Portents Gather

The Odyssey

Chapter 20

Portent

-noun

An indication or omen of something about to happen, especially something momentous.

Portent #1

• Zeus sets off a thunderclap and a maid is heard cursing the suitors.

• This encourages Odysseus and reassures him of his future conquering of the many suitors.

Portent #2

• This omen is of an eagle carrying a dove in its talons which is the omen of doom

• Once the suitors see this omen, they call off their planned murder on Telemachus.

One last Portent

* This portent is very grotesque and is the image of all of the suitors covered in blood and deformed, eating their last dinner in Odysseus’ castle whose walls are also covered in blood.

Telemachus’ New found Courage

• After seeing his father for the first time since his childhood, Telemachus seems to have a new fire inside of him to fight the suitors off.

• When his father is threatened by a suitor, Telemachus is offended and claims that if his father would have been hurt, he would have killed that suitor.

Ctesippus

• Ctesippus is a new character in this chapter. He is a very arrogant suitor who has courted Penelope.

• He throws a ox hoof at the disguised Odysseus.