Years after the end of the Trojan War, the Greek hero Odysseus still hasn't come

home to Ithaka. Most people figure he's dead. But we don't: Homer lets us know
right away that Odysseus is being held as a (willing) sex captive on the island of the
goddess Kalypso. Oh, and sea god Poseidon is ticked off at Odysseus, and sees no
reason to let him get home.
Back in Ithaka, Odysseus's wife Penelope is getting swarmed by a horde of
unwanted suitors. Odysseus and Penelope's son, Telemachos, now a typically moody
teenager, gets a visit from the goddess Athene (who was always chummy with
Odysseus). She tells him to go looking for news of his missing father, so he heads to
Pylos to visit King Nestor. Nestor takes him in, gives him a dinnerand then tells
him to go see King Menelaos in Sparta. Once again, he does as he's told.
In Sparta, Telemachos learns from Menelaos that Odysseus is alive andwell, being
held captive on Kalypso's island. Menelaos also tells Telemachos about how his bro,
King Agamemnon, was murdered when he got home from Troy by his unfaithful wife,
Klytaimestra, and her lover, Aigisthos. It's cool, though: Agamemnon's son Orestes
killed the murderers. This fun story raises the question of whether Odysseus will be
killed when he gets home, and, if so, whether Telemachos will step up to avenge his
father's death. Meanwhile, back in Ithaka, Penelope's suitors plot to ambush and kill
Telemachos when he returns home. Oh, the tension!
Up on Mount Olympos, where the gods all hang out, the goddess Athene asks her
father, Zeus, the King of the gods, to have mercy on Odysseus and force Kalpyso to
release him. Zeus says whatevs, and in no time, Odysseus sails off on a makeshift
raft. Unfortunately, Poseidon whips up some storms, and instead of getting home,
Odysseus washes ashore in the land of the Phaiakians. Fortunately, Athene makes
the resident princess, Nausikaa, develop a crush on him. Nausikaa takes him home
to meet her parents, the King and Queen of Phaiakia. In return for their hospitality,
Odysseus tells them (and us) everything that's happened to him since the end of
the Trojan War, which is this:
Odysseus left Troy with a ship of his Ithakan men. At their first stop, they plundered
the locals' stuff. Several storm-tossed days later, they landed on the island of the
Lotus-eaters. A few guys ate the lotus flower (i.e. every drug your parents have ever
warned you about), forgot their homes and families, and had to be taken back to
the ship by force.
Next, Odysseus and his men came to the land of the giant one-eyed Cyclopes. They
stumbled into a Cyclops cave, and the resident Cyclops (Polyphemos) sealed the
entrance to the cave with a huge boulder and ate a few of the Ithakans. Not cool.
Odysseus did some of his patented trickery and managed to blind the monster; the
next morning, he and his men escaped by riding under the bellies of Polyphemos's
flock of sheep. (Here's a picture of his escape.)

But as Odysseus was sailing away with his men, his ego got the better of him. He
taunted the Cyclops, telling him his real name. Turns out, Polyphemos was the son
of Poseidon, the god of the sea. Oops. Guess this is why Poseidon hates our hero so
much.

Next, Odysseus and his men came to the island of Aiolos, god of the wind. He
helped Odysseus out by putting all the windsexcept for the westbound breeze
they neededinto a nice little bag. Unfortunately, Odysseus didn't tell his men
what's in the bag. On the way home, they opened it up, thinking it was full of
treasure. Big mistake. All the winds jumped out and ran riot, thus driving them to
the island of sorceress Circe, who turned many of the men into pigs.

With the help of the gods, Odysseus got his men turned back into humans and had
sex with Circe. For a year. Finally, one of his men said, "Can we get going already?,"
and Odysseus said, "OK." Waitfirst they had to go the Underworld and get advice
from the prophet Teiresias. (Just don't ask Apple Maps for directions.)

At the Underworld, Teiresias prophesied that Odysseus would make it home, but not
without difficulty. Odysseus spoke to several other famous dead people (like his war
buddies Achilleus and Agamemnon). He also met the ghost of his mother, Antikleia,
who had died of grief over her son's prolonged absence. Then, after a quick pit stop
back at Circe's island for more directions (who says men don't ask for directions?),
Odysseus and his men sailed on for a series of adventures:

(1) When they passed by the Sirens, monstrous women with beautiful voices who
try to lure sailors to their deaths, Odysseus made his men plug their ears and tie
him to the mast so he could listen to the song without chasing after it. He became
the only man to hear the Sirens' song and survive.

(2) Next, they met two horrible monsters (curiously, also female) named Skylla and
Charybdis. As predicted by Circe, Skylla (who has six heads) ate six Ithakans; the
rest barely escaped Charybdis (a giant vortex who sucks up the sea and vomits it
back out again).

(3) Next, they landed on the island of Helios, the sun god, where his very special
cattle were kept. Despite having been warned by Teiresias and Circe not to eat the

cattle, Odysseus's men couldn't control their hunger. Bad call. Not long afterward,
everyone died in a stormexcept for Odysseus.

(4) But he was in for his own bad luck: winding up on Kalypso's island to be held
prisoner for seven yearsbefore getting free to shipwreck with the Phaiakians,
where he's telling this story.

And that's it for Odysseus's story to the Phaiakians. They're so moved by his
suffering that they load him up with treasure and ferry him back to Ithaka.
(Unfortunately, in return for their trouble, the god Poseidon turns them and their
ship into stone.) But the fun isn't over yethe still has all those pesky suitors to
deal with.

