---
title: By what means did Telemachus render the suitors unable to defend the… — Classic Myths, Odysseus: the bow conte… · tree and pragmatics
description: By what means did Telemachus render the suitors unable to defend themselves? Exam question 2 of lesson 561 «Classic Myths, Odysseus: the bow contest and the homecoming» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and of each option; Mova's ch
---

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# Exam question 2 · Classic Myths, Odysseus: the bow contest and the homecoming

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
By what means did Telemachus render the suitors unable to defend themselves?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 2 · **The right answer:** option 2 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** Telemachus · **What happens:** mean, render, defend · **To what, where:** suitors

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 2 of lesson 561 «Classic Myths, Odysseus: the bow contest and the homecoming» of the books course of Mova's primary school, asked in stiff, formal language. The page gives the question's syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause, then the 4 options as the student saw them, each with its tree and pragmatics. Every text is parsed by Mova itself. How the student answered it, with the score of every option and why: [the test at school](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/books/561-pg22381-part67/#e2).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:561-pg22381-part67:e2:1
# text = By what means did Telemachus render the suitors unable to defend themselves?
1	By	by	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	obl	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
4	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	Telemachus	Telemachus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	render	render	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	suitors	suitor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	unable	unable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	defend	defend	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	themselves	themselves	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **render** | past · do-support | Telemachus | the suitors |  |  |  | unable *property* | vn give-13.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent suitor=Theme |
| 3 | **defend** | to-infinitive | Telemachus *not said here* | suitors *= suitor* |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent themselves=Beneficiary |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
By hiding their swords in the storeroom at night

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:561-pg22381-part67:e2:o1:1
# text = By hiding their swords in the storeroom at night
1	By	by	SCONJ	IN	_	2	mark	_	_
2	hiding	hide	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	swords	sword	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	storeroom	storeroom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hide** | gerund |  | their swords |  | the storeroom | night |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent sword=Patient in storeroom=Location |

### Option 2 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
By removing their arms in accordance with Odysseus's instructions

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:561-pg22381-part67:e2:o2:1
# text = By removing their arms in accordance with Odysseus's instructions
1	By	by	SCONJ	IN	_	2	mark	_	_
2	removing	remove	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	accordance	accordance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	Odysseus	Odysseus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	instructions	instruction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **remove** | gerund |  | their arms |  | accordance |  | with Odysseus's instructions | vn fire-10.10 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent arm=Theme |
| 2 | **instruct** |  | Odysseus |  |  |  |  |  | nom instruction «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
By removing every one of the suitors' arms from the great hall in secret while they slept, following Odysseus's written instructions

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:561-pg22381-part67:e2:o3:1
# text = By removing every one of the suitors' arms from the great hall in secret while they slept, following Odysseus's written instructions
1	By	by	SCONJ	IN	_	2	mark	_	_
2	removing	remove	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
3	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	4	det	_	_
4	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	suitors	suitor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	'	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
10	from	from	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	hall	hall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	secret	secret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	_
16	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
17	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	slept	sleep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	following	follow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
21	Odysseus	Odysseus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	24	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	's	's	PART	POS	_	21	case	_	_
23	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	24	amod	_	_
24	instructions	instruction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **remove** | gerund |  | every one of the suitors's arms |  | the great hall in secret |  |  | vn fire-10.10 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent one=Theme from hall=Source |
| 2 | **sleep** | past | arms *= arm* |  |  |  |  |  | vn snooze-40.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **follow** | gerund |  | Odysseus's written instructions |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent instruction=Theme |
| 4 | **write** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **instruct** |  | Odysseus |  |  |  |  |  | nom instruction «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
By carefully carrying every spear, shield, and sword from the hall to the upper chambers, as his father had instructed him earlier

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:561-pg22381-part67:e2:o4:1
# text = By carefully carrying every spear, shield, and sword from the hall to the upper chambers, as his father had instructed him earlier
1	By	by	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	carrying	carry	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	det	_	_
5	spear	spear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	shield	shield	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	sword	sword	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
11	from	from	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	hall	hall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
14	to	to	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	upper	upper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	chambers	chamber	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
19	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	23	mark	_	_
20	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	21	nmod:poss	_	_
21	father	father	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nsubj	_	_
22	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	23	aux	_	_
23	instructed	instruct	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
24	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	23	obj	_	_
25	earlier	early	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	23	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | gerund |  | every spear and shield |  | the upper chambers |  | sword from the hall *obl*; carefully *property* | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent spear=Theme to chamber=Destination |
| 2 | **instruct** *speech: other* | past · perfect | his father |  | him *= he* |  |  | early *property* | vn advise-37.9-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent he=Recipient |

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**Text:** the tests of Mova's primary school, written for Mova (`world/data/school/`), as the course runner gave them to the student. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each text read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

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