1. What do you see as the attitude of the Gods toward men?
2. What do you see as the attitude of the Greeks toward hospitality?
3. How would you characterize Telemachus at this point? What are his strengths?
4. What are his weaknesses?
5. How does Athena plan to affect Telemachus?
6. What tragic homecoming story do we hear of? How does it relate to the situation in Ithaca?
7. Who is Phemius? What is his importance?
8. How does Telemachus show strength with Penelope?
9. How does this relate to the visit of Athena?
BOOK2
10. What is the suitor's attitude toward Penelope's reluctance to choose one of them?
11. Why do the suitors think it is their right to "demand" that she choose?
12. What is the omen and what are the two different interpretations of its meaning?
13. How does Telemachus respond to the position put forward by Antinous?
BOOK3
14. How does Athena help Telemachus prepare for Nestor?
15. Why is it important for Telemachus to meet Nestor in particular? What does he seem to represent?
16. Why is it important for Telemachus to meet Pisistratus?
17. What does Telemachus learn about himself? About the meaning of being a son? About the treatment of guests? About sacrifices to the gods?
BOOK4
18. How do Menelaus and Helen compare with Nestor as hosts?
19. Do Menelaus and Helen know who Telemachus is at the beginning of the book?
20. What do you make of the relationship between Menelaus and Helen (remember, the Trojan war was fought to get Helen back)