Once Odysseus gets home, Athene disguises him as a beggar so he can scope out
the situation. Odysseus then recruits the assistance of the swineherd, Eumaios, who
puts him up for the night while Athene flies to Sparta to retrieve Telemachos. When
Telemachos gets back, Odysseus reveals himself to his son and then heads to the
palace, still disguised as a beggar. Without revealing his true identity, he tries to
convince Penelope that Odysseus is on his way home and susses out which of his
servants are still loyal to the household and which have joined the suitors.

By now, Penelope decides to take action: she'll marry the winner of a content of
physical prowess. The challenge? String Odysseus's old bow and shoot it through
the heads of twelve axes. You can guess the rest: everyone tries and fails, until the
beggar (Odysseus in disguise) steps up. He succeeds, drops the disguise, and, with
the help of Telemachos, several loyal servants, and Athene's protection, kills all the
suitors in a massive and bloody slaughter. Odysseus reunites with his wife, and
everything is back to normalexcept that he's just killed all the young noblemen of
Ithaka and their parents are furious.

The next morning, Odysseus leaves the palace, reunites with his father Laertes, and
lays low while the angry moms and dads start looking for vengeance. Just when it
looks like more violence is on the way, Athene appears and asks why we can't all
get along. This sounds like a great idea to everyone, and peace is restored in Ithaka.

The Odyssey Book Summaries

Book 1
The epic begins with the invocation of the Muses, requesting inspiration and the beginning of Odysseuss story.
Its been 10 years since the conclusion of the Trojan War and everyone but Odysseus and his comrades has
returned from their service in Troy. Due to their devouring of Hyperion the Sun-god's oxen, his comrades are
now dead and Odysseus is stuck on the island of Ogygia with Calypso, a besmirched nymph, Odysseus still
yearns for his wife and home. Back in Ithaca, Odysseuss home, Penelope sits waiting for Odysseus to return
while fending off a palace full of suitors for her hand in marriage. Telemachus, hers and Odysseuss 20 year old
son, can do nothing to help and has finally come to believe that Odysseus is dead.
Athena eventually goes to Ithaca to talk to Telemachus. She tells him, in disguise as Odysseuss friend Mentes,
that Odysseus is still alive and will soon return. She also tells Telemachus that he should gather and have the
suitors banished from the Kingdom. She then advises him to visit Pylos and Sparta to discern as much as he
can about his father. After Athena departs, Telemachus sees his mother with the Suitors, upset by a particular
bards song. The song itself is a tale of despair for those that have returned to Greece. Telemachus however,
tells her that she should not be upset by the song, as other men have failed to return from Troy and that she
can always leave if she does not enjoy the music; he can deal with the suitors. He announces to the suitors that
he will hold an assembly the following day and that he expects them all to leave the estate. Antinous and
Eurymachus are unhappy with the announcement though and demand to know who Telamachus was talking
with, to which Telemachus only responds that it was a friend of his fathers. Telemachus is guided by Eurycleia,
daughter of Ops and granddaughter of Peisenor, to his room where he retired to plan his journey

Book 2
The next day, as Telemachus calls the assembly, an elder of Ithaca praises Telemachus for his actions as there
has not been a single assembly since Odysseus left. Telemachus follows with a speech that decries the suitors
for taking over his fathers home and mourns the loss of his father. He speaks against their rampant use of the
palaces food and wine and rebukes them for not simply going to Icarius, Penelopes father, to ask for her hand.
In response, Antinous places the blame at the feet of Penelope for seducing them all but not committing. He
describes her use of the burial shroud for Laertes to extend her decision. She declared that she would choose
a husband after finishing, but every night she would unravel the shroud so as she never completed it. Antinous
declares that she should be sent to Icarius so as he can choose a new husband for her. Telemachus responds
violently, declaring he will never throw his mother out and that the Gods must punish those suitors who wish
such a thing upon her. At that moment, a pair of eagles appears above and fight, a sign that the soothsayer
reads as meaning Odysseus will soon return and massacre the suitors. They declare such a warning foolish
though and continue to rebuke Telemachus.
Athena arrives once more while Telemachus is preparing to leave for Pylos and Sparta and gives him
encouragement for the ensuing journey. She helps him gather a crew for his ship and Telemachus departs
without telling any of his servants or his mother.

Book 3

When Telemachus and Mentor arrive in Pylos, they witness a ritual sacrifice of twelve bulls to Poseidon and
though he is unsure of himself, Mentor gives Telemachus encouragement to go forward and speak with Nestor
about Odysseus. Nestor has no news to relay though and recounts the fates of Agamemnon and Menelaus
after the fall of Troy. The two broke apart after an argument and went their separate ways, Nestor with
Menelaus and Odysseus with Agamemnon. He speaks kind words for Telemachus but cannot offer any more
information about Odysseus.
He does however explain more about what happened to Agamemnon. After returning from Troy, he finds
Aegisthus who had remained in Greece while everyone went to Troy married to his wife, Clytemnestra. The two
plot and carryout the murder of Agamemnon and attempts to take over the kingdom. Orestes however returns
from exile and takes revenge against both Aegisthus and Clytemnestra. Nestor compares Orestes situation to
that of Telemachus and sends Pisistratus along with Telemachus to Sparta to beseech Menelaus for more
information. Athena then reveals herself as a goddess and remains behind in Pylos to protect Telemahuss
crew and ship.

