Why did the two sons of Atreus, Menelaos and Agamemnon, and Odysseus abandon Philoctetes on Lemnos?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The provided data for this item includes the question but does not supply any answer options to evaluate. Without the listed choices, we cannot analyze which option is correct or incorrect in the format requested.

Contextual background to the question: In Greek myth, Philoctetes possessed the bow of Heracles, a crucial asset for the Greeks in their war against Troy. However, he was bitten by a snake and developed a grievous, foul-smelling wound on his leg. The wound caused him extreme pain and a lingering stench, and there were disagreements among the Greek leaders about whether the wound would impede their campaign or whether Philoctetes could be relied upon. In some versions of the story, Odysseus and others argue that Philoctetes should be abandoned on Lemnos so that they could proceed with the war, while others fear leaving him would bring misfortune or dishonor.

Now, evaluating the single given option (even though it is not presented as a complete list of choices): the statement that Philoctetes was abandoned because he suffered from a disgusting wound on his ankle from a snake bite that makes him howl with pain captures the key elements of the rationale for abandoning him—the severe, painful wound from a snakebite and the resulting distress. Nevertheless, since we do not have the full set of answer options to compare against, we cannot determine which alternative choices would be considered correct or incorrect within the question’s original format.

If you obtain the full set of answer options, we would examine each choice by: (1) identifying whether it accurately reflects the myth’s motive for abandoned Philoctetes, such as the dangerous wound, its odor, and the strategic/structural reasons of the expedition; (2) assessing any alternative explanations (e.g., mere cruelty, prophecy, or concerns about his usefulness) for realism or fidelity to the source material; and (3) explaining why each non-fitting option fails by pointing out historical or literary inaccuracies, mischaracterizations, or logical leaps.

An important note: in many tellings, the core reason centers on the snakebite and the problematic wound that made him a liability during the siege, which aligns with the included statement about a disgusting snakebite wound causing him pain. If the intended options align with that summary, the option would be considered the correct one among typical answer sets; otherwise, we would highlight the discrepancies once all choices are known.

COM LIT 60A LEC A: WOR... Reading Comprehension Quiz #6 on Sophocles, Philoctetes

Why did the two sons of Atreus, Menelaos and Agamemnon, and Odysseus abandon Philoctetes on Lemnos?

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

Who was Syphilis?

Who was Syphilis?

Dionysus was the Greek god of fertility, wine, and revelry.

Dionysus was the Greek god of fertility, wine, and revelry.

Which god or goddess gave Penelope the idea about the archery contest?

Who are Dionysus’ mother and father?

Neoptolemos’ father is

More Practical Tools for International Students

Exam Browser Assistant

Stylized Writing Assistant

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation Assistant

In-Class Translation Assistant

Class Notes Assistant

Quiz Search Assistant

Past Exam Questions by School

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler