The Odyssey Books Summaries Flashcards
Book one events and themes: Athene visits Telemachus
Events:
Begins with proem and invocation to the muse.
Then a council of the gods (Athene Zeus and Hermes)
Athene goes to Ithaca disguised as Mentes and inspires Telemachus to go against the suitors and on a telemachy.
Athene disappears like a bird through the roof.
Bard phemius sings a song to which Penelope objects, Telemachus tells her to go upstairs.
Telemachus tell the suitors that they must begin to leave, his maid Eurycleia leads her to bed
Themes:
Xenia, disguise and deception, fate
Book two events and themes: The debate in Ithaca
Events:
Telemachus calls the town council to meet to discuss the suitors and command them to leave and cries.
Antinous the leader of suitors argues with Telemachus to win in Telemachus promises that Odysseus will return and pay them back.
Athene disguised as mentor encourages Telemachus to go on a telemachy to pylos and Sparta
Book three events: Telemachus with Nestor
Events:
Telemachus sets sail for pylons where nestor lives.
Nestor and his sons are sacrificing to the gods and Telemachus ask if he know where his father is.
Nestor tells him of their time at Troy and the fate of Agamemnon with a warning that he should watch over his mother and suitor should the same happen again.
Athene disguised as mentor leaves in the form of a vulture.
Telemachus and Peisistratus set off to Sparta to see Menelaus.
Events of book four: Menelaus and Helen
Telemachus and pesistratus com to Sparta where Menelaus welcomes them with good Xenia.
Menelaus and Helen both recognise Telemachus and all at the feast begin to weep over stories of Troy.
Helen puts a potion into the wine to stop the men from crying.
Menelaus tells Telemachus that Odysseus lives but is held prisoner in a far away land.
The suitors are in uproar about Telemachus leaving and plot to kills him.
Penelope is devastated when she hears the news of Telemachus’ departure and Athene send a vision of Penelopes sister to soothe her.
Events of books five: Calypso
Council of the gods between Athene, Zeus and Hermes.
Hermes goes to ogygia to tell calypso she must free Odysseus.
Calypso welcome Hermes with a display of divine Xenia, she says she will allow Odysseus to leave but complains abut the gods double standards to goddesses.
We meet Odysseus who is crying on the beach, calypso tells him he may leave on a raft of his own making.
Calypso offers him external youth and he turns it down.
In four days Odysseus crafts a raft for himself and sets off but Poseidon returns from Ethiopia and sends a storm.
Ino of the slim ankles rises from the waves and gives him a veil which means no harm can come to him.
Odysseus sees land but it all rocky and he cannot get onto it, he swims up the river mouth and finds a place to sleep.
Events of book six: Nausicaa
Athene sends a dream to Nausicaa in which she encourages her to wash her clothes in case she may become a wife soon , Nausicaa wakes inspired by her dream and goes to ask her father if she may go to wash her clothes.
Nausicaa and her attendants play with a ball while the clothes dry and she is compared to Artemis.
Odysseus wales and emerges from the bushes fully naked and frightens all the ladies but Nausicaa.
Odysseus verbally supplicates her and Nausicaa instructs her maidens to bathe him and give I’m clothes.
Athene makes him appear more attractive and Nausicaa take him into town on her wagon however she drops him off with directions to the palace in order to avoid rumors.
Odysseus goes and prays to Athene
Events of book Seven: The Palace of Alcinous
Athene envelops Odysseus in a mist to prevent him being seen and disguised herself as a serving girl to give him instructions to the palace and who to speak to.
Phaeacia is a wealthy, civilised and favoured place.
He finds queen arête and supplicates her and they show good Xenia to Odysseus.
Arête recognises te clothes he is wearing as clothes she has made herself and asks him where he has come from.
He tells them of his time with calypso but does not reveal his identity, he also informs them of his encounter with Nausicaa and alcinous promises they will help him go wherever he wants to.
Events of book eight: The Phaeacian games
Albinos goes to the town to gather a few for Odysseus’ ship and invites the people of the town for a feast.
The blind bard Demodocus sings a song of Odysseus and Achilles quarrel which prompts Odysseus to weep silently which alcinous sees.
