Why do some ancient scholars claim the epic originally ended around line 296 of Book 23?

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The question asks why some ancient scholars claim the epic originally ended around line 296 of Book 23.
Option 1: 'They believed Odysseus died soon after reuniting with Penelope.' This claim would imply a very different, fatalist ending, but the scholarly note focuses on where the manuscript originally concluded rather than a fatal ending for Odysseus, making this option inconsistent with the stated reasoning about the ending point.
Option 2: 'They felt the suitors’ slaughter was enough closure for the poem.' While the slaughter at the end provides dramatic closure, the specific claim about ending around line 296 centers on the position of Book 24’s absence or presence, not just closure through the plot beat of the suitors’ fate. Thus, this option mischaracterizes the rationale attached to the early ending claim.
Option 3: 'They lost the manuscripts detailing Book 24.' This would be a practical explanation for discontinuity, but the scholarly discussion about an earlier ending is tied to the literary structure and intended ending, not to a missing manuscript record. Therefore, this option attributes a textual mishap rather than a interpretive or textual-historical claim about the ending.
Option 4: 'They considered the reunion the climax, not needing further resolution.' This aligns with the idea that for some ancient readers or editors, the reunion with Penelope served as the narrative peak, after which no additional resolution was deemed necessary, explaining why the text might have been understood to end at or near Book 23 line 296. This option directly reflects the interpretive rationale behind an early ending.

6(A) - Exploring Novels and Literature The Odyssey XXIII

Why do some ancient scholars claim the epic originally ended around line 296 of Book 23?

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