Ok, I read the Odyssey like... 10 times so, I cant read the top question, but the answer the second one is,
He offers to pay him back with an alliance after he makes it home. The vow is important because Odysseus was arguably the most powerful ruler at the time. So, an alliance with him would help Alcinous a lot.
I think the adjective in the sentence is
Glass
. Grizzlies have a concave or “dished” facial profile, smaller ears and much larger claws than the black bear.