The king hold a contest of sports, Odysseus is encouraged to enter but euryalus insults hi saying he will have no skill.
Odysseus Jon’s the contest to spite him and throws father than any other contestant.
Demodocus sings the song of ares and Aphrodite and haephaestus’ trap.
Nausicaa bids Odysseus farewell and he promises to worship her like a goddess once he is home.
Demodocus then sings the songs of the Trojan Horse which prompts Odysseus to tears giving away his cover.
Events of book nine: The Cyclops
Odysseus begins to tell his story to the Phaeacian people.
Him and his men started of in the land of the cicones plundering. Odysseus wanted to leave but his men wanted to stay so the Cicones had time to rally a force and attack Odysseus and his crew killing six from each ship.
Zeus sent a storm forcing his men to dock in the land of the lotus eater who gave his men drugs that made them never want to return home.
They arrived the land of the Cyclopes and Odysseus wanted to explore the land. They found Polyphemus cave and broke in eating his food and stealing his sheep.
Polyphemus returns and is furious, Odysseus encourage him to observe Xenia but he mocks the gods. He garbs Odysseus men and dashes their brains out and eats them. Odysseus and his men sharpen and burn a plank of olive wood and get Polyphemus drunk on wine in order to ram it into his eye. They them tie themselves to the bottom of his rams to escape. Odysseus tells Polyphemus that his name is nobody as he attacks.
Odysseus and his crew leave and with hubris Odysseus calls out his name angering Polyphemus.
Events of book ten: Circe
Odysseus and his crew come to the home of god of wind Aeolus where they receive good Xenia and are given a bag of wind as a gift.
On the way back Odysseus lets no one else steer the ship leaving him exhausted, when they are close enough to see Ithaca his men betray him while he sleep by opening the bag of wind tat snes them back to Aeolus who sends them away for fear they are cursed.
They come to the land of the Laestrygonians who eat and attack Odysseus’ men leaving only one ship left.
Then they come to circes island she turns the search party into swings forcing Odysseus to go back himself and save them.
He meets Hermes on the way who give him advice.
When with circe Odysseus does not drink the wine and doesn’t turn into a pig and so goes to Circe’s bed. Circe turn odysseus men back into humans and he is reunited with his crew.
The stay with circe for a year until she tells him to got to the land of the death and meet with the Theban prophet Teiresias
Events of book eleven: The Book Of The Dead
Odysseus and crew arrive in the land of the dead and begin sacrificing and luring libations into the soil so that the souls came up from Erebus.
The spirit of Eleanor rose, he had fallen of the oof in Circe’s palace.
Then the soul of his mother Anticleia who he had not know was dead.
The Theban prophet approached the blood and drank it, he tells Odysseus that he must not harm the cattle of the sun god and that suitors have overtaken his home. H e also tells Odysseus that he will die of old age.
His mother tell him Penelope is loyal and that his father is very depressed and does not leave his far.
Many noble and troubled women visit Odysseus and tell him their woes.
Th attention shifts back to Odysseus in phaeacia telling his story in an interlude.
Then back to the land of the dead where Agamemnon rises from the ground. He tells Odysseus of his betrayal from his wife and Aegisthus which may serve as a warning to Odysseus to be wary of Penelope.
He is then visited by heroes of Troy
Events of book twelve: Scylla and Charybdis
Odysseus and his crew return to circes island to bury Elpenor and circe tells them how to navigate past the sirens and Scylla and Charybdis. Circe tells him not to waste time putting on his armour to fight Scylla as more will die.
Odysseus ensure all his mens ears are plugged with wax before eh get them to tie him to th mast so he can listen tot he sirens singing.
They then sail past the Scylla and Charybdis and try to fight however Scylla eats six men.
Thy arrive on the island of the sun god Hyperion where Odysseus tell his men under no circumstances are they to eat the cattle of the sun god Hyperion.
They are stranded due to a storm and cannot leave and after a while their provisions begin to run out.
Eurylochus schemes against Odysseus to eat the cattle, but they sacrifice it incorrectly without the correct ingredients angering the gods further. When they left the island Zeus sent a storm and only Odysseus survived.
Events of book thirteen: Odysseus land in Ithaca
Alcinous promised that Odysseus will reach home and showers him with gifts.
