The Odyssey Ch. 20-24

I'm so happy to be done with this book.  It was a laborious read, but I did enjoy it and I like that it's under my belt.  The fight got surprisingly climactic and suspenseful.  I finished it last night, but got caught up in this guy's blog for a good hour, and didn't finish my own journal.  I've never taken a philosophy class, but the author is pretty interesting.  It kind of goes along with what we were talking about in class- questioning what you believe and seeing things from a different perspective.

Words:

• paramours (p.195) - adulterous lovers.  I should have been able to figure this one out from context.

Phrases:

• "growled his spirit" (p.195) - good imagery
• "destruction's cords are knotted" (p.213) - again, I just like the metaphor.
• "gallant son" (p. 214) - even while Melanthius is trying to escape his death, he seems to be honoring Telemachus by calling him gallant.
• "bit the dust" (p. 217) - I know it's a common phrase, but I just realized the true meaning.  This makes me feel ignorant.
• Eurycleia tells Penelope "it would have warmed your heart to see.."  Odysseus standing over the slaughtered men.  You'd think they had been awfully terrible to her for her heart to warm at the sight of them in a bloody puddle.
• "staying side by side to share the joys of youth and reach the threshold of old age." (p. 226) - just sweet

Other thoughts:

• I'm not sure why Odysseus had to lie to his father when he first met him.  I think he has a habit of lying that he just can't shake.  Or he's narcissistic and likes to hear what people have to say about him behind his back.
• On page 196, Athena assures Odysseus that he will be able to fight all the suitors because he'll have her help.  It just reminds me of a Bible verse- Nothing is impossible with God.  When we humans have some difficult task to face, it's encouraging to think that we have something bigger on our side.  Imagine if, after completing a task, we could give all the credit to ourselves.  Maybe then we'd have the courage to accomplish more.
• I don't think Odysseus was happy enough to see Penelope.  For the journey made and time spent to get back to her I wanted to see something like "his spirit soared within."
• I really like how the author describes the room where the bow has been kept.  He not only says how it looks, but says how the carpenter smoothed it years ago.  It gives it a human element and I can almost feel the wood myself.
• I can't believe what they did to Melanthius!  Very gruesome.
• Odysseus turns down Eurycleia's offer to rat out the maids at first, but now he asks for her help.
• It seems mean to make the dishonest maids clean up their ex-lovers bodies and blood, then take them out to the toolshed for a good hanging.  I guess this is pretty much was though.  "They twitched their feet a little, but not long."  (p. 221)  Thanks for that detail!