¶ … love stories ever. Why do you think that is? Use specific references from the text to support your points.

For the entire time Odysseus is away, first fighting the Trojan War and then during his wanderings, Penelope remains faithful to Odysseus. Odysseus also remains faithful to Penelope's memory during his absence, in his thoughts of her if not in his deeds. Odysseus even never wanted to leave Ithaca to seek glory fighting for Helen, because he loved Penelope so much -- he was tricked into keeping his oath to fight for Helen's honor. Penelope is sufficiently loyal to Odysseus that she does not desperately assume that the man who freed her from her hated suitors is the husband she has been waiting for so long. Instead, she tests his love as she has been tested by his long absence. Penelope is clever in the ruses she uses to avoid marrying another man, even though taking another husband would have protected her against danger. She is vulnerable and alone as a queen raising a young son alone but still has her wit -- undoing her web by night, while promising to marry a suitor until it is finished by day.

Journal Part 2

Odysseus is obviously the protagonist of the story -- seeing as how it's got his name on it -- but is he a hero? Would he be considered a hero today, based on contemporary standards? What evidence can you find to support both sides (heroic and not heroic)?

Odysseus takes revenge upon the suitors occupying his house, both the good and the bad, and he is not condemned for this by the author. Homeric Greece was a pre-Christian 'dog eat dog' society very different from our own. Odysseus is avenging the will of the gods as well as his own honor and his wife and house's honor, given that it was considered a sin to act in an inhospitable manner to a host. A hero today would likely show more mercy -- and also be physically faithful to Penelope. But Odysseus has an almost 'action hero' like quality when he strings the great bow that only he can bend, and returns to fight beside his son. Today, he would be more of an antihero than a purely admirable character, especially given his use of trickery as well as brawn.