Books 16-20 Books 21-24

Topic 4
The character Arnaeus nicknames Irus was introduced in book 18.  He himself is a beggar and he works with the suitors who have taken over Odysseus kingdom. When Irus was wondering around in Ithaca he came across Odysseus, but he was disguised as a beggar.  Irus had no idea it was Odysseus he thought is was just another beggar walking in his territory.  He didn't like that so he started to insult the him aggressively.  As they continued to verbally abuse one another one of the suitors who was watching this says they should just fight it out and the winner will be given food.  So they begin to fight and of course Odysseus being much stronger he took Irus out and threatened him if he was mean to Beggars again that he would kill him next.  To me Irus seems like a person who would do anything just to get by.  I also think he would do anything to feel accepted amongst the suitors. In a way I sort of feel bad for him because he's living an unfortunate life and he comes off to people as not such a nice person.
Topic 5
The texts treatment of Penelope is not so great.  She is not made out to be this bright, pretty, faithful wife. The closer Odysseus is to returning home I guess the more and more people are getting infuriated with the suitors.  Athena projects this idea to Penelope that she should give herself to the suitors and make them want her.  This is part of Athena's plan to make Odysseus even more angry with the suitors so he would want to kill them.  I think the texts makes Penelope look like she is easily manipulated by Athena.  Like if she is told to do something she most likely will do it, but also in a way it is helping her and Odysseus get back there kingdom.  When Penelope is questioning Odysseus about whether it is her husband or not she talks about this dream she had.  When I was reading it, it seemed so bizarre and I thought she was talking nonsense, but the dream actually came true.  So it turns out that the texts was making her out to be a little out of the box, but really she wasn't.
Topic 1
There is symbolism of Odysseus bow that is mentioned in book 21.  As stated before, Penelope will marry the first suitor who can shoot an arrow through the holes of six axes.  She takes Odysseus bow and brings it to the suitors to see if they can string it and then shoot the arrow.  There is no surprise that none of them can do it.  Odysseus still disguised as someone else takes the bow, strings it, and then shoots the arrow through all six axes.  Now Penelope has to keep to her word and marry him/reunite with Odysseus.  I think this was a smart move for Odysseus in order to persuade Penelope back into his life.  It shows how willing he is to do anything to get his love back.  
Topic 3
There is a huge symbolism of the bed that is mentioned in book 23.  After the fight had broken out between the suitors and Odysseus many of them were killed.  Eurycleia goes to tell Penelope what has just happened and she does not believe it.  She thinks that the gods are playing some sort of trick on her.  I would believe that too because I think she was becoming accustomed to the way she has been living while Odysseus has been gone and now all of a sudden the suitors are all dead.  It probably surprised her. She insists on having her bed moved, but she then hears a mans voice saying it can not be moved because it is made from an olive tree, which the whole house has been constructed around.  She immediately knows its Odysseus talking to her because he would be the only to know about these facts.  Penelope is happy to finally be reunited with her husband.