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Can someone PLEASE help me with these questions real fast!

Book 6 of the Odyssey
1. How does Odysseus behave at the moment when he meets princess Nausicaa?

2. What does he look like? How does his appearance change during the encounter?

1 Answer

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1. Odysseus wakes up on the island of the Phaecians confused about his newest location. He sees Naussica, and begins to plead with her:

"Should he fling his arms around her knees, the young beauty,

plead for help, or stand back, plead with a winning word,

beg her to lead him to the town and lend him clothing?

This was the better way, he thought. Plead now

with a subtle, winning word and stand well back,

don’t clasp her knees, the girl might bridle, yes. "

2. Odysseus woke lacking clothes on the island of the Phaecians:

"Muttering so, great Odysseus crept out of the bushes,

stripping off with his massive hand a leafy branch

from the tangled olive growth to shield his body,

hide his private parts."

He is bathed and given clothes by the princess and her maids:

"They laid out cloak and shirt for him to wear,

they gave him the golden flask of suppling olive oil

and pressed him to bathe himself in the river’s stream.

Then thoughtful Odysseus reassured the handmaids,

“Stand where you are, dear girls, a good way off,

so I can rinse the brine from my shoulders now

and rub myself with oil …

how long it’s been since oil touched my skin!

But I won’t bathe in front of you. I would be embarrassed—

stark naked before young girls with lovely braids.”

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