Book: XIX.

Once again, Odysseus spins an elaborate tale of his background, this time for Penelope. Why does he do this? What do you understand about Penelope after reading Book XIX? The nurse, Eurycleia, has a vital role in the rest of the story. What is her relationship with Odysseus and with Penelope? What do you learn about Eurycleia’s character? What is Penelope planning on page 398?

He again still has to devise a plan to get rid of (kill) the suitors. When he does not tell Penelope that he is Odysseus it is just benefiting her. Penelope seems to be a woman with a lot of emotions. She is grieving for her husband still, and not only that, but also is getting very impatient and annoyed with the way things are. She hates the suitors and says that she does not like to treat strangers with any respect any longer because she has had enough. Eurycleia plays a big role now that she has found out that the man is Odysseus. She was washing his feet and noticed the scar he had had since he was a little boy. (From the boar). She was flabbergasted to find that is was him, it was Odysseus. He was the one she had for the most part raised, she had taken care of him since the day he was born. She loved Odysseus as her own and was so stunned to see him back. Eurycleia seems to be a very, nice pleasant woman. She is a mother figure to Odysseus and Telemachus. She is just like family. On page 398, Penelope is questioning as to if she should keep things intact and stay beside her son here or if she should not wed one of the suitors. Even Telemachus wants her to just leave.