The Odyssey Questions Book 17: In Elizabethan revenge tragedies, it is common for the villain to declare himself
Book 17
- In Elizabethan revenge tragedies, it is common for the villain to declare himself a thorough rascal. In what way do Melanthius the goatherd and the suitors throw away a chance to redeem themselves in this book? Why do they fail?
- Around line 480 Odysseus tells a “resourceful” tale, namely that he was sold into slavery in Egypt. Although the tale is a lie, what purpose does it serve, aside from establishing some cover for Odysseus in concealing his true identity?
