Towards the end of Book 12, as the greatest Trojan warrior Hector and his young commander Polydamas try to rush the Grecian ramparts, they see the same omen, this time the eagle is clutching a bloody snake in its claws. But the snake bites the eagle, which forces the eagle to surrender its grasp. The soldiers are made, practically doomed to watch for omens that the gods send them, and interpreting what is truly a manifestation of a certain god can be confusing to interpret.
The eagle along with the bloody snake is an illustration of the vague way in which the gods send signs of destiny to men. When men elect to ignore it, as Hector does in Book 12, the aftereffects can be drastic. His belief that men must protect their country no matter what is traditionally accepted, but it will not rescue him from being subdued.
In the next book, Hector once again advances the Trojans, this time with renewed boldness along with fully prepared reinforcements at his side. Great Ajax teases Hector, and yet another eagle swoops past the Achaeans, which they welcome as a positive omen. However, he cannot control the power of the gods, as Zeus is more than happy to exhibit. Hecuba only requests that Priam pray for a sign from Zeus before he travels, and Priam agrees, at which point Zeus sends an eagle to assure them.
Priam departs in his wagon, escorted by his old driver. The gods decide to send Priam by himself to ransom the body of Hector, making a scenario where the toughest of the Achaeans will meet with the wisest of Trojans, where the vindictive murderer will meet with the father of the slain.
This event was literally ordained by the gods through the sending of this heralded eagle, as is every event that is set to coincide with the appearance of the bird.
Remember: This is just a sample from a fellow student. He tells the legendary tale of the shroud that Penelope wove for the eventual funeral of Odysseus' father, Laertes, the former king now living on a farm where he grieves his son's absence.
Considering the attack on his mother, Telemachus remains surprisingly calm in his rebuttal. But he foreshadows later events by appealing to Zeus for assistance in vengeance. Dueling eagles suddenly swoop near the assembly, which the seer Halitherses interprets as a sign of Odysseus' return. Eurymachus, the other leading suitor, rudely interrupts the aging prophet and threatens Telemachus.
Mentor speaks for Telemachus, but the assembly reaches no clear decision and dissolves. With the aid of Athena, who poses as Mentor and sometimes as Telemachus himself, the prince secretly prepares and sets sail for Pylos. Homer effectively uses the content and style of the speeches at the assembly to reveal the types and natures of the characters in the action. Bolstered by Athena, Telemachus takes the speaker's staff and demonstrates that he is quickly becoming a man capable of speaking up to the suitors.
The speech moves most of the assembly to silence as the prince presents his case. His initial appeal is emotional as well as informative.
Men frequently are moved to tears in the epic, and Telemachus ends his oration by dashing the speaker's scepter and weeping with passion. Antinous, however, shockingly insults the queen, whom he obviously wants to marry for mainly political reasons. Penelope, he says, has misguided the suitors for nearly four years now, leading on each man with hints and promises but choosing no one.
Antinous demands that Telemachus must send his mother back to her father's home so that the old man might choose a husband for her. Literature Poetry Lit Terms Shakescleare. Download this LitChart! Teachers and parents! Struggling with distance learning? Our Teacher Edition on The Odyssey can help. Themes All Themes. Symbols All Symbols. Theme Wheel. Everything you need for every book you read. The way the content is organized and presented is seamlessly smooth, innovative, and comprehensive.
Several bird omens foreshadow the final battle between Odysseus's men and the suitors. Literature Poetry Lit Terms Shakescleare. Download this LitChart! Teachers and parents! Struggling with distance learning? Our Teacher Edition on The Iliad can help. Themes All Themes. Symbols All Symbols. Theme Wheel. Everything you need for every book you read.
The way the content is organized and presented is seamlessly smooth, innovative, and comprehensive.
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