batch.motif.greek-odyssey-butler-gutenberg-l7925-l7968
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-odyssey-butler-gutenberg-l7925-l7968
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 7925-7968
start: '7925'
end: '7968'
translation: The Odyssey
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Ulysses asks Eumaeus to tell Penelope that he will speak only truthfully
about her husband but will wait until sundown because he fears the cruel suitors.
Eumaeus relays the request to Penelope, then warns Telemachus privately before
returning to his pigs. Telemachus tells him to return in the morning with victims
for sacrifice. The suitors continue feasting, singing, and dancing toward evening.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Ulysses says he will tell Penelope only what is strictly true and says he
knows about her husband and shared affliction with him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Ulysses says he fears passing through the crowd of cruel suitors because of
their pride and insolence.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Ulysses says a man recently struck him while he was doing no harm and that
Telemachus and others did not defend him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: Ulysses asks that Penelope wait until sundown, seat him close to the fire,
and question him about her husband's return.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:5
text: Penelope asks Eumaeus why he has not brought the stranger and suggests he
may fear mistreatment or be shy of entering the house.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: Eumaeus tells Penelope that the stranger is reasonable, avoids the suitors,
and asks her to wait until sundown.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:7
text: Penelope agrees that the man is no fool and calls the suitors abominable.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:8
text: Eumaeus privately tells Telemachus that he will return to the pigs and warns
him to be careful because many bear him ill will.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:9
text: Eumaeus invokes Jove to bring the hostile people to a bad end before they
can harm him and Telemachus.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:10
text: Telemachus tells Eumaeus to return in the morning with victims to be sacrificed
for the day.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:11
text: After dinner Eumaeus leaves the courts and cloister and returns to his pigs.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:12
text: The suitors amuse themselves with singing and dancing as evening approaches.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Ulysses
description: Speaker who asks Eumaeus to tell Penelope to wait until sundown and
who says he knows about her husband.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Penelope
description: Woman who asks Eumaeus why he has not brought the stranger and later
agrees that avoiding the suitors is prudent.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Eumaeus
description: Swineherd who carries messages between Ulysses, Penelope, and Telemachus,
then returns to his pigs.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Telemachus
description: Man privately warned by Eumaeus and who instructs Eumaeus to return
with sacrificial victims.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: suitors
description: Group described as cruel, proud, insolent, abominable, hostile, and
later singing and dancing.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Jove
description: Deity invoked by Eumaeus to bring hostile people to a bad end.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
roles:
- id: role:1
label: speaker awaiting private interview
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Ulysses asks that Penelope wait until sundown and seat him near the fire
before questioning him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: bearer of news about husband’s return
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Ulysses says Penelope can ask him about the return of her husband.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: questioner seeking the stranger
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Penelope asks why Eumaeus has not brought the stranger and later accepts
the explanation for delay.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:4
label: messenger and swineherd
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Eumaeus relays Ulysses' request to Penelope, speaks privately to Telemachus,
and returns to his pigs.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: role:5
label: warned household figure
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Eumaeus warns Telemachus of danger, and Telemachus gives instructions about
the next morning's sacrifice.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:6
label: hostile feasting group
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The suitors are described as dangerous and later continue singing and dancing
as evening approaches.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: role:7
label: invoked divine power
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Eumaeus invokes Jove against those who wish harm.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: fire
literal_form: fire near which Ulysses asks to be seated
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: sundown
literal_form: time after which Ulysses asks Penelope to question him
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: sacrificial victims
literal_form: victims to be brought in the morning for the day's sacrifice
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: pigs
literal_form: pigs under Eumaeus' care
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: sym:5
label: singing and dancing
literal_form: amusement of the suitors toward evening
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Ulysses asks for a delayed interview with Penelope
summary: Ulysses tells Eumaeus that he will speak truthfully to Penelope but should
avoid the suitors until sundown, when she can question him near the fire about
her husband's return.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Eumaeus reports to Penelope
summary: Penelope questions Eumaeus about the absent stranger, and Eumaeus explains
that the stranger is avoiding the suitors and asks her to wait until sundown.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Eumaeus privately warns Telemachus
summary: Eumaeus tells Telemachus that he will return to the pigs and warns him
to be careful because many people bear him ill will, invoking Jove against them.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Telemachus gives morning instructions
summary: Telemachus tells Eumaeus to go home after dinner and return in the morning
with victims for the day's sacrifice.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: Eumaeus leaves while the suitors continue amusement
summary: After dinner Eumaeus leaves the courts and cloister for the pigs, while
the suitors sing and dance as evening approaches.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: awaited return of the absent husband
taxonomy_refs:
- return
basis: The interview is to concern the return of Penelope's husband, and Ulysses
asks that Penelope wait until sundown to question him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: high
cautions: The passage discusses the husband's return as a topic of inquiry; it does
not itself narrate the completed reunion.
- id: motif:2
label: delayed private recognition or disclosure
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Ulysses postpones speaking with Penelope until a safer and more private time,
away from the suitors.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage does not explicitly state that a recognition scene occurs
here.
- id: motif:3
label: dangerous intruders in the household
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The suitors are repeatedly characterized as cruel, insolent, abominable,
and threatening to Telemachus and others.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: No external motif taxonomy reference is assigned because the available
list has no direct household-intruder category.
- id: motif:4
label: preparation for sacrifice
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
basis: Telemachus instructs Eumaeus to return in the morning with victims to be
sacrificed for the day.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The sacrifice is only planned in this passage, not performed.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 7925-7938
quote_or_summary: Ulysses tells Eumaeus he will speak truthfully to Penelope, fears
the cruel suitors, reports being struck, and asks to wait until sundown to sit
near the fire and answer questions about her husband's return.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 7939-7955
quote_or_summary: Penelope asks why Eumaeus has not brought the stranger; Eumaeus
says the stranger reasonably avoids the suitors and asks her to wait until sundown;
Penelope agrees and condemns the suitors.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 7956-7962
quote_or_summary: Eumaeus privately tells Telemachus he will return to the pigs,
warns him to keep out of danger because many bear him ill will, and invokes Jove
against them.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 7963-7966
quote_or_summary: Telemachus tells Eumaeus to go home after dinner and return in
the morning with victims to sacrifice for the day, leaving the rest to heaven
and himself.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 7967-7968
quote_or_summary: Eumaeus finishes dinner and returns to his pigs; the suitors begin
singing and dancing as evening approaches.
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: uncertain
notes: Extraction is based only on the supplied passage. Motif candidates are limited
to patterns directly supported by the passage and available taxonomy references.
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: |-
No comparison claims were added because the passage itself does not support a specific cross-textual or inter-traditional comparison.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-odyssey-butler-gutenberg__l7925-l7968
passage_sha256=ef7fb030b0556dc0a268bed30e64bfc66bdf2745fceb52993260bdf39d0e0c6a