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Odysseus finding his way into his own house

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Odysseus in disguise

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makes contacts

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dog

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sad

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a puppy when Odysseus left

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Eumaeus [oo-MAY-us]

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Odysseus' former swineherd

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social position is at low as it can go

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has a position in the household with no prestige

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Odysseus is entering his house at the lowest points

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but he receives hospitality

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Eumaeus has a humble style

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offers pig meat, less expensive

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sheep skin for a bed

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Odysseus is a good guest

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Homer refers to Eumaeus in the second person "you"

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means he is a trusted person

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Odysseus needs information

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slyly

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needs to offer Eumaeus some things

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then wants to ask Eumaeus information

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two of them go back and forth

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like weaving the fabric of their social interaction

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Odysseus lies

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he is an liar

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cooks up a long story

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Eumaeus lets out information

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many strangers come to visit the island

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Penelope welcomes them and listens to news for Odysseus

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positive of Penelope

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Eumaeus asks disguised Odysseus who he is

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Odysseus knows his audience

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tells him what he wants to hear

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"when you tell a lie, you should tell a lie that is close to the truth"

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this lets you inhabit the lie since it's close to something that you experienced

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his story "maps onto" what he experienced

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says that Odysseus is coming

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sees what Eumaeus thinks of that

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Eumaeus is happy to hear that

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Eumaeus mentions that Odysseus is just telling tall tales

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but will be a good host to him anyway

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neither person is a fool