Question

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part 2: mcap practice:

1. based on odysseus’s promise to eumaeus, “i’ll find you a wife and give you land. i’ll build you a fine house beside my own,” what can the reader infer about eumaeus’s status in greek society?

a. eumaeus holds an honored position but lacks political power
b. eumaeus is respected within the household but excluded from family life
c. eumaeus occupies a low social position despite his loyalty and moral worth
d. eumaeus chooses to live outside society to remain independent

1. part a: which theme is most clearly developed through the suitors’ treatment of odysseus as a guest?

a. cleverness allows justice to succeed
b. wealth grants moral authority
c. violating xenia leads to deserved punishment
d. violence is necessary to restore honor

1. part b: which quote from the emily wilson version best supports the answer to part a?

a. “they laughed uncontrollably. they lost control of their own faces. plates of meat began to drip with blood. their eyes were full of tears, and they began to wail in grief.”
b. “this is a gift to pay you for that kick you gave odysseus when he walked through his own house, as a homeless man in need.”
c. “athena lifted high her deadly aegis. the frightened suitors bolted through the hall like cattle, roused and driven by a gadfly.”
d. “the ghosts of the suitors traveled down to the house of the dead, led by hermes.”

1. part a: how does the odyssey present the role of the gods controlling the life of humans?

a. the gods are indifferent to human behavior
b. the gods act randomly
c. if humans choose violence, they must live with the consequences.
d. the gods ultimately authorize and control justice

1. part b: which quote from the emily wilson version best supports the answer to part a?

a. “this is a gift to pay you for that kick you gave odysseus when he walked through his own house, as a homeless man in need.”
b. “hermes led the spirits of the suitors down to the house of the dead.”
c. “the gatherer of clouds replied, “my child, why ask me this? the plan was your idea, to have odysseus come take revenge. do as you wish. but here is my advice…let them all be friends, just as before, and let them live in peace and in prosperity.”
d. “come on, before he sneaks away to pylos or to elis, we have to act! we will be shamed forever unless we take revenge on odysseus for killing our sons and brothers.”
writing / mcap practice stamp
complete parts 1 and 2 and get them checked by the teacher.
stamp here

Explanation:

Question 1

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option a: The promise doesn't imply an honored position with no political power. Eumaeus is a swineherd, so this is incorrect.
• Option b: The promise of a wife and land suggests he's not excluded from family life, so this is wrong.
• Option c: Eumaeus is a loyal swineherd, but in Greek society, his occupation (swineherd) is low - status. Odysseus's promise to give him a wife, land, and a house beside his own implies that Eumaeus currently lacks these, indicating a low social position despite his good qualities. This fits.
• Option d: Eumaeus is part of society (works as a swineherd), he doesn't choose to be outside. So this is incorrect.

• Option a: The suitors' treatment of Odysseus (a guest) is about violating xenia (guest - host relationship), not about cleverness and justice in that way. So this is incorrect.
• Option b: The suitors are wealthy but their treatment of Odysseus is immoral, so wealth doesn't grant moral authority. This is wrong.
• Option c: Xenia is the Greek concept of guest - host relationship. The suitors violate xenia by mistreating Odysseus (a guest), and later they are punished. This theme is clearly developed.
• Option d: The suitors' treatment of Odysseus is about violating xenia, not about violence to restore honor. So this is incorrect.

We need a quote that supports the theme of violating xenia leading to punishment.

• Option a: This describes the suitors' punishment (plates dripping with blood, wailing in grief), which is the consequence of violating xenia. This supports the answer to Part A.
• Option b: This is a specific act of revenge, not about the consequence of violating xenia.
• Option c: This is about Athena scaring the suitors, not directly about the punishment for violating xenia.
• Option d: This is about the suitors' ghosts going to the underworld, not about the punishment for violating xenia.

Answer:

c. Eumaeus occupies a low social position despite his loyalty and moral worth

Question 2 (Part A)