Book 13 summary

Question 1

How does this book start?

Answer 1

• The next day, King Alcinous stows Odysseus’ many gifts on the ship and everyone feasts
• When Odysseus walks onto the ship the next morning, he falls into a deep, sweet sleep
• The ship lands in a harbor in Ithaca, and the crew places the sleeping Odysseus and his gifts in a spot far away from the road to hide him from any thieves.

Question 2

How does Poseidon react to Odysseus reaching Ithaca?

Answer 2

-He is angry that the Phaeacians helped Odysseus and gave him so much treasure

Question 3

What does Zeus say to Poseidon’s complaints?

Answer 3

• He considers his complaints a bit trivial, but he encourages him to take whatever action will soothe his anger

Question 4

How does Poseidon get revenge on the Phaeacians?

Answer 4

• He fulfills the prophecy mentioned in book 8.
• he turns the Phaeacian ship that carried Odysseus to stone just as it returns to the Phaeacian harbour, so that the ship sinks

Question 5

What do the Phaeacians do when Poseidon turns their ship to stone?

Answer 5

• They are terrified that Poseidon will also create a mountain around their harbour and block their access to the sea, as the prophecy says, so they pray and sacrifice to him to try to appease him.

Question 6

What happens when Odysseus wakes up?

Answer 6

• Athena surrounds him with a mist, so at first he doesn’t recognise his surroundings.
• He believes the Phaeacians tricked him and brought him to a foreign land

Question 7

How does Athena appear to Odysseus when he wakes up?

Answer 7

• She appears to him in the guise of a young shepherd

Question 8

What does Athena tell Odysseus whilst disguised as a young shepherd?

Answer 8

• She tells him he’s in Ithaca

Question 9

What does Odysseus say to Athena as the shepherd?

Answer 9

• He conceals is joy after he receives the news that he’s back in Ithaca
• He tells Athena that he’s a fugitive from Crete, wanted for killing a man who tried to steal from him
• He says that the Phaeacians took pity on him and brought him to Ithaca whilst he slept

Question 10

What does Athena do after Odysseus tells her his fake life story?

Answer 10

• She changes into a woman and praises Odysseus for his cunning, revealing her true identity
• She explains that she will help Odysseus hide his treasure and conceal his identity, and warns him that he must suffer further, even under his own roof

Question 11

What does Odysseus note about Athena?

Answer 11

• She has been kind to him during the war, but she seemed to have abandoned him during his long travels

Question 12

How does Athena respond to Odysseus saying she’d abandoned him?

Answer 12

• She delights in his grace and cunning, and says that these qualities are the reasons she sticks with him
• She explains that she had not helped him during his travels for fear of inciting Poseidon’s anger
• She tells Odysseus about the suitor’s treachery, and Penelope’s loyalty

Question 13

How does Athena help Odysseus at the end of this book?

Answer 13

• Odysseus realises he might have died a death similar to Agamemnon’s, if Athena had not warned him.
• He asks her to help him plan his revenge
• She changes Odysseus into an old beggar and tells him to visit his old swineherd, Eumaeus, who remains loyal to him