User:Tstephne

Summary: At the beginning of Book 19, Odysseus is still a beggar. Penelope is waiting in her room for the beggar. When the queen meets with the beggar, she tells him how long she has waited for Odysseus and tried to keep the suitors from getting to marry her. But now she plans to marry a suitor because she has no other choice. The beggar tells Penelope about himself and that he hosted Odysseus before. When Penelope wants proof, he describes Odysseus and she cries. Eventually, Eurykleia offers him a foot wash and he agrees, but he realizes he cannot let her see the scar on his leg. She sees the scar that he got from a wild boar as a child and knows it is him, but she promises to keep his secret. Penelope shares her dream with the beggar and wonders about the meaning. The beggar says it means that all the suitors will die.

Theme: One major theme of this book in the Odyssey is memory and grief. Penelope is still dealing with the grief of losing and missing her husband. When the beggar talks with her about him, she cries at the memory of Odysseus. Another major theme in this book is disguise. Odysseus concealed his true identity from Penelope anticipating the specific time he could reveal himself.