batch.motif.greek-odyssey-butler-gutenberg-l7820-l7923
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-odyssey-butler-gutenberg-l7820-l7923
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
passage_locator:
label: BOOK XV / BOOK XVI / ULYSSES REVEALS HIMSELF TO TELEMACHUS. / BOOK XVII;
lines 7820-7923
start: '7820'
end: '7923'
translation: The Odyssey
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Antinous abuses the disguised Ulysses while he begs in the hall, striking
him with a footstool. Ulysses remains unmoved and prays that Antinous may die
before marriage. Other suitors object that gods sometimes travel in disguise to
test human conduct. Telemachus and Penelope react angrily. Penelope summons the
stranger to ask about Ulysses, and Telemachus' loud sneeze is interpreted by Penelope
as an omen that the suitors will be killed.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Antinous calls the beggar a pestilence, orders him out, and refuses to give
him food from the household abundance.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Ulysses answers that Antinous has better looks than breeding and would not
spare a poor man even salt or bread.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Antinous throws a footstool and hits Ulysses on the right shoulder blade near
the top of his back.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Ulysses stands firm, is not staggered by the blow, shakes his head in silence,
and broods on revenge.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Ulysses prays that Antinous may come to a bad end before his marriage if the
poor have gods and avenging deities.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Other suitors criticize Antinous for striking the beggar and warn that gods
travel in disguise to observe wrongdoing and righteousness.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Telemachus is furious about the blow to his father but remains tearless, silent,
and brooding on revenge.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Penelope hears of the blow, wishes Apollo would strike Antinous, and says
she hates Antinous like the darkness of death.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: Penelope sends Eumaeus to summon the stranger so she can question him about
her husband.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: Eumaeus reports that the stranger claims friendship between his house and
Ulysses' house and says he has heard Ulysses is alive, near the Thesprotians,
and bringing wealth home.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: Penelope says the suitors consume the household's animals and wine while Ulysses
is absent, and that Ulysses and his son would take revenge if he returned.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:12
text: Telemachus sneezes loudly as Penelope speaks, and Penelope interprets it as
a sign that all the suitors will be killed.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:13
text: Penelope promises a shirt and cloak for the stranger if she is satisfied that
he tells the truth.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Ulysses / the stranger / the beggar
description: Ulysses appears in the hall as a poor wandering beggar or stranger,
is struck by Antinous, remains firm, and later is summoned by Penelope for questioning.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:7
- ev:10
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Antinous
description: A suitor who insults the beggar, refuses him food, strikes him with
a footstool, threatens further violence, and is singled out by Ulysses and Penelope
for a bad end or divine striking.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:6
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Other suitors
description: The suitors are dining in the household; some give to the beggar, some
criticize Antinous, and Penelope accuses them of consuming the estate's animals
and wine.
role_refs:
- role:5
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:8
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Telemachus
description: Son of Penelope and Ulysses; he is furious when his father is struck,
broods on revenge, and later sneezes loudly while Penelope speaks.
role_refs:
- role:7
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:9
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Penelope
description: Queen and mother of Telemachus; she condemns Antinous, summons the
stranger to ask about Ulysses, laments the suitors' waste, and interprets Telemachus'
sneeze as an omen.
role_refs:
- role:9
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Eurynome
description: Penelope's waiting woman, who says that if their prayers were answered
no suitor would see another sunrise.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Eumaeus
description: The swineherd is asked by Penelope to summon the stranger and reports
the stranger's earlier tale and claims about Ulysses.
role_refs:
- role:12
- role:13
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:10
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Gods and avenging deities
description: Mentioned as powers who may aid the poor or travel disguised as foreigners
to observe human conduct.
role_refs:
- role:14
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Apollo
description: Named by Penelope in a wish that he would strike Antinous.
