What is odysseus’ response when he hears the song?
a. he is joyous and sings along with the bard.
b. he is excited to hear songs of his warrior friends.
c. he is filled with sorrow and hides his tears in his cloak.
d. he stops the bard because the songs make him too sad.

C. He is filled with sorrow and hides his tears in his cloak.

Explanation:

Homer's epic narrative poem "The Odyssey" tells the journey of Odysseus in his attempts to reach his home Ithaca. Enduring a plethora of hardships and even an intervention from the gods, he reached his home after being away for more than two decades.

Book VIII of the narrative takes place in the land of the Phaeacians. Odysseus was a guest in the kings palace, though in a disguise and no one remembered him. But through the feasting and sharing of news/ stories, Odysseus was emotional to hear of old tales and all about his known associates. Then, when the musician played the music, he could no longer control himself. The singer Demodocus sang about the "feats of heroes, and more especially a matter that was then in the mouths of all men, to wit, the quarrel between Ulysses and Achilles, and the fierce words that they heaped on one another". All these filled Odysseus with sorrow and he had to hide his face to wipe his tears away, without the knowledge of the Phaeacians.

c is a symbol. when bernice gets her hair cut, it is the authors way of showing the affects and demands of pier pressure and the over-all attitudes of people at the time.