The Odyssey Questions Book 19: Penelope questions the stranger
Book 19
- Penelope questions the stranger (Odysseus in disguise) closely, and he claims to be Aethon from Crete. Do you think that Penelope knows or suspects Odysseus’ real identity? Why or why not?
- Whether she suspects anything or not, how does Penelope test the stranger? What qualities does she manifest in this book that make her a worthy match for Odysseus?
- Interpret the dream that Penelope relates to the stranger towards the book’s end. Does it reveal things about her stance towards the suitors that would probably surprise even her?
- Why does Penelope tell the stranger about the contest to string Odysseus’ bow that she is planning to announce?