Book 4
When Telemachus and Pisistratus arrive in Sparta, they find Menelaus and Helen celebrating the marriages of
their son and daughter. The King and Queen hold a feast hat night and recount for Telemachus the many
instances of Odysseus cunning during the war. Helen recounts the time when Odysseus dressed as a beggar
and infiltrated Troy and Menelaus describes the final victory of the Trojan Horse, masterminded by Odysseus
himself. The next day, Menelaus describes how he returned from Troy. He was trapped in Egypt for a time and
was forced to capture Proteus, the Old Man of the Sea who then gave him the directions back to Sparta as well
as revealing the fates of Agamemnon and Ajax. Ajaxs own fate was similar to how Agamemnon finally returned
home, only to be killed.
Proteus also reveals to Menelaus that Odysseus is imprisoned on the island of Calypso and has been for
years. Telemachus and Pisistratus take this information and return to Ithaca. Back in Ithaca, the suitors begin to
plot the assassination of Telemachus. A herald overhears the plot and reports it back to Penelope who
becomes distraught. However Athena sends her own message to Penelope and relays that Telemachus has
the goddesss protection.

Book 5
Back on Olympus, the gods convene without Poseidon to discuss what shall be done with Odysseus. Athena is
able to convince Zeus to step in and so Hermes is dispatched to Calypso to inform her that Odysseus must be
allowed to leave. She is unhappy, railing against the male gods of Olympus for their selfishness and hypocrisy.
She does eventually relent though as it is by the decree of Zeus. Odysseus is alone with his crew and ship both
long since destroyed after leaving Troy. However, with Hermes interjection, he is finally permitted to build a
new boat and prepare it for his final voyage home.
After leaving, Odysseus spends only eighteen days at sea before spotting Scheria, the location pointed to him
via Hermes by the gods. Poseidon has returned though from his trip to Ethiopia and sees that the other gods
have helped Odysseus escape Calypso. In retaliation he sets a storm upon Odysseus and attempts to drown
him. Ino arrives and saves Odysseus, bestowing upon him a veil meant to keep him safe from the sea after the
ship sinks. With Athena also at his side, Odysseus is able to survive the storm and eventually fights his way to
shore and the forest of Scheria. After tossing Inos veil back into the water, he is finally safe from Poseidon.

Book 6

Athena appears in the dreams of Nausicaa, Princess of the Phaeacians as one of her closest friends. She
coaxes Nausicaa to visit the river the following day and wash her clothing so that the men courting her will find
her more attractive. She does as informed and while she and her maids are naked and playing beside the river,
Odysseus awakes and encounters them. He himself is naked, but does not reveal his true identity, instead
taking the time to clean the dirt and muck from the ocean clean. Athena imbues him with exceptional physical
appearance and Nausicaa begins to fall in love with him upon seeing him once more. She informs Odysseus
that he must approach the palace on his own so as not to draw attention to her bringing a man back with her to
the city. She informs him to approach Arete, her mother and the Queen and gives him instructions on how to do
so.

Book 7
On the trip to the palace to meet with the King and Queen of the Phaeacians, Odysseus encounters Athena, in
disguise as a young girl. She protects and hides him from the populous and guides him to the Palace. She tells
him to ask for help from Arete and not Alcinous, the King as she is kind and wise and will help him. She then
leaves Scheria to return to Athens.
When Odysseus arrives, he finds the palace worshipping Poseidon in a festival designed for him. He notes the
beauty and excessiveness of the Palace and the Kings celebration and as Odysseus enters, the King himself
questions whether or not Odysseus might be a god. However, Odysseus relates that he is indeed a mortal and
with a bit of explaining is able to describe his situation without revealing his identity and secure a promise of
assistance from the King and Queen; they will help him return home the following day.
That evening, Arete finally recognizes Odysseuss clothing as belonging to her daughter, Nausica and
questions him more regarding his identity. He still keeps his name to himself, but relays his story of the journey
from Calypso to the beaches of Scheria and Nausicaa that morning. Odysseus calmly takes responsibility for
arriving at the palace alone and does not give away any of what Nausicaa said or did, eventually impressing
Alcinous enough for him to offer her hand to Odysseus in marriage.

Book 8
The following day, an assembly of the Phaeacian counsel is called with Athena ensuring maximum attendance
by carrying word to each counselor of the visitor to the island who appears as a god. Alcinous presents his plan
to offer Odysseus a ship to return home and the counselors agree, after which everyone convenes at the
Palace for a feast and games in honor of their incredible guest. A bard relays the story of Odysseus and
Achilles quarrelling in Troy, causing Odysseus to weep in memory of those horrendous times. The king, noting
Odysseuss response ends the meal and announces the commencement of the games.
At first unwilling to participate because of the physical strain of his journeys, Odysseus is goaded into
participating in the discus throw by a young athlete jabbing at his abilities. Overcome by pride, Odysseus out
throws everyone and challenges the rest of the Phaeacians to any sport they might choose. Eventually, before
anyone else can become upset, Alcinous announces that they shall have another feast with further song and
dance. The bard sings this time a tale of gods and goddesses in love instead. After the feast, the Phaeacians
offer their gifts to Odysseus to return home with. Later that night when Odysseus requests a song about the
Trojan Horse and the end of the war, he eventually loses control of his emotions again, prompting Alcinous to
demand he reveal his name and purpose.

Book 9

Without much of a choice, Odyseeus relents and begins to tell his story. After first setting sail from Troy, they
arrived at the home of the Cicones, Ismarus. They plunder the city but ultimately spend too much time there as
the Cicone forces return and chase them back to their ships, killing almost six men per ship. After a storm that
lasts for nine full days, they arrive in the Land of the Lotus Eaters.
Upon landing, Odysseuss men are offered fruit by the Lotus Eaters and immediately fall victim to the
intoxicating effect of it. They refuse to leave and eventually are taken back to the ship by Odysseus by force.
When they finally leave the Land of the Lotus Eaters, the men securely locked up, they arrive soon in the land
of the Cyclops. It is here that they encounter a herd of wild goats. However, eventually they decide they will
cross the straight and visit the main land to acquire more supplies.
While on the main land, they discover a large supply of sheep, milk and cheese in a large cave. The men urge
Odysseus to hurry but they spend a bit too long in the cave and Polyphemus, the caves resident returns and
immediately eats two crew members and imprisons the rest for future meals.
Trapped behind the giant rock blocking the entrance, Odysseus is forced to think of a plan to escape. He waits
for Polyphemus to leave the cave and finds a particularly good piece of wood to temper in the fire, hardening it.
When Polyphemus returns with his flock, Odysseus uses the wine they brought with them to get him drunk.
While drunk, Polyphemus inquires of Odysseuss name, to which Odysseus responds Nobody. Shortly
afterwards, Polyphemus collapses under the effects of the wine and Odysseus and his men attack with the
staff, blinding the Cyclops. When he calls for help, all he can say is Nobody is killing me, forcing the other
Cyclops to abandon his strange cries for help. The following day, the men cling to the bottom of the sheep and
leave the cave when Polyphemus leads them out. They steal the sheep and as they are departing, Odysseus
calls his name back to the Cyclops. With Odysseuss name in hand, Polyphemus calls for his father, Poseidon,
to curse Odysseus at sea.

Book 10
The next stop for Odysseus and his men is the land of Aeolus, keeper of the winds. He offers Odysseus the gift
of a bag, containing all of the winds. He then stirs up the Westerly wind to guide them home. After only 10 days,
they are within sight of Ithaca. However, because the men are greedy, they tear open Aeoluss bag, thinking it
contains gold and silver. The winds, loosened as they are, form a terrible storm and blow the ships back to
Aeolus who then refuses to help him as he believes them to be cursed by the gods.
Without the winds to guide them, Odysseus and his men row to Laestrygonia, the home of giants who
immediately kill and eat Odysseuss scouts. The Laestrygonians toss boulders towards the ships and sink
them, leaving only Odysseuss ship to escape in. After barely escaping, Odysseus and his men arrive in Aeaea
where the witch-goddess Circe lives.
She immediately turns Odysseuss men into pigs. Odysseus is given advice by Hermes to eat an herb known
as Moly to protect him from the spell and that when she draws her sword, he should lunge towards her. After
defeating Circe and forcing Circe to return his men to human, Odysseus becomes Circes lover, living on
Circes island for more than year in absolute luxury. The men finally convince Odysseus to leave though and
Circe offers instructions that will send Odysseus to Hades to speak with Tiresias, the blind prophet, to learn the
way home.
When they awake and prepare to leave the following morning, Odysseus learns that yet another of his men has
perished, having fallen from the roof after drinking too much and breaking his neck. The remaining men are not
happy about the news that they will be traveling to the underworld instead of directly home.

Book 11
Odysseus travels with his men to the river of Ocean in the Land of the Cimmerians to perform the necessary
tasks outlined by Circe to reach the land of the dead. He pours his libations and offers sacrifices designed to
attract dead souls and eventually is able to reach and speak with the young crewman who fell from Circes roof.
He begs for Odysseus to return and properly bury his body. Next, he speaks to Tiresias the Prophet, who
relates the reason for their poor luck. Poseidon is angered by the blinding of Polyphemus and impedes
Odysseuss return. He offers his vision of the future to Odysseus, that he will eventually return home to his wife
and son. He also warns Odysseus that he must not touch the flocks of the Sun in Thrinacia or he will suffer
greater hardship and lose his crew. After Tiresias departs, Odysseus speaks with his mother, Anticleia. She
relates the current state of affairs in Ithaca and how she died in grief waiting for him to return. He speaks with
numerous other perished heroes while in the underworld.
After attempting to end his story and sleep, Odysseus is pressed on by the Phaeacians to relay if he met with
any of the great Greek Heroes who fell in Troy. Odysseus relays his meeting with Agamemnon who relates his
murder at the hands of his wife Clytmenestra. He also meets with Achilles who asks after his own son,
Neoptolemus. He also attempts to contact Ajax, the warrior who killed himself after failing to win a contest with
Odysseus to retain the arms of Achilles. He mentions that he saw Heracles, King Minos, Orion and many other
great Greek heroes.
He describes Sisyphus pushing his boulder up the eternal hill and Tantalus, eternally punished with hunger and
thirst, surrounded by water and tempted by grapes. He is eventually rushed by the many souls wishing to learn
more about the living world and is forced to flee for his ship, sailing away immediately.

