Homer's Odyssey: the themes of disguise and deception, the role of Athene as Odysseus' divine protector, the testing of loyalty on Ithaca, and the recognition scenes culminating in the reunion with Penelope.

What this dot point is asking

The Odyssey is a poem of disguise and deception, watched over by Athene, goddess of cunning. For The World of the Hero you must understand Odysseus' use of false tales and disguise, Athene's role as his divine protector, the testing of loyalty on Ithaca, and the recognition scenes that culminate in the reunion with Penelope. The paper tests precise knowledge (AO1), close analysis of the text (AO2 and AO3) and your own argument.

The answer

Athene, goddess of cunning and protector of Odysseus

Disguise and deception as Odysseus' method

Odysseus is the supreme deceiver among Homeric heroes:

• In the wanderings he escapes the Cyclops by the trick of the name "Nobody" (Book 9), so the blinded Polyphemus cannot summon help.
• On Ithaca he adopts the beggar disguise and tells a series of plausible false tales (the so-called Cretan lies) to conceal his identity from suitors and even, at first, from Penelope.
• His deception is strategic: he hides his identity to observe his household and choose his moment, rather than rushing to reveal himself.

Testing loyalty on Ithaca

The disguise allows Odysseus to test who has remained faithful. He finds the swineherd Eumaeus and the cowherd Philoetius loyal, and rewards them; he sees the suitors abusing his home and the disloyal maids consorting with them, marking them for punishment. His nurse Eurycleia is faithful but nearly exposes him when she recognises the old scar on his thigh while washing his feet (Book 19), a tense moment of near-recognition. The testing motif turns the homecoming into a moral audit of the household.

The recognitions and the reunion with Penelope

Examples in context

A strong 10-mark idea answer on Athene would establish her role and give precise examples of her protection, explaining how each shows her guiding without supplanting Odysseus.

Try this

Q1. Read a passage from Odyssey Book 23 in which Penelope tests Odysseus. How does Homer present Penelope in this passage? Refer to the passage. [10 marks]

• What the marker wants. AO1 plus AO3: set the moment (the test of the bed), then analyse how the lines present Penelope's caution and cleverness, and how the recognition resolves the marriage.

Q2. 'Penelope is as clever as Odysseus.' To what extent do you agree? [marked out of 20; real H408/11 tariff is 30]

• Cue. Argue both sides using the trick of the bed, the weaving of Laertes' shroud and her caution with the suitors, against Odysseus' wider range of deceptions. Reach a judgement supported by named episodes.