NovelGuide: Odysseus: Novel Summary: Chapters 19-20

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Chapters 19-20

Chapter 19: Odysseus and Telemachus take Odysseus' armor that hangs from the wall, so that he can use it in the upcoming battle.� He talks with Penelope, who does not recognize him, but she treats him well, and scolds one of her servants for not treating him well.� When she asks who he is and where he comes from, he lies again.� She tells him her story very bluntly, of how she tricked the suitors for three years by weaving a shroud that she would unweave each night.� Odysseus tells her made-up information about Odysseus, and claims to have met him.� Penelope tests him by asking him details about her husbands clothing, which he relates accurately, and she offers him her friendship.� Odysseus hints to Penelope that her husband will return safely, but she has little faith.� Penelope asks her only trusted servant, Eurykleia who was Odysseus' nurse, to wash his feet.� Eurykleia recognizes Odysseus but he silences her so she does not ruin his plans.� The next day, Penelope tells Odysseus of a dream that she had.� He interprets it as an omen that the suitors will all die.� Odysseus and Penelope arrange a feast and an archery contest the next day. Penelope offers Odysseus a bed in the house so he doesn't have to sleep at the house of the pig shepherd.
Chapter 20: Odysseus has second doubts about killing all of the suitors, since he fears retaliation by their fathers and other relatives.� During the preparations for the feast, Philoitios the cow shepherd meets Odysseus, treats him well, and is found to be a loyal servant.��� The suitors show up, and one of them, Ktesippos, is incredibly and openly violent.� Theoklymenos, the man whom Telemachus saved from Pylos, begins to prophesy that the suitors will die.� They laugh at him, but Theoklymenos leaves the house so he will not be killed.