Book 8 summary Flashcards
What happens at the start of the book?
- At dawn, Athena disguises herself as Alcinous and gathers people to the meeting grounds
What does Athena do at the meeting grounds?
- Disguised as Alcinous, she asks his people to bring a ship down to the sea and to find a crew of fifty-two men to transport Odysseus home
- He tells everyone else to gather to feast and celebrate
What happens after everyone has feasted?
The bard Demodocus sings
What is Demodocus’ first song, and what impact does it have?
- He sings about the battle between Odysseus and Achilles.
- The song moves Odysseus to tears
- Although Odysseus hides his tears under his cape, Alcinous notices and urges the guests to move on to athletic competitions.
What athletic competitions are held?
A footrace, followed by wrestling, jumping and discus throwing
Who speaks to Odysseus at the competition?
Laodamas
What does Laodamas first say to Odysseus?
- He invites Odysseus to join in the competition
- Odysseus declines, citing his long suffering and exhaustion
Who mocks Odysseus when he refuses to partake in the Phaeacian games
Euryalus
What does Euryalus say, and how does Odysseus respond to this?
- He taunts Odysseus, claiming that he must not be skilled in athletics
- This angers Odysseus, who takes up a discus and throws it farther than any other competitor
What does Athena do when Odysseus throws the discus?
She disguises herself as a spectator, and praises him.
This results in Odysseus boasting that he’ll defeat anyone in the crowd in any sport, except the King as he’s his host
What does Alcinous say after Odysseus’ outburst?
- He admits that Odysseus’ anger is reasonable, and tells him that the Phaeacians do not excel in all sports, but are masters of racing, sailing and feasting.
After the games have finished, what song does Demodocus sing?
The story of Ares and Aphrodite
What is the story of Aphrodite and Ares?
- Aphrodite, the goddess of love, was unfaithful to her husband Hephaestus with Ares, the god of war.
- When Hephaestus learned of the infidelity from Helios, the god of the sun, he set a trap around Aphrodite’s bed with gold chains.
- He pretended to leave for a trip, and when Ares and Aphrodite went to bed together, the chains trapped them in each others arms.
- When Hephaestus found them, he gathered all the gods to witness the sight, and they all laughed as a cripple had defeated the powerful god of war.
- Only Poseidon was able to convince Hephaestus to free Ares
What happens after the story of Aphrodite and Ares ends?
- Alcinous calls on the twelve princes of his kingdom to gather fine parting gifts for Odysseus
What parting gifts did Odysseus receive?
- A beautiful sword from Euryalus to apologise for his earlier rudeness
- Queen Arete gives him a trunk of fine clothes
- The maids give him a bath
- He also talks to Nausicaa, who reminds him that he owes her his life
What is Demodocus’ final song?
- How the wooden horse full of Achaean soldiers secretly entered Troy, and how the Achaeans burst from the horse and defeated the Trojans.
- The bard mentions the particular courage of Odysseus and Menelaus
How does Odysseus react to Demodocus’ final song?
- He cries to hear the tale
- Alcinous notices his tears again and asks the bard to stop singing.
- He urges Odysseus to finally reveal his identity
