The Odyssey: Book 18

Book 18 (Linnea, Emily & Rohini)

Quotes

“How this pot-bellied pig runs off at the mouth—
like an old crone at her oven!
Well I’ve got a knock-out blow in store for him—
I’ll batter the tramp with both fists, crack every tooth
from his jaws, I’ll little the ground with teeth
like a rogue sow’s, punished for rooting corn!
Belt up—so the lords can see us fight it out (18. 31-37).”

This quote represents an example of Homeric style. He often uses epic similes throughout The Odyssey and this is a good representation of one. There are two similes included in this one passage and it’s drawn out to explain thoroughly what Homer is talking about. This is significant in The Odyssey because with all of these epic similes, Homer paints us vivid pictures of what he’s describing, making it easier to understand the book.

“True/ but here I see you suitors plotting your reckless work/ carving away at the wealth, affronting the loyal wife/ of a man who won’t be gone from kin and country long. (13.165-170)” This quote is foreshadowing that Odysseus is not far; in fact he is actually at Ithaca. It is important because it is almost telling the suitors that he is there. “But now Prince Telemachus dressed them down:/ ‘ Fools, you’re out of your minds! No hiding it,/ food and wine have gone to your heads. Some god/ has got your blood up. Come, now you’ve eaten well/ go home to bed-when the spirit moves, that is./ I, for one, I’ll drive no quest away’”When Telemachus says this to the suitors, they are all very surprised. It is very brave of him, and it is one of the first time we see Telemachus not trying to get rid of the suitors. The suitors in the end let go of the beggar and leave the house.


Monomyth

Book 18 is part of Section Four of the Elements of a Monomyth. More specifically, it’s a “Rescue from Without” which means help given to a hero to overcome a final fight. Odysseus has returned to Ithaca and has one more obstacle to surpass before he’s dubbed as a hero, but he needs some help.
Three examples of this Monomyth is that Athena gave Odysseus direction of what to do, she disguised him as a beggar to hide his identity, and then she also stood beside him in the rift with Irus (the other beggar). Odysseus won the battle with the help of Athena as she showcased his strength. This quote below is an example of the Monomyth and it shows Athena’s help.
As Odysseus belted up, roping his rags around his loins,
baring his big rippling thighs—his boxer’s broad shoulders,
his massive chest and burly arms on full display
as Athena stood beside him,
fleshing out the limbs of a great commander…(18. 77-81).

Book 18 (Molly)

Significant Quotes (book 18)

1. “’Of all that breathes and crawls across the earth / Our mother earth breeds nothing feebler than man / So long as the gods grant him power, spring in the knees / He thinks he will never suffer affliction down the years / But then, when the happy gods bring on the long hard times / Bear them he must, against his will, and steel his heart / Our lives, our mood and mind as we pass across the earth / Turn as the days turn’” (18.150-157).

a. Here, Odysseus is speaking to Antinous before sharing a cup of wine. The significance in this quote is shown as Odysseus shares wisdom that he’s learned from his many perilous experiences. For example, Odysseus says, “Mother Earth Breeds nothing feebler than man.” Him and his crew are often shown as weak and feeble compared to the enemies they meet and danger they face, which is how Odysseus is able to say that man is the most feeble and weak thing on earth. Also, He says that “our lives, our mood and mind… turn as the days turn” implying that because of his sporadic luck, he has learned that nothing stays the same forever- one’s luck , attitude, and situation very from day to day. This passage is significant because it demonstrates how much Odysseus has learned, and how much his wisdom has matured because of his experiences. It overall portrays Odysseus as a thoughtful, fully matured man.

2. “But now prince Telemachus dressed them down: / ‘Fools, you’re out of your minds! No hiding it, / food and wine have gone to your heads. Some god / has got your blood up. Come, now you’ve eaten well / Go home to bed- when the spirit moves, that is / I, for one, I’ll drive no guest away.’ / So he declared, and they all bit their lips / amazed the prince could speak with so much daring” (18. 457-464).

a. This passage, where Telemachus scolds his mother’s suitors, is significant for two reasons. First of all, there’s a strong tone of authority in the young prince’s words when he says, “fools, you’re out of your minds!” and also when he demands that they go home. Like Odysseus, the young prince is shown as a matured man. Now, he is also a respected authority since the suitors are silent and terrified of his words. This speech is also significant because it shows how Telemachus is very similar to Odysseus in that has matured, he’s a man, and he is a respected voice in his house. This passage also shows how he has grown while his father was away at Troy. Overall, This quote is significant because of what it tells us about Telemachus’s new position in his household, and his newfound maturity.

3. “’If Only Odysseus came back home and stood right here / In a flash you’d fine those doors-broad as they are- / Too cramped for your race to safety through the porch!’” (18. 434-436).

4. “Athena’s mission accomplished, off the bright one went / as bare-armed maids came in from their own quarters” (18. 224-225).

a. These quotes are significant because they both show one of Homer’s famed styles of writing. The first quote, where Odysseus, still disguised as a beggar, insults the suitors, is a clear example of foreshadowing. Homer, through Odysseus, is telling us what is in store for the greedy suitors in the near future. The second passage is taken from a description of Penelope’s radiant beauty that Athena gives her. Homer uses another one of his style traits, epithets, to describe the situation. He specifically says “bare-armed maids,” so he uses his famed epithets to give the audience an image of the scene.

The Monomyth Stage
In book 18 of the Odyssey, Odysseus is in stage four, or the “return” stage, of the hero quest cycle. For example, part of stage four is the character officially becoming a hero. The fact that Odysseus made it safely back home and completed his hero quest is enough evidence to consider him a hero. Another part of the stage four is supernatural forces helping the character get home. Athena happened to be that magical force that helped Odysseus to reach his home. For example, when he fights Irus, and when he’s alone in his room, Athena is standing by his side. And as he pretends to be a beggar in his own house, Athena stands by him. The supernatural goddess was the force that helped Odysseus get home, and she keeps him safe at his home. A third characteristic of the fourth stage is the newfound hero receiving a gift of some type. In a way, Odysseus receives a gift when he fights Irus. As Antonius says, “’These goat sausages sizzling here in the fire / We packed them with fat and blood to have for supper / Now, whoever wins this bout and proves the stronger / Let that man step up and take his pick of the lot!’” (18. 52-55). This passage says that the winner will receive a prize, which is the best goat sausage for dinner. Since Odysseus wins, he also receives the delicious prize. All of these examples follow traits of the Monomyth, proving that in book 18, Odysseus is in the fourth stage of his hero quest.