How does homer use suspense to make the story of the ‘Odyssey’ more :: Classics

How does homer use suspense to make the story of the ‘Odyssey’ more exciting in books 13 to 21? To create suspense and tension in the story, Homer uses the aspect of disguise. When Odysseus lands upon the Ireland of Ithika, Athene gives him a disguise so that he will not be recognise by the suitors and killed. The first person he sees when he is on the island is a ‘herdsman of sheep.’ Who is really Athene she is in disguise, Odysseus, thinking she is a herdsman lies to her about whom he is, ‘I have fled, an exile, because I have killed the son of Idomeneus.’ His lie continued and although he lied about who he was it did have some truth in it, for example he says he went to Troy as a henchman, he did actually go to Troy so he’s not lying but he was a hero rather than just a henchman. ‘the goddess grey-eyed Athene, smiled on him and stroked him with her hand.’Athene is please that he lied she feels he showed metis and that it was the right thing to do. ‘yet you never recognized Pallas Athene, daughter of Zeus, the one who is always standing beside you.’ She reveals herself to him she gives him a disguise and advice, and the next person he meets is Eumaois the swine heard.’ There is a lot written about Odysseus and the swine heard I feel that Homer was digressing and intentionally delays Odysseus going home to create tension. Odysseus tells another lie, again to create the tension ‘ I announce my origin is from Crete, a spacious land.’ He does this using metis and to protect himself as he can’t allow anyone to find out whom he really is. The swineheard knows he is lying ‘nor spell me with your lies.’ This again makes the reader feel anxiety, in case he knows whom Odysseus really is. Homer keeps emphasising in the disguise, ‘beggar is better begging his dinner in the city.’ He is referred to as a beggar to really emphasis to the audience that, that is what he comes across as. Another thing that helps build up the tension is of Penelope weaving, as when she finishes she has to marry one of the suitors.’ Sitting back on a chair and turning yarn on a distaff.’ Things like this will appear in the text to make the reader nervous, about the time Odysseus is taking to kill the suitors; the delaying helps keep the tension. ‘The doe has brought her fawns to the lair of a lion.