What question does the king ask Odysseus Book 8?

At dinner that night, Odysseus asks Demodocus to sing of the Trojan horse and the sack of Troy, but as he listens to the accomplished minstrel he again breaks down. King Alcinous again notices and stops the music. He asks Odysseus at last to tell him who he is, where he is from, and where he is going.

What happens in Book 8 of the Odyssey?

In Book 8, Alcinous instructs his people to prepare a ship and crew for Odysseus, whose name they still do not know. While preparations are made, they will enjoy feasting and athletic competitions. He calls for the minstrel Demodocus, who makes Odysseus cry when he sings about the battle between Odysseus and Achilles.

What are good questions to ask about the Odyssey?

The Odyssey Questions

  • In a world governed by the gods, is there any room for human will?
  • What kind of religion do the characters in The Odyssey seem to have?
  • What does justice mean for the people in The Odyssey?
  • The people in The Odyssey have no problem boasting, but they also warn against excessive pride.

What is the conflict in Book 8 of the Odyssey?

In fact, the main conflict of the epic is how Odysseus must reckon with the greedy and ignoble suitors who have overrun his estate in his absence.

What does Alcinous finally ask Odysseus about at the end of book 8?

When everyone arrives, Alcinous asks his people to bring a ship down to the sea and to find a crew of fifty-two men to transport Odysseus home; everyone else, he says, should gather to feast and celebrate.

Who kept Odysseus for 2 years?

Calypso kept Odysseus on the island as her slave/captive for seven years before freeing him at the behest of the Olympian gods. Still in love with Odysseus, Calypso helped him off the island by building his boats and giving him supplies.

How does book 8 of the Odyssey end?

Just as Telemachus’s tears reveal his identity to Menelaus, Odysseus’s tears give him away to Alcinous.

What is the epic simile in book 8 of the Odyssey?

King Alcinous uses a simile to compare a friend to a suppliant saying, “a stranger and suppliant is as dear as a brother”(8.591). During the song, the lyre uses a simile singing about Odysseus leaving Troy singing, “but how Odysseus went, / like the War God himself”(8.559-560).

What does Odysseus bow symbolize?

Primarily, the bow symbolizes the physical superiority of the king — an important point in a world in which the mighty prevail. But the bow also symbolizes the maturity and perhaps the character of the king.