully hits Antinous, a target that “no one’s hit before” (22: 7) which shows that his archery is beyond that of most men. 

22:123-126

Odysseus is described as a “mastermind of war”, and shows extreme power in “picking suitors off in the palace”, leaving “corpse on corpse in droves” (443, 123-126). Odysseus is demonstrating hero-like qualities, as he fights many suitors with the ferociousness and strength of many men.

Christina, Joe, Skyler, Nicole, Eric

Analysis: This quote demonstrates the treatment of women through the misogyny of the suitors, distracting the women from their duties towards Penelope. 

Grace Berger and Jenna Lebbing

When Penelope begins to argue with the suitors over the bow, Telemachus defuses the situation and tells her,  “So, mother, go back to your quarters. Tend to your own tasks, the distaff and the loom, and keep the women working hard as well. As for the bow now, men will see to that, but most of all: I hold the reins of power in this house(435.390-394).” 

Analysis: In this quote, Telemachus simply dismisses his mother which portrays the women in Greek society to be helpless and fragile since they have no power and are forced to hideaway when trouble arises.

When Penelope is talking to the beggar, she talks about how she tricked the suitors, and about the aftermath saying, “So I finished it off. [Against my will.] They forced me.” (195. 175) about how the suitors reacted. 

The quote is important because it shows how men could treat women in Greek society, such as forcing them to do something without them having any say, and in this case, even at their own home.

Odysseus, with his hands “clutching the nurse’s throat,” (405.543) threatens to “kill the other women” (406. 554) in his home after Eurycleia notices that he is disguised as a beggar. Odysseus looks at women as if they are disposable, expressing his intention to harm them without hesitation if his plan is not performed properly. - Christopher John Markovich 

While Telemachus makes the maids clean up the blood and bodies, he yells at them, “You sluts-the suitors’ whores!(453.490).” This is an example of the disrespectful way that most of the men in greek society treat the women since Telemachus called all of the women derogatory terms before killing them.

After killing all the suitors, Odysseus commands Telemachus, telling him, “hack [the women] with your swords, slash out all their lives- blot out of their minds the joy of love they relished (453. 468-469)” In this quote, the women’s crime is loving the suitors and sleeping with them, while the guys and greeks society aren’t shown disrespect for having affairs (ex. Odysseus) and are not killed for it.

Talya Findikli (19.151): As Penelope laments to Odysseus disguised as a beggar she exclaims that her heart “yearns of Odysseus, always” (19.151) Penelope stays loyal to Odysseus even after twenty years of handsome suitors barraging her for her hand in marriage.

Rebecca Miceli (20:9): After Penelope and Odysseus talk, Odysseus gets ready for bed and hears his maids sneaking into the suitor’s rooms “The maids who whored in the suitors beds each night”(410.9). Penelope’s maids are disloyal to Odysseus, which has the huge consequence of making Odysseus want to kill them all. 

Ray Nguyen(21.250): After the slaughter of the suitors Odysseus reveals himself to Penelope and the two are reunited and share a moment a long time in the making. Odysseus mentions how “ He wept as he held the wife he loved, the soul of loyalty, in his arms at last joy, warm as the joy that shipwrecked sailors feel when they catch sight of land. “ (463.260-263) Even though Odysseus has been away from Ithaca for nearly half his life and has had multiple encounters with many other women, his loyalty remains with his family in Ithaca. Odysseus’s heart remains with Penelope after all these years and as a result, this gives Odysseus the extra motivation to return home to Ithaca and reunite with her.

Daniel Wu (22:494) : After the women clean up the room where the suitors are slaughtered by Telemachus and Odysseus, Telemachus, “taking a cable used on a dark-prowed ship, he coiled it over the roundhouse, lashed it fast to a tall column, hoisting it up so high no toes could touch the ground… the women’s heads were trapped in a line, nooses yanking their necks, one by one” (452.491.498). Telemachus kills off the women who had sexual relations with the suitors, showing his loyalty to his father’s idea of getting revenge on all those who had betrayed and showed disloyalty towards Odysseus when he was gone.

Chyi: Eurymachus warms the bow in front of the fire before he tries to bend Odysseus’ bow to prove his strength to Penelope, “but he failed to bend it even so and the suitor’s high heart groaned to bursting” (432. 276, 277). The suitors become humiliated and their pride is wounded when their strength falls short of Odysseus’ by so much that they could not bend his bow enough to string it. 

Sophie-Anne: While Melanthius yells at Odysseus for his poor, dirty appearance and begging behavior, he remains “silent, his mind churning with thoughts of bloody work” (416.2021-202). Odysseus’ restraint towards lashing out at the goatherd proves his ability to remain patient when brought to an uncomfortable situation. 

Maya: As the maids slipped into the rooms of the suitors, “the rage in [Odysseus’] breast reined back - unswerving all endurance” to refrain from killing the disloyal women (411.26-27). By renouncing his desire to punish the maids, Odysseus revealed a sense of patience within him as well as humility for lacking the ability to protect his beloved wife.

Danny: Penelope engages in a conversation with “the stranger” and offers him bedding, blankets, and a footbath to which Odysseus replies with “...blankets and glossy spreads? They’re not my style…” and “nor do I pine for footbaths either,” (401.386-392). Here is an instance of Odysseus showing humility, as he is rejecting the royal treatment he is offered, showing he does not think he is special to the point where he must have the best quality care.

As a Group:
After Odysseus successfully shoots his arrow through all twelve axe-handles, he says that there is another target left "that no one's hit before - we'll see if I can hit it - Apollo give me glory!" (439.7). Although this may seem like excessive pride on Odysseus' part, he had been humble, swallowing his pride for a long time up to this point, so savoring the moment now balances out his pride.