The beggar has strung the bow. Now he throws off his rags.
The Odyssey · C2
Book Twenty-Two: The Battle in the Hall
Owing to, culpable, red-handed, in the nick of time, at bay, turn the tables, plead, give no quarter, spare and gloat: C2 vocabulary and idiom for the fight for the hall.
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SOPHIA
MARCOS
Finally!
The story
After Homer’s Odyssey
Owing to the locked doors, the suitors could not escape. Their first arrow hit Antinous as he raised his cup: he was caught red-handed, drinking a king’s wine in a king’s hall. The suitors realised they were culpable, and at bay.
Eurymachus pleaded for mercy, offering to pay for everything. Odysseus gave no quarter. The suitors fought back and nearly turned the tables, but Athena arrived in the nick of time.
Odysseus spared the singer Phemius and the herald Medon, who had served unwillingly. When old Eurycleia saw the bodies, she began to cry out in joy, but Odysseus stopped her. “It is not right to gloat over the dead.”
Owing to; red-handed; culpable
DEMETRIA
Owing to the locked doors… caught red-handed. They were culpable.
SOPHIA
owing to = because of. red-handed = in the act of wrongdoing. culpable = deserving blame.
At bay; turn the tables; in the nick of time
MARCOS
The suitors were at bay. They nearly turned the tables. Athena came in the nick of time!
SOPHIA
at bay = trapped. turn the tables = reverse the situation. in the nick of time = only just in time.
Plead; give no quarter; spare; gloat
PHILO
He pleaded for mercy. Odysseus gave no quarter, but he spared the singer. And: don’t gloat over the dead.
SOPHIA
plead for. give no quarter = show no mercy. spare = choose not to kill. gloat (over) = show cruel satisfaction.
Sophia’s summary
| Form | Use | From the story |
|---|---|---|
| owing to; red-handed; culpable | because of; in the act; blameworthy | caught red-handed |
| at bay; turn the tables | trapped; reverse | They nearly turned the tables. |
| in the nick of time | just in time | Athena arrived in the nick of time. |
| plead; give no quarter; spare; gloat | beg; no mercy; save; boast cruelly | Don’t gloat over the dead. |
Practice
Answer all the questions, then press “Check my answers”. You can try again as many times as you like.
A · Choose
Choose the correct form.
1. ___ the locked doors, they could not escape.
2. He was caught ___, drinking the king’s wine.
3. The suitors were ___: they deserved blame.
4. Athena came in the ___ of time.
5. Odysseus gave no ___.
6. He ___ the singer Phemius.
B · Write
Write the missing word or words.
7. The suitors were at . (trapped)
8. They nearly turned the . (reversed the situation)
9. Eurymachus for mercy. (begged, past)
10. It is not right to over the dead.
C · Right or wrong?
Is it correct?
11. “They were caught red-handed.”
12. “Owning to the doors, they were trapped.”
13. “He gave them no quarter.”
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