role_refs:
- role:15
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
roles:
- id: role:1
label: disguised beggar or stranger
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage presents Ulysses moving and speaking as a poor beggar or stranger
in the hall.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:10
- id: role:2
label: insulted guest-seeker
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: He begs for food, is denied, and is struck with a footstool.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:3
label: silent avenger
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: After the blow he remains silent and broods on revenge, then prays for Antinous'
bad end.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: violent offender against the beggar
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Antinous insults, threatens, and physically strikes the beggar.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: suitor consuming another household
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
basis: Penelope describes the suitors as feasting on the household's oxen, sheep,
goats, and wine while Ulysses is absent.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:6
label: witnesses who warn about disguised gods
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Some suitors tell Antinous he did ill because the beggar might be a god in
disguise.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:7
label: son angered by injury to father
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Telemachus is furious when the blow is given to his father.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:8
label: bearer of interpreted omen
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: His loud sneeze is interpreted by Penelope as a sign that the suitors will
be killed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:9
label: queen seeking news of absent husband
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Penelope sends for the stranger to ask whether he has seen or heard anything
of her husband.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:10
label: interpreter of omen
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Penelope explains Telemachus' sneeze as meaning that none of the suitors
will escape death.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:11
label: attendant sharing the curse against suitors
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Eurynome says that if their prayers were answered no suitor would see the
sun rise again.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:12
label: messenger between Penelope and the stranger
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Penelope instructs Eumaeus to call the stranger, and he relays her message.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:10
- id: role:13
label: witness to the stranger's tale
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Eumaeus says the stranger stayed with him three days and nights and told
of his misfortunes.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:14
label: divine observers or avengers
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The gods and avenging deities are invoked as possible protectors of the poor
and as disguised observers of human conduct.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:15
label: invoked divine striker
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Penelope wishes that Apollo would strike Antinous.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: footstool used as weapon
literal_form: footstool thrown at the beggar's shoulder
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:2
label: well-filled wallet
literal_form: wallet laid at Ulysses' feet after he returns to the threshold
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: disguised gods as foreigners
literal_form: gods traveling in disguise as people from foreign countries
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
- divine_judgment
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: loud sneeze interpreted as omen
literal_form: Telemachus sneezes loudly and the whole house resounds
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:5
label: shirt and cloak promised to the stranger
literal_form: shirt and cloak of good wear offered if the stranger is judged truthful
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Antinous insults and strikes the beggar
summary: During the meal Antinous refuses the beggar food, threatens him, throws
a footstool, and hits him; Ulysses remains steady and silently broods on revenge.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Prayer for Antinous' bad end and warning about disguised gods
summary: Ulysses prays that Antinous may die before marriage, and other suitors
warn that gods can travel disguised to observe human wrongdoing and righteousness.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Telemachus and Penelope respond to the assault
summary: Telemachus is enraged but silent after his father is struck. Penelope hears
of the assault, curses Antinous, and sends Eumaeus to bring the stranger for questioning.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:9
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:4
label: Penelope laments the suitors' waste and receives an omen
summary: Penelope describes the suitors' reckless consumption and says Ulysses and
Telemachus would avenge it if Ulysses returned. Telemachus sneezes loudly, and
Penelope takes it as a sign that the suitors will be killed.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Disguised returning lord abused in his own house
taxonomy_refs:
- return
basis: Ulysses, identified by the narration as Telemachus' father and Penelope's
husband, appears as a poor stranger in the household and is insulted and struck
by Antinous while his son and wife await revenge.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not show the later revelation or vengeance itself within
this line range.
- id: motif:2
label: Violation of hospitality toward a poor stranger
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The beggar asks for food in a wealthy household; Antinous refuses even bread
and escalates to physical violence, while others condemn the act.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage frames the act morally through speeches, but no explicit formal
hospitality term is used in the supplied excerpt.
- id: motif:3
label: Gods in disguise testing human conduct
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
- divine_judgment
basis: The suitors warn that the beggar might be a god, saying gods travel disguised
as foreigners to see who acts wrongly and who acts righteously.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The warning is spoken by characters; this excerpt does not state that
Ulysses is actually a god.
