Notes on Book XXI
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The 21st book of the Odyssey is about Odysseus' bow. It became Odysseus' bow when he and Iphitus exchanged gifts. This prominently placed anecdote (21.11-41) explains that Iphitus later dies at the hands of Hercules whose guest he was.
Hercules is elsewhere described as being of the generation before the Trojan War (Book VIII), so his presence during the lifetime of Odysseus is an anachronism.
Katherine Crissy explains that the anecdote enhances Odysseus' status by comparison with the ancient hero, both of whom, famed for archery skill, kill their guests, are persecuted by one of the gods, aided by Athena, exhibit a certain amount of hubris, and spend a lot of time as loners. She also brings up the story that Iphitus is from the family that denied Hercules his bride Iole, despite Hercules' winning a bow contest. Just as Hercules was denied a bride, so will the suitors be. Like Hercules who appears to have stolen animals from the household, which Iphitus is looking for during his fatal visit, so the suitors are effectively stealing Odysseus' animals when they are thwarted in their pursuit of Penelope.
The 21st book is not only about the bow, but about the archery contest in which the bow is used to shoot an arrow through a dozen axes. This has led to much speculation about the arrangement of the axes. It has been suggested that the arrow is to go through the hole in which the handle of the axe would normally go.
If this is the case, the axes, which appear to be weapons, are useless.
There are several other interesting strands in this book, including Telemachus' possibly incestuous entry into the contest, Telemachus' saying he had been laughing, and the way the orders of Penelope and Telemachus coincide unknowingly with the plot Odysseus has concocted to use Eumaeus to give him the bow. These are treated in some of the articles below.
"Herakles, Odysseus, and the Bow: 'Odyssey' 21.11-41," by Katherine Crissy. The Classical Journal, Vol. 93, No. 1. (Oct. - Nov., 1997), pp. 41-53.
"Telemachus' 'Laugh' (Odyssey 21.105): Deceit, Authority, and Communication in the Bow Contest," by Stanley E. Hoffer. The American Journal of Philology, Vol. 116, No. 4 (Winter, 1995), pp. 515-531.
"Telemachos' Laugh (Od. 21.101-105)," by S. Douglas Olson The Classical Journal, Vol. 89, No. 4. (Apr. - May, 1994), pp. 369-372.
Odyssey in English
Odyssey Study Guide Contents
The 21st book of the Odyssey is about Odysseus' bow. It became Odysseus' bow when he and Iphitus exchanged gifts. This prominently placed anecdote (21.11-41) explains that Iphitus later dies at the hands of Hercules whose guest he was.
Hercules is elsewhere described as being of the generation before the Trojan War (Book VIII), so his presence during the lifetime of Odysseus is an anachronism.
Katherine Crissy explains that the anecdote enhances Odysseus' status by comparison with the ancient hero, both of whom, famed for archery skill, kill their guests, are persecuted by one of the gods, aided by Athena, exhibit a certain amount of hubris, and spend a lot of time as loners. She also brings up the story that Iphitus is from the family that denied Hercules his bride Iole, despite Hercules' winning a bow contest. Just as Hercules was denied a bride, so will the suitors be. Like Hercules who appears to have stolen animals from the household, which Iphitus is looking for during his fatal visit, so the suitors are effectively stealing Odysseus' animals when they are thwarted in their pursuit of Penelope.
The 21st book is not only about the bow, but about the archery contest in which the bow is used to shoot an arrow through a dozen axes. This has led to much speculation about the arrangement of the axes. It has been suggested that the arrow is to go through the hole in which the handle of the axe would normally go.
If this is the case, the axes, which appear to be weapons, are useless.
There are several other interesting strands in this book, including Telemachus' possibly incestuous entry into the contest, Telemachus' saying he had been laughing, and the way the orders of Penelope and Telemachus coincide unknowingly with the plot Odysseus has concocted to use Eumaeus to give him the bow. These are treated in some of the articles below.
Articles for Odyssey XXI
"The Arrow and the Axe-Heads in the Odyssey," by L. G. Pocock. The American Journal of Philology, Vol. 82, No. 4. (Oct., 1961), pp. 346-357."Herakles, Odysseus, and the Bow: 'Odyssey' 21.11-41," by Katherine Crissy. The Classical Journal, Vol. 93, No. 1. (Oct. - Nov., 1997), pp. 41-53.
"Telemachus' 'Laugh' (Odyssey 21.105): Deceit, Authority, and Communication in the Bow Contest," by Stanley E. Hoffer. The American Journal of Philology, Vol. 116, No. 4 (Winter, 1995), pp. 515-531.
"Telemachos' Laugh (Od. 21.101-105)," by S. Douglas Olson The Classical Journal, Vol. 89, No. 4. (Apr. - May, 1994), pp. 369-372.
Odyssey in English
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