Odysseus appeals to the gods to bless alcinous with fame and wealth at the feast.
Odysseus boards the ship and begins to sleep through the journey which is quick as the Phaeacian sailors are fast.
The Phaeacians carry Odysseus onto the shore while he is sleeping with his gifts.
Poseidon hears of Odysseus return to Ithaca and wants to curse the Phaeacian people for helping him by turning the returning ship into stone.
Odysseus wakes and does not recognise Ithaca as Athene has clouded it in mist to prevent him being recognised.
Odysseus believes he has been tricked by the Phaeacian’s until Athene disguised as shepherd approaches and tells him he is home. Odysseus begins to tell lies of where he is form before Athene turns into her natural form.
Odysseus reproaches her for not helping him and she tell him al she has done for him and that he should go to swineherd eumaeus’ hut.
Athene disguises him as a beggar.
Events of book fourteen: In Eumaeus’ Hut
Odysseus goes to eumaeus’ hut and is welcomed in despite his appearance and shown good Xenia.
Eumaeus is shown to be very loyal to Odysseus and his family but does not believe he will return despite Odysseus assurance he will return.
Odysseus spins a cretan tale to eumaeus about where he came from and why. The men make a bet about whether Odysseus will return soon.
Odysseus tells fabricated story of Troy and impresses the swineherds.
Events of book 15: Telemachus returns
Athene goes t lacedaemon to bring Telemachus home and warn him of the suitors plot to murder him. An omen of and eagle carrying a goose is spotted and interpreted to mean that Odysseus will return to attack the suitors.
Telemachus reutrun and another omen is spotted by theoclymenus who interprets it to mean that Telemachus royal house will rule for all time.
Telemachus heads toward eumaeus hut.
Events of book sixteen: Odysseus meets his son
Telemachus arrived in Ithaca and goes straight to visit eumaeus who greet him like a son being reunited with a father.
Telemachus greets still disguised Odysseus very well offering him a Seat and promised that although he cannot receive him in his home that he will give him a tunic and shoes.
Odysseus goes outside and preys to Athene to restore him to his self so he can reveal himself to Telemachus who initially thinks he is a god.
Odysseus tells Telemachus that he is his father and kisses him, Telemachus does not believe him at first but after a scolding from his father believes him.
Odysseus tells Telemachus his son he intends to take down all 108 suitors with Telemachus help, he respond by saying that it is not possible but Odysseus assured them he will have Athenes help.
Odysseus tell Telemachus to gather all the weapons so the suitors cannot fight back.
Eumaeus send false word the palace that Telemachus has returned and anger the suitor who have failed to kill him
Penelope tells of the suitors for plotting her son’s murder.
Odysseus and Telemachus continue to plot.
Events of book seventeen: Odysseus goes to the town
Telemachus heads into town and Odysseus promises to meet him later.
Telemachus arrives back Home to be breathed by Eurycleia and his mother. He tells his mother hat he hear do Odysseus in Sparta and promised her that this very moment Odysseus is home.
Odysseus goes into town and on the way is insulted and kicked by Melanthius the goat herd the swineherd curse melanthius and Odysseus holds himself back from attacking him.
They arrive t the palace and Odysseus sees his dog Argus neglected an dying, the dog recognises him immediately.
Odysseus begin ton beg for scraps from the suitors upon Athenes instructions but antinous refuses to give him food and throws a stool at him.
When Penelope hear of the abuse of the stranger she is very angers and rebukes the suitors and wishes to speak tot eh stranger and hear his sort but Odysseus goes home and ask her to wait until sundown to speak to him.
Events of book eighteen: The beggar in the palace
The beggar Irus comes to the house to try and remove Odysseus, they begin to fight and all the suitors gather round encouraging them and offering the winner a prize of food.
Athene makes Odysseus thigh and legs very muscled which makes everyone amazed an irus skae in fear.
Odysseus ins and is given kindness and food by antinous, Odysseus gives antinous a warning about pillaging another mans wealth.
Athene puts an idea into Penelope head that she should go down and see the suitors, first she put Penelope to sleep and endows her with great beauty. She tell Telemachus off for the bad treatment of the gust in the house.
Penelope also encourages the suitors to give her gift but also use their own resources and food rather than her husbands, this delights Odysseus.
