Book 1 summary Flashcards
How does Book 1 start?
Homer begins by asking the Muse to sing to him about Odysseus and his travels.
Who is the Muse?
the Goddess of poetry and music
What will the Muse sing about?
How Odysseus and his crew have seen many strange lands and suffered many trials.
Their careless behaviour has sometimes angered the gods, who have prevented their safe return to Ithaca
Where is Odysseus when the story begins?
- He is being held captive by the Nymph Calypso on the island Ogygia, he’s been held there for 7 years
What does Athene do in this book?
She has come before an assembly of the Gods to plead for Odysseus’ release.
Odysseus has angered Poseidon, who has been stopping him from returning to Ithaca
What is the result of the assembly?
Zeus declares that Poseidon must forget his grievance and agrees to send the messenger god Hermes to Ogygia to ensure Odysseus’ release
What does Athena do after the assembly?
She flies to Ithaca to speak to Telemachus
Who does Athena take the shape of to speak to Telemachus?
Mentes, a friend of Odysseus’ father Laertes.
She finds Telemachus sitting idly in the midst of the festivities, dreaming of forcing the suitors from his home.
What does Athena tell Telemachus?
After Athena is properly welcomed by Telemachus, she tells him Odysseus is alive and held captive on a faraway island, and that he’ll soon return home
What does Telemachus explain to Athene, and what does she advise him to do?
- Telemachus describes the shame the suitors have brought upon the estate.
- Athena advises that he gather a crew and sail to Pylos, and then to Sparta in search of information about Odysseus
What story does Athena reference back to when advising Telemachus?
- She tells him that he must avenge his father by killing the suitors that dishonour his estate, as Orestes avenged the death of his father Agamemnon by killing his father’s murderer (Clytemnestra)
How does Telemachus’ and Athene’s discussion end?
- Telemachus thanks Mentes for his advice.
- His memory of Odysseus grows vivid and his strength increases, and he thinks that the stranger must have been a God.
What does Penelope do in this book?
- She comes down from her chambers and asks the bard entertaining the suitors to stop singing about the Achaeans’ journey home because the song brings her too much grief
How does Telemachus respond to Penelope’s request to the bard?
- He reminds her that Zeus, not the bard, is responsible for Odysseus’ suffering.
- He tells her to have courage, and to remember her husband
- Penelope obeys him, surprised by his good sense and strong will
What does Telemachus do after Athena flies away?
- He addresses the suitors.
- He tells them to leave his household at once, or Zeus will punish them for their wrongdoings.
- He declares his intentions to remain the lord of the estate in Odysseus’ absence
How do the Suitors react to Telemachus’ speech?
They are amazed at his confidence and daring.
Antinous and Eurymachus directly respond to him
What does Antinous say to Telemachus?
He says that only the Gods could give Telemachus the power to speak so courageously
What does Eurymachus say to Telemachus?
He says that the Gods alone decide who will rule Ithaca, and inquires after the strange visitor (Mentes / Athena)
Who does Telemachus say the visitor was when questioned by Eurymachus?
He says the visitor was Mentes, a friend of Laertes, but he knows in his heart that the visitor was Athene