Book 12
Following his return from the Land of the Dead, Odysseus returns to Circes island and buries his dead crew
member. She offers advice for the remainder of his trip on how to handle the ensuing trials as well.
The first trial turns out to be the Sirens. Odysseus has each of his men plug their ears with bees wax and then
tie him down to the mast of the ship and hold him there no matter what. Despite their calls, Odysseus is able to
withstand the Sirens with the help of his crew.
The next trial is the straight of Scylla and Charybdis. Here, they encounter the six-headed monster Scylla, who
will eat one crew member for each of its six heads. On the other side is Charybda, the infamously dangerous
whirlpool that takes any ship foolish enough to come within range. According to Circes advice, they navigate
towards Scyllas lair and are forced to sacrifice six men to survive the straights.
Finally, they arrive in Thrinicia, where they encounter the Cattle of the Sun. Despite his desire to move on, his
men convince Odysseus to stop and rest on the Island of the Sun. After a full month of waiting out storm after
storm, the men begin to exhaust their rations and decide they would like to kill and eat the Cattle on the island.
Against Odysseuss orders, they wait until he is asleep and slaughter the Cattle for food. The Sun is enraged
and asks Zeus for assistance in punishing Odysseus and his men. After they leave the island, Zeus does just
that by throwing a storm toward them that immediately sinks the ship and kills every man aboard except
Odysseus. It is after this ordeal that he eventually makes his way, aboard flotsam from his sunken ship, to
Calypsos island where hell spend the next seven years.

Book 13

The next day, after having completed his tale, Odysseus prepares to leave for Ithaca. Alcinous loads the gifts
from the night before onto the ship Odysseus will use and the next day Odysseus sets sail with a full Phaeacian
crew. He sleeps on the ship until he arrives at Ithaca, where the Phaeacians unload him and his gifts on shore
before sailing home.
Poseidon, however, is unhappy that the Phaeacians, a people who traditionally worship him, would help
someone he so dislikes. For that reason, he takes his vengeance upon them by waiting for the ship to arrive in
Scheria and turning it to stone, sinking it to the bottom of the harbor. The Phaeacians recall a particular
prophecy warning them against helping strangers and decide never to help a traveler again.
Odysseus awakes and finds himself in a strange land. Though he is in Ithaca, Athena keeps it hidden until she
is sure what to do next. He is at first angry at the Phaeacians, but Athena arrives in the disguise of a shepherd
and tells him he is in Ithaca. After a game of wits with Athena over their identities, Athena relays that he must
use his intelligence to punish the suitors who have been misusing his home and wife. She tells him to seek out
Eumaeus and take refuge in his hut. She also relays news of Telemachus and disguises Odysseus as a beggar
to keep his identity a secret.

Book 14
Upon approaching his hut, Odysseus finds Eumaeus who invites him inside for a meal of pork. Eumaeus
recalls the glory days of his old master, who he worries is long dead and gone, and speaks ill about the suitors
who have turned the once proud Palace into a horrid place. Odysseus pretends to predict the return of
Eumaeuss old master, but Eumaeus grows wary as many beggars have arrived trying to get a hot meal by
offering news of Odysseus to Penelope. Eumaeus likes the beggar though and offers him a cloak and a place
to sleep. Odysseus then relates the lie that he is from Crete and was at Odysseuss side in Troy before
returning home. However, a later trip to Egypt proved fatefully bad and he became the beggar that Eumaeus
sees in front of him. He reveals that during the trip to Egypt he heard Odysseus was alive.

Book 15
In Sparta, Athena arrives to find Telemachus and Pisistratus asleep in the palace of Menelaus. She relays to
Telemachus that he must hurry home to deal with the suitors and warns him of the plot to assassinate
Telemachus when he returns and how to avoid it. She tells him to seek out Eumaeus when he returns who will
relay his return to Penelope.
When Telemachus is preparing to leave the following day an eagle appears with a goose in its claws, a sign
that Helen interprets as the return and triumph of Odysseus. Telemachus arrives back in Pylos and immediately
returns to his ship, stating that he has no time to spend with Nestor. The descendent of a prophet,
Theoclymenus, who is pursued by the law for a crime committed in Argos, arrives and requests passage with
Telemachus, who offers him ample hospitality.
Eumaeus refuses to allow Odysseus to leave and seek employment with the suitors, instead offering his own
further hospitality. They continue to swap stories. Eumaeus describes how he first arrived in Ithaca. He
describes how he was kidnapped by pirates and sold to Laertes, and eventually raised by Odysseuss mother
as one of her own.
When Telemachus arrives the next day, he disembarks and sends his crew ahead to the city. Theoclymenus
sees a hawk fly above with a dove in hand that he interprets as a good sign for Odysseus and his family line.

Book 16

Telemachus arrives at the hut of Eumaeus and finds Odysseus and the swineherd talking. Eumaeus at first
suggest that Telemachus take Odysseus to the palace with him, but Telemachus is afraid of the suitors and
their actions, so sends Eumaeus ahead instead to inform his mother of his return.
Athena then calls Odysseus outside the hut where she removes the spell she had cast upon him, revealing
who he really is. He reenters the hut and, standing as Odysseus the long lost King of Ithaca, embraces his son
and two weep. Odysseus describes his trip to Ithaca with the Phaeacians and begins to outline the plot which
will eventually overthrow the suitors.
He will enter the palace disguised as a beggar, while Telemachaus hides the excess arms away from the
access of the suitors. When the time is right, father and son will take the hidden arms and slaughter the suitors.
Eumaeus is unable to give Penelope the news of Telemachuss return before the ships messenger arrives. The
suitors are duly upset at their failure and begin to plan their next move against him. Antinous wants to kill
Telemachus before he has a chance to call another assembly and reveal the plans of the suitors. Amphinomus,
the nicer of the suitors, is able to waylay such talk though and convince his brethren to await a sign from the
gods. Penelope later denounces Antinous for his plot against Telemachus before being calmed by the lies of
yet another ill-mannered suitor, Eurymachus.

