In Book 11, Which shade in the underworld utters the following:

"Odysseus, you must not comfort me

for death. I would prefer to be a workman,

hired by a poor man on a peasant farm,

than rule as king of all the dead…”

Question

In Book 11, Which shade in the underworld utters the following:

"Odysseus, you must not comfort me​

for death. I would prefer to be a workman,​

hired by a poor man on a peasant farm,​

than rule as king of all the dead…”​

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks which shade in the underworld utters a specific passage from Book 11 of the Odyssey. 
Option 1: Ajax. In the Odyssey’s underworld scenes, Ajax does not speak this reflective line about preferring labor on a farm to ruling the dead; Ajax is depicted elsewhere with other episodes, making this option unlikely. 
Option 2: Heracles. While Heracles does appear as a shade in the underworld, the particular sentiment about preferring to be a workman on a peasant farm rather than king of all the dead is not associated with his speeches here, so this option misattributes the line. 
Option 3: Achilles. This line is famously spoken by Achilles in the underworld, expressing that he would rather be a laborer on a farm than rule over the dead, highlighting his disillusionment with glory and the afterlife’s burdens. The diction and sentiment match Achilles’ dramatic arc in Book 11. 
Option 4: Agamemnon. Agamemnon appears as a shade and speaks on various topics, but the specific lament about preferring work on a farm to rulership over the dead is not characteristic of his lines in this passage. 
In summary, the quoted passage aligns with the voice and theme associated with the shade of Achilles in the underworld, distinguishing it from the other figures who do not utter this particular sentiment in that scene.

CLAS 2220 AU2025 (16301) Module Exam 3: DUE Friday 12/12

In Book 11, Which shade in the underworld utters the following: "Odysseus, you must not comfort me for death. I would prefer to be a workman, hired by a poor man on a peasant farm, than rule as king of all the dead…”

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

Please put the following events of The Odyssey into chronological order: 1: 1 (happened first) 2: 2 3: 3 4: 4 5: 5 6: 6 (happened last)

What does Odysseus tell Penelope when they finally reunite?

In Book 19, how does Eurycleia, the loyal nurse, finally recognize Odysseus after all these years?

What does Elpenor ask Odysseus to do for him?

In Book 9, Odysseus recounts his adventures to the Phaeacians, starting with his departure from which city?

Whose spirit from the Underworld does Odysseus meet in Book 11? Choose ALL possible answers.

What are the songs that Odysseus hears from the bard Demodocus in the house of Alcinous? Choose ALL answers.

In Book 19, how does Eurycleia, the loyal nurse, finally recognize Odysseus after all these years?

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

CLAS 2220 AU2025 (16301) Module Exam 3: DUE Friday 12/12

In Book 11, Which shade in the underworld utters the following: "Odysseus, you must not comfort me​ for death. I would prefer to be a workman,​ hired by a poor man on a peasant farm,​ than rule as king of all the dead…”​

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

Please put the following events of The Odyssey into chronological order: 1: 1 (happened first) 2: 2 3: 3 4: 4 5: 5 6: 6 (happened last)

What does Odysseus tell Penelope when they finally reunite?

In Book 19, how does Eurycleia, the loyal nurse, finally recognize Odysseus after all these years?

What does Elpenor ask Odysseus to do for him?

In Book 9, Odysseus recounts his adventures to the Phaeacians, starting with his departure from which city?

Whose spirit from the Underworld does Odysseus meet in Book 11? Choose ALL possible answers.

What are the songs that Odysseus hears from the bard Demodocus in the house of Alcinous? Choose ALL answers.

In Book 19, how does Eurycleia, the loyal nurse, finally recognize Odysseus after all these years?

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

In Book 11, Which shade in the underworld utters the following: "Odysseus, you must not comfort me for death. I would prefer to be a workman, hired by a poor man on a peasant farm, than rule as king of all the dead…”