- id: motif:4
label: Prayer or curse for divine vengeance against an offender
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Ulysses invokes gods and avenging deities against Antinous, Penelope wishes
Apollo would strike him, and Eurynome imagines prayers causing the suitors not
to see another sunrise.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage contains prayers and wishes, not their fulfillment.
- id: motif:5
label: Omen confirming coming vengeance
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Telemachus sneezes loudly just as Penelope speaks of revenge, and Penelope
interprets the sneeze as meaning all the suitors will be killed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The omen interpretation is Penelope's explicit reading; the passage does
not independently explain its divine source.
- id: motif:6
label: Truth-tested stranger rewarded with clothing
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: Penelope promises the stranger a shirt and cloak if she is satisfied that
he is speaking the truth about Ulysses.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The exchange is conditional and practical; the sacred-exchange taxonomy
fit is tentative.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage explicitly invokes the pattern of divine visitors in disguise
who observe whether humans act wrongly or righteously.
claim_level: same_motif
target: divine visitor in disguise testing human conduct
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: This is supported as a character's warning within the passage; it is
not evidence by itself that the beggar is divine.
- id: claim:2
claim: The prayers against Antinous and the interpretation of Telemachus' sneeze
connect the assault scene with a divine-judgment pattern in which wrongdoing is
expected to be punished.
claim_level: same_function
target: divine_judgment motif family
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- ev:9
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The excerpt anticipates punishment but does not narrate the judgment
or killing.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 7820-7837
quote_or_summary: Antinous insults the beggar, orders him out, refuses food, and
Ulysses replies that Antinous would not give a poor man salt or bread.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 7838-7846
quote_or_summary: Antinous threatens Ulysses, throws a footstool, hits him on the
right shoulder blade; Ulysses stands firm, silently broods on revenge, and sits
at the threshold with his wallet.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 7847-7856
quote_or_summary: Ulysses addresses the suitors, says Antinous struck him because
of his hunger, and prays that Antinous may come to a bad end before marriage if
the poor have gods and avenging deities.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: quote
locator: lines 7861-7868
quote_or_summary: The suitors warn that gods may be disguised as foreigners and
travel the world to see who acts wrongly or righteously.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quote summarized to reduce quotation length.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 7869-7873
quote_or_summary: Telemachus is furious about the blow to his father, sheds no tear,
shakes his head in silence, and broods on revenge.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 7874-7886
quote_or_summary: Penelope hears that the beggar was struck, wishes Apollo would
strike Antinous, Eurynome says the suitors would not see sunrise if prayers were
answered, and Penelope singles out Antinous with hatred.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 7887-7905
quote_or_summary: Penelope asks Eumaeus to call the stranger so she may ask about
Ulysses; Eumaeus praises the stranger's tale and reports his claims of Cretan
origin, friendship with Ulysses' house, and news that Ulysses is alive near the
Thesprotians.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 7906-7916
quote_or_summary: Penelope says the suitors waste the household's oxen, sheep, goats,
and wine, and that if Ulysses came again, he and his son would soon have revenge.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 7917-7923
quote_or_summary: Telemachus sneezes loudly as Penelope speaks; Penelope laughs
and interprets it as meaning that all the suitors will be killed, then promises
the stranger clothing if she believes him truthful.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 7923 onward within supplied passage
quote_or_summary: Eumaeus relays Penelope's summons and tells the stranger she will
give him a shirt and cloak if satisfied that he speaks the truth.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: Literal extraction is strong for the supplied passage. Motif taxonomy assignments
are limited to available refs and should be reviewed, especially sacred_exchange
and divine_judgment applications.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
Used only the supplied passage and metadata. Comparison claims are limited to patterns explicitly invoked by the passage.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-odyssey-butler-gutenberg__l7820-l7923
passage_sha256=906aaa7a72a64e6d6657990b05a5591c1f9c2044c06b55b7f41349a942b2e52f