Book 17
Leaving his father behind, Telemachus enters the palace and meets back up with his mother and Eurycleia, his
nurse. He meets with Theocylmenus and his crew chief in the hall and requests that the gifts given to him by
Menelaus remain on the ship for now, lest the suitors steal them. He later reveals the news he has gathered
from Sparta and Pylos about Odysseus but does not reveal that Odysseus is in fact waiting in Eumaeuss hut.
Theocylmenus however, pronounces that Odysseus is in Ithaca at that moment.
After Telemachus has entered the palace and spoken with Penelope, Odysseus and Eumaeus set out for the
palace on their own. One of the suitors companions sees them and physically assaults Odysseus (in the
disguise of a beggar once more). When they arrive at the palace, Odysseus is treated similarly poorly and is
barely able to receive food, insulting him repeatedly. Antinous hits Odysseus with a stool after he insults him in
turn and even the other suitors are upset. Penelope then requests to see the beggar who has been beaten to
ask of news regarding Odysseus. Odysseus does not want to be seen going to Penelope though.

Book 18
A different beggar known as Irus arrives and with his fair share of insolence challenges Odysseus to a boxing
match. With the extra strength of Athena on his side, Odysseus is able to quickly dispatch the other man. The
suitors watch on all along, shouting to keep the fight going.
After receiving praise from the suitors for his actions, Odysseus is toasted and given food by one of the more
moderate suitors, Amphinomus. This suitor causes Odysseus to pull him aside to ask him to leave the city. His
request is such that he hopes to keep the man from being killed when Odysseus returns. However,
Amphinomus does not comply as Athena has already marked him for death.
Driven by the careful nudging of Athena, Penelope appears before the suitors with the extra beauty bestowed
upon her by a goddess. She relays that Odysseus had instructed her to take a new husband if Telemachus
grew facial hair before he had returned. She plays her own clever tricks on them as well, requesting the suitors
to bring her gifts rather than take from her to woo her properly. The suitors offer numerous gifts to Penelope

and Odysseus attempts to send her maids to her. They also insult Odysseus though and so he threatens them
to scare them away.
Athena continues to enflame relations with the suitors by prompting Eurymachus to insult Odysseus, leading to
a volley of insults and thrown stools. The room is about to erupt into a full riot when Telemachus finally steps in
and settles them all down.

Book 19
That night, Telemachus and Odysseus hide away the arms while Athena keeps the rooms lit for them.
Telemahus lies to the Eurycleia and tells her that they are keeping them from damage. After their task is
completed, Telemachus leaves for his chambers and Penelope arrives to speak with Odysseus. She is curious
of his knowledge of her husband and questions him to describe the King. He therefore describes himself in
absolute detail, brining Penelope to tears in the process. He tells his recounting of how he met Odysseus and
how he came to be in Ithaca. He tells her that Odysseus is alive and well and will return within one month.
He refuses an offer by Penelope for a bed to sleep in and very reluctantly allows Eurycleia to wash his feet.
She notes the scar on his foot he received while boar hunting as a young man with his grandfather. She
immediately recognizes Odysseus and hugs him. Athena does her part to keep Penelope distracted though so
that Odysseus can maintain his secret identity and extract a promise of silence from Eurycleia.
Penelope describes a dream before she sleeps to Odysseus about an eagle which kills all twenty of her pet
geese and then reveals itself as her husband killing her lovers. Odysseus explains the dream to her and
Penelope announces that she will choose a new husband by demanding the suitors to attempt to shoot an
arrow through twelve axes in a line, something only Odysseus has been known to accomplish.

Book 20
Because of the task ahead of them, Odysseus has trouble sleeping. Athena assures him of his future success
though, even against such incredible odds. Penelope on the other hand is distraught that her husband is still
lost and that she has just committed to a new husband. She awakes and prays for death at the hands of
Artemis. Odysseus responds with a prayer of his own to Zeus for an omen. Zeus replies with a thunder clap,
coinciding with maids nearby cursing the suitors.
The following morning, Telemachus and Odysseus meet up with Eumaeus, a still loyal herdsman, and a swarm
of suitors arriving with murder on their minds. Another eagle appears with a dove in its claws and Amphinomus
requests that they call of their plot against Telemachus. Athena keeps the suitors riled up though so as
Odysseus does not relinquish any of his rage. One of the suitors throws a cows hoof at Odysseus and another
threatens to kill him. They laugh at Odysseus and miss the obvious omen of blood covering the walls, an
imminent promise of their doom.

Book 21
Penelope arrives with the announcement that she will choose a suitor, so long as he is able to string
Odysseuss bow and shoot an arrow through the line of twelve axes. Telemachus quickly sets up the axes and
attempts the feat himself, failing to even string the bow. The suitors themselves fail at the task of warming and
stringing the bow, one by one.
Odysseus retreats outside with Eumaeus and the loyal herdsman and ensures they are still loyal to him before
revealing his true identity. He asks that they fight at his side and he promises to treat them as sons in
repayment.

Upon returning they find that the suitors are still failing to even string the bow. Antinous tries to retire for the day
so that they can make sacrifices to Apollo and try again the next day. However, Odysseus steps forward and
requests to try the task himself. They fear his success and refuse him the opportunity. Telemachus silences
them though and demands that Odysseus be given the bow and a chance. He quickly and easily strings the
bow and shoots the arrow through all twelve axes.