Melantho insults Odysseus telling him he should leave.
After Odysseus turn down his job offer eurymachus throws a stool at him.
Events of book 19: Eurycleia recognises Odysseus
Odysseus tells Telemachus to hide the weapons away and Athene sends a divine light to help them. Pene;lope comes down with her maid and melantho countinues abusing him.
Penelope and Odysseus both tell her off.
Penelope questions Odysseus and tell him of her trick to the suitors and Odysseus tell her his Cretan tale. Odysseus proves he know himself to Penelope by describing a cloak she made for him and he tell her that Odysseus will be home very soon.
Penelope get her maid to wash him and Odysseus request to have Eurycleia. As Eurycleia washes his feet she notices a scar of his foot that Odysseus had and recognises him and Odysseus tell her to not tell anyone
Penelope get Odysseus to interpret a dream she has had of an eagle killing geese, he tel he that the suitors are doomed.
She tell him that she will hold an archery contes the next day for her hand in marriage.
Events of twenty: Prelude to the crisis
Both Penelope and Odysseus struggle to sleep, Odysseus can hear Penelope weeping, both of them pry to te gods to help them
Melanthous insults Odysseus.
Cowheard philoetius arrives and is welcomed by Odysseus.
The suitors see and omen of and eagle with a dove in its claws which they take to mena that their plan to kill Telemachus will fail.
Ctessipus throws a Calf’s hoof at Odysseus .
Athene send the suitors a horrific vision that frightens them.
Events of book twenty one: The great bow
Penelope holds archery contest of who can shoot the arrow through the axe heads will marry her. They use Odysseus bow which brings tears to her eyes.
Most of the suitors fail to even string their bows including Telemachus. Penelope and the ladies disappear to their rooms and Odysseus tries the bow, he strings it and manages to shoot it through all of the axe heads while Zeus prompts a thunderclap as a sign of his favour.
Both men arm he sleeves ready to fight.
Events of book twenty two: The battle in the hall
Odysseus kills antinous first with an arrow, other suitor try to claim that the blame lay sole with atinous and that no more men need to die.
Odysseus does not spare them and kills eurymachus next and then amphinomus who run at Odysseus with the intention of killing him.
Melathius betrays them by helping the suitors get arm from the store room but Odysseus order him to be punished and he is strung up by his limbs and is castrated.
Odysseus looses hope at victory and Athene has to inspire him.
many suitors lead a charge against him but Athene make then all miss.
Then ctessipus is killed and agelaus.
Lodes clasps Odysseus knee in supplication staring that he is only a priest and does not deserve death, Odysseus kills him anyway.
Phemius supplicates Odysseus and he spares him him on Telemachus instruction as he was only their bard. All the men are dead and Odysseus summons Eurycleia to tell him which of the serving girl were disobedient.
He makes the treacherous women carry the dead and clean the room before excecuting them
Events of book twenty three: Odysseus and Penelope
Eurycleia wake Penelope and tells her that Odysseus has retuned she does not believe her at first.
Penelope goes downstairs as watches Odysseus not believing it is him, Telemachus scolds her for not being happier a his return.
Odysseus is bathed so that he may look more familiar but still Penelope does not believe him, so she lay a trap asking Eurycleia to move the bed he built.
Odysseus is enraged as he knows that bed cannot be moved.
Penelope throws her arms around do Odysseus as she knows knows it must be him.
Odysseus tells.ls her of the last journey he must go on by orders of tieresias.
Odysseus tells her of his journey to get home.
Odysseus go to see his father laertes
Events of book twenty four : The feud is ended
Hermes is taking the souls of the suitors down to the underworld where he meet with Agamemnon and Achilles. They tell Agamemnon of their fate and he is glad at Penelopes loyalty compared to that of his wife Clytemnestra.
Odysseus test his father Laertes and find he is loyal before reaching his identity.
The satirist families find out abut their death and are angry and wish to retaliate but one of them mentions that an immortal was present in their downfall. Some decided that Odysseus action where just but other want to fight . Zeus encourages Athene to act to prevent more war.
A fight between Odysseus and the two ends people ensues but Athene cry’s at them to stop and establishes peace between the two sides.
