The Odyssey:

By Baker Swain
 Odysseus goes to the
Swineherd’s place
 Led by Athena, Odysseus is told to go the
swineherd’s place
 This swineherd is known as Eumaeus,
Odysseus’ loyal right hand man
 The Sacred Duty of the Host
• Being a host, Eumaeus is supposed to
welcome Odysseus into his house, give
him shelter, food, and drink without
knowing the person’s name.
• So, Odysseus is disguised as a beggar
and keeps testing Eumaeus by using his
cunning and wits to see if Eumaeus is
performing the Sacred Duty of the Host.
 Odysseus’ Hubris
 By being a beggar, he refers to himself in
third person and tells this story that is
related to his journey but is telling a lie.
His story says that he is from Crete. Below
is his actual journey.
 In his story, he lists his accomplishments
and displays his courage and wit by saving
his crew.
 The Apparent Hierarchy in this
book
• Odysseus does not allow Eumaeus to
speak in third person. So, Eumaeus’
epithet is “And you replied, Eumaeus,
loyal swineherd” (313).
• Because Eumaeus is a swineherd, the
lowest class job, he treats Odysseus like a
king due to the Sacred Duty of the host.
 Prophecy told by
Eumaeus
 Eumaeus tells Odysseus at the end of this
book, “But just you wait till Odysseus’ dear
son comes back--- that boy will deck you
out in a cloak and shirt and send you off,
wherever your heart desires!” (318)
 Telemachus is going to come home and
hopefully see his father again.