Book 22
As quickly as he shoots the first shot, Odysseus puts an arrow through the throat of Antinous and reveals
himself as the long lost King, driving fear into the hearts of the remaining suitors. The doors are locked, keeping
them from escaping and despite the pleas of the suitors to let them live, Odysseus declares that they will all die
and the battle ensues.
Telemachus retrieves swords and shields from the storeroom and arms Eumaeus and the herdsman, but
forgets to lock the room as he exits. One of the suitors is able to enter the room and retrieve arms for the
others, though on the second trip to the storeroom he is captured and locked inside.
Athena arrives as Mentor and encourages Odysseus, trying to measure how strong he truly is. A few of the
suitors are felled with spears with only small wounds for Odysseus and his side. However, as soon as Athena
joins in as Mentor, the battle is quickly finished. Odysseus kills everyone who was with the suitors with the
exception of the minstrel and the herald who he deems as innocent victims.
Odysseus then calls Eurycleia out to help remove the dead suitors. At first she is excited at their deaths, but
Odysseus quiets her for rejoicing over the dead. They gather the servants who were disloyal and have them
clean and dispose of the bodies before they are themselves taken outside and killed. Telemachus decides they
will be hanged, a much more disgraceful way to die. Finally, after everyone is dead, Odysseus orders a
fumigation of the house to cleanse it.

Book 23
Having slept through the entire battle, Penelope is finally awakened. She does not believe Eurycleia at first and
does not accept the truth until she goes downstairs and sees Odysseus with her own eyes. The family reunites
and Telemachus chastises her for not showing more open excitement. However, Odysseus is more worried
about having just killed every young nobleman in the country, something their parents will not appreciate. He
decides to take his family to their farm and hide for a bit until things settle.
Wary that she is being tricked, Penelope is not quite willing to believe that her husband has returned. She
requests that the bridal bed be moved, to which Odysseus explodes, explaining that such a thing cannot be
done. It was carved from the solid trunk of a single olive tree, around which the house was built. She knows
from these details that it must truly be her husband and finally she rejoices. They spend time getting caught up
and Odysseus recounts his journeys thus far. The next day, he leaves to see Laertes and warns his wife to
remain in her room and not take any visitors. Athena assists once again by hiding Odysseus and Telemachus in
darkness.

Book 24
The scene changes to the procession of the suitors souls to Hades, led by Hermes. Here, Agamemnon and
Achilles argue over whose death was better, describing Achilles funeral in detail. They meet the suitors as they
arrive and inquire as to how they all died. They blame Penelope for her treachery, which Agamemnon
compares to the actual treachery of Clytmenestra, knowing that Penelope is a better person.

On Laertes farm, Odysseus arrives and meets with his father alone. He finds his father much older than when
he left, having grieved for the death of his wife and loss of his son. Odysseus delays revealing himself to his
father, but after Laertes begins to weep in memory of his lost son, Odysseus reveals himself and shows the
scar on his foot to prove his claim along with certain memories of childhood. He describes the previous nights
battle with the suitors and their messy end.
After their discussion, they have lunch. During their meal, the Goddess Rumor spreads the news of the
massacre in the palace. The suitors parents gather and decide how they will respond. Halitherses, an elder of
the group describes the just punishment they received, while Eupithes, Antinouss father wants revenge against
Odysseus. Eventually, they track down Odysseus on Laertes farm. Athena appears once more as Mentor and
stops the procession though, with only one more man dying, Antinouss father. Under the careful manipulation
of Athena, the Ithacans are able to forget the massacre and Odysseus is able to reclaim his throne and peace
is restored

odysseus
Short summary
The Odyssey is unique among poems of the time. The focus on a unified theme
within an epic cycle via rapid, but direct, evolution of thought and expression makes
the Odyssey a classic. Homer was recognized around the Western world for simple
syntax in hexameter verse. The poem spotlights grammatical form led by verse
structure to attribute rhythm through uniform pauses. Homer's poetic skill defies
age and time by surpassing degree. Odyssey may lack the expression and
distinguishing qualities of Iliad, but the subtle version of the epico-lyrical attempt
remains a ballad. Homer's powerful style of verse defines the popular epic as a
ballad, set against Greek culture. The Odyssey is indigenous and easily
distinguishable from a Dante or Milton.
Homer's Odyssey is as dramatic as Iliad. The lack of racial antipathy and political
events etch the poem permanently in the mind of the reader. Homeric Greek, in the
Odyssey, is a rhapsode style that was probably meant to be sung. The ballad

revolves around Odysseus, who takes ten long years after the Trojan War to reach
Ithaca. His absence is misunderstood for his death. Penelope, his wife and his son
Telemachus deal with suitors, who line up for Penelope's hand. The unruly Proci
make their lives miserable.
The Odyssey: A Short Summary
Odyssey battles internal and external conflict to take part in the Trojan War. It is at a
time when his son Telemachus, is only a month old. Ten years after the war,
Odysseus retraces his steps back home. By that time, Telemachus is twenty and
living with his mother Penelope in Ithaca. His mother has to deal with 108 suitors,
who are boisterous and adamant that she should agree to marriage.
Athena, Odysseus's guardian, decides with the King of Gods according to Greek
mythology, Zeus, to take the form of Mentes, a Taphian chief and speak to
Telemachus. She urges the boy to look for his father. Telemachus and Athena
witness Phemius the bard entertaining the rowdy suitors with "Return from Troy".
Even as Penelope objects, urged by Athena, Telemachus orders Phemius to read on.
Athena finds Telemachus a ship and crew and helps him to depart for the mainland.
Welcomed by the Nestor family, Telemachus then embarks on a land journey
alongside Sparta, Nestor's son. He chances upon Helen and Menelaus bear witness
of a meeting with sea-god Proteus. They inform Telemachus that his father has been
captured by Calypso, a nymph.
Odysseus, meanwhile, spends seven years in captivity. He is released only to incur
the wrath of Poseidon, the sea-god who was not present on Mount Olympus when
Athena and Zeus interacted. Escaping the wreckage, Odysseus swims ashore
exhausted and falls asleep. He then seeks the hospitality of Arete and Alcinous.
Odysseus struggles through a situation where his identity is always in doubt.
A raid on his twelve ships by storms, lotus eaters and blinded with a wooden stake,
leaves the hero a broken man. A boon from Aeolus, the wind god helped Odysseus
harness all the winds. However, with destiny playing truant, Odysseus does not
retain the only 'safe' wind that could blow him homeward. His escapades with the
pantheon of Greek gods and goddesses, a treacherous sailor, Laestrygones the
cannibal, Circe, the witch goddess and the spirit of Tiresias, leave Odysseus spent
and longing for home.
Odysseus' lucky meeting with the Phaeacians, buys him a home-bound journey.
Disguised as a beggar, Odysseus learns about his family. He meets Penelope with
the intention of testing her love for him. Penelope proposes that a contest be held
to find the suitor whom she will marry. She declares that the person who can string
Odysseus' great bow and shoot an arrow through a dozen axeheads will win the

contest. As it is his bow, Odysseus can only pull off the feat and then he proceeds to
kill all the other contesting suitors in the process reveals his true identity. As a result
of the killing of the suitors by Odysseus a feud erupts between the kin of the slain
suitors and Odysseus. This potential battle is averted when Athena intervenes and
on the command of Zeus, persuades the warring parties to end the vendetta
between the two sides. At last peace is restored to Ithaca.
Odyssey the word itself has come to refer to an epic voyage. One of the major
themes is wandering or loneliness, a desire for homecoming which becomes the
basis of Odysseus' journey over several years. Another theme that emerges is that
of temptation and weakness which lies inside each person and makes that
individual vulnerable. A frequent and dominant motif in the Odyssey is disguise, be
it in the Trojan horse, or as a beggar when Odysseus returns home.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/short-summary-of-theodyssey.htm
The journey

THE CICONES

After Odysseus and his men depart from Troy, they are greeted by friendly and
calm waters. The crew made for Ismaros in the land of the Cicones. The city was
not at all protected and all of the inhabitants fled without a fight into the nearby
mountains. Odysseus and his men looted the city and robbed it of all its goods.
Odysseus wisely told his men to board the ships quickly but they refused and fell
asleep on the beach. The next morning, the Cicones returned with their fierce
kinsmen from the mountains. Odysseus and his men fled to the ships as fast as
they could but they lost many men still. On leaving Ismaros, Odysseus and his
twelve ships were driven off course by fierce storms.
When Odysseus and his men landed on the island of the Lotus-Eaters, Odysseus
sent out a scouting party who ate lotus fruit with the natives. This caused them
to fall sleep and stop caring about ever going home. Odysseus went after the
scouting party and dragged them back against their will to the ship and set sail.
Lotus-Eaters,
Odysseus
sent
out
ahis
scouting
party
who
ate
lotus
fruit
ever
with
going
the natives.
home.
This
Odysseus
caused
went
them
after
toto
fall
the
sleep
scouting
and
party
stop
caring
and
dragged
about
them
back
against
their
will
the
ship
and
set
sail.
THOTUS-EATERS
When
Odysseus
and
men
landed
on
the
island
of
the

THE LAESTRYGONIANS

They came to Telepylos, the stronghold of Lamos, king of the Laestrygonians.

These people attacked the fleet with boulders, sinking all but one of the ships

and killing hundreds of Odysseuss men.

TIRESIAS

Finally, guided by Circe's instructions, Odysseus and his crew crossed the ocean
and reached a harbor at the western edge of the world, where Odysseus
sacrificed to the dead and summoned the spirit of the old prophet Tiresias to

advise him of how to appease the gods upon his return home.

THE SIRENS

Odysseus escaped the Sirens by having all his sailors plug their ears with
beeswax and tie him to the mast. He was curious as to what the Sirens sounded
like. When he heard their beautiful song, he ordered the sailors to untie him but
they ignored him. When they had passed out of earshot, Odysseus stopped

thrashing about and calmed down, and was released.

SCYLLA & CHARYBDIS

Odysseus was given advice by Circe to sail closer to the six-headed monster
Scylla, for the whirlpool Charybdis could drown his whole ship. Odysseus
successfully navigates his ship past Scylla and Charybdis, but Scylla manages to

catch six of his men, devouring them alive.

THRINACIA

Finally, Odysseus and his surviving crew landed on an island, Thrinacia, sacred
to Helios, where he kept sacred cattle. Though Odysseus warned his men not to
(as Tiresias had told him), they killed and ate some of the cattle. As guardians of
the island, Helioss daughters told their father. Helios destroyed the ship and all
the men save Odysseus.

CALYPSO

Odysseus was washed ashore on Ogygia, where the nymph Kalypso (Calypso)
lived. She made him her lover for seven years and would not let him leave,
promising him immortality if he stayed. On behalf of Athena, Zeus intervened
and sent Hermes to tell Kalypso to let Odysseus go.

NAUSICAA

Odysseus left Ogygia on a small raft furnished with provisions of water, wine and
food by Kalypso, only to be hit by a storm and washed up on the island of
Scheria and found by Nausicaa, daughter of King Alcinous and Queen Arete of

the Phaeacians, who entertained him well and escorted him to Ithaca. On the
twentieth day of sailing he arrived at his home in Ithaca.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNxAtHBZpb8