The Odyssey summary

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Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns


driven time and again off course, once he had plundered


the hallowed heights of Troy.


Many cities of men he saw and learned their minds,


Do my coursework


many pains he suffered, heartsick on the open sea,


fighting to save his life and bring his comrades home.


But he could not save them from disaster, hard as he strove -


the recklessness of their own ways destroyed them all,


the blind fools, they devoured the cattle of the Sun


and the Sungod blotted out the day of their return.


Launch out on his story, Muse, daughter of Zeus,


start from where you will - sing for our time too.


Thus begins the great, epic poem the Odyssey by Homer. In this introductory paragraph Homer calls for the muse of poetry to help him in reciting properly the story of brave Odysseus. It is, as the paragraph reads, the tale of a man who has overcome many enduring experiences since the Trojan War in his attempt of reaching home.


The tale opens with a divine council on Mount Olympus by Zeus. All the major gods and goddesses are present except Poseidon, who is visiting the land of the Ethiopians. Zeus is speaking about the story of Aegisthus, the murderer of Agamemnon, when Athene interrupts him. The bright-eyed goddess reminds her father of poor Odysseus being separate from his family. She suggests that the gods resume their former friendship with him, and send Hermes immediately to Calypso, ordering her to free Odysseus. She points out that while Poseidon is bitter because Odysseus has blinded one of his sons, yet he can still be made to submit to the combined will of the other gods. Zeus and the other gods acquiesce to this suggestion, and Athene disguises herself as a mighty warrior to go see Telemachus, the son of Odysseus.


When Athene arrives at Ithaca she finds that the palace of Odysseus is overrun by a horde of suitors trying to court Penelope, wife of Odysseus, and ravaging his property by holding feasts. Athene identifies herself as Mentes, a Taphian chieftain and an old friend of Odysseus, and is welcomed by Telemachus. The two sit down to dinner and Telemachus apologizes for the behavior of the suitors. He asks Athene for news of his father, if there was any. Athene tells him that Odysseus is alive and that he will eventually return home to regain his throne and punish the suitors. Athene admonishes that he call a meeting of the Assembly at which he can give the suitors notice to leave his house and also announce his intention of sailing off to Pylos and Sparta to seek news of his father. Furthermore, Athene points out, if Odysseus is dead, then it is time for Telemachus to take responsibility by claiming his inheritance and punishing the suitors. The goddess then departs.


Book II


The next morning Telemachus calls together the Assembly. At the meeting Telemachus declares that he has not called together the Assembly for any civic danger or necessity but to officially denounce the suitors who have wasted his fathers wealth on the pretext of courting Penelope. The gathered Assembly is quite for a few moments before Antinous, one of the most insolent suitors, verbally attacks Telemachus. Antinous argues that Penelope is leading on all the suitors, but refuses to choose one of them, thus preventing them from selecting other wives. Eurymachus, another suitor, later adds that the suitors will not leave until Penelope selects one of them. Telemachus then proposes that he be given a ship and crew to search for news of his father. He asserts that if Odysseus is really deceased he will conduct a funeral ceremony and coerce his mother to choose a new husband. On the other hand, if he finds out that Odysseus is still alive then he will no longer accept the suitors at his house. Mentor, an old friend of Odysseus, then rises to speak and praises the wisdom of Telemachus, but other suitors harass him and the Assembly disperses.


After the dispersal of the Assembly Telemachus goes to the seashore and prays to Athene for help. She appears to him as Mentor and together they plan to get a ship despite the opposition of the suitors. Then Telemachus goes home and tells his old nurse, Eurycleia, of his plans and orders her not to tell his mother of his leave for as long as possible so she will not worry about him. At the same time, Athene, disguised now as Telemachus, searches through the town pulling together a crew and procuring a ship. Returning to Mentor, she then joins Telemachus again and they, with the crew load the ship. At nightfall, they set sail and start off to Pylos to seek information from King Nestor about Odysseus.


When Telemachus and his crew, accompanied by Athene in the guise of Mentor, reach Pylos they find King Nestor and his sons on the beach offering sacrifice to Poseidon. Telemachus and Athene are received graciously, and are invited to the palace for dinner.


Telemachus identifies himself after eating, and explains to King Nestor why he has come to seek him. King Nestor then goes into a long-winded speech about the Trojan expedition. He says that after the war a dispute arose between Agamemnon and his brother, Menelaus. The army, then, divided into two groups and sailed homed separately. Well, Odysseus started off with Nestor, but another quarrel took place at Tenedos, and Odysseus left to join Agamemnon. This was the last time Nestor had seen him. After some more talk about the arrivals home of the other heroes, King Nestor suggests that Telemachus goes to see Menelaus about his father since he is the one who has the most recent information on him. Telemachus and Mentor agree. Later on, Telemachus accepts to stay for the night.


In the morning, Nestor supplies Telemachus with a chariot and has Peisistratus, his youngest son, accompany him to Sparta to see Menelaus.


Book IV


There is a great feast in progress, celebrating the impending weddings of the kings sons and daughters, when Telemachus and Peisistratus arrive at the palace of Menelaus in Sparta. They are welcomed are join the feast.


During the course of conversation, while eating, Menelaus refers to Odysseus several times. When Telemachus hears this he begins to weep. Queen Helen then joins the feast and notices how Telemachus resembles his father. She mentions to her husband, and then Peisistratus then introduces himself and Telemachus. Feeling that it would not be good to talk about sad memories during the feast, Menenlaus decides to discuss Telemachus business tomorrow morning.


The next day Menelaus and Telemachus havea private meeting about his father. Menelaus says that when he was blown off course down to Egypt he encountered Proteus, the Old Man of the Sea, whom he forced to give hime information. Proteus told him of the happenings and whereabouts of his fellow comrades from the Trojan War. He told him of all the people who made it home, and he told him about Agamemnon being killed by Aegisthus. Then Proteus informed him that Odysseus is still alive and on the island of the nymph Calypso. Telemachus thanks Menelaus for his helpful information and leaves.


Meanwhile, on Ithaca, the suitors discover that Telemachus has left. So they decide to prepare a ship and kill Telemachus when he sails into Ithaca. Penelope finally finds out about Telemachus going on his voyage when her servant told her. She then becomes even more overcome by grief and locks herself in her room. That night Athene sends a dream in which Penelopes sister appears to her and tells her that Telemachus is safe.


Book V


When Hermes arrives at Ogygia, Calypsos island, he finds Odysseus sitting on a bench and weeping for his family. Hermes delivers his message to Calypso about releasing Odysseus. Calypso becomes indignant upon hearing this, but consents because she nows she cannot defy the gods. After Hermes disperses, Calypso tells Odysseus that he is free to leave. With her aid he builds himself a small boat and eagerly sets sail for home.


As this is taking place, Poseidon returns from the land of the Ethiopians and notices Odysseus. He becomes enraged and creates a tempest. Amid the storm, Odysseus small boat capsizes and breaks apart leaving him clinging to a piece of wood floating in the deep sea. Athene then sees him, and with the aid of a sea nymph, helps him reach the island of Phaeacia. Overly exhausted, he stumbles on shore and falls asleep among some olive bushes.


Books VI-VIII


The next morining Odysseus is found by Princess Nausicaa and some of her mades while doing the palace laundry near the river. They give him food to eat and clothes to wear and direct him to the city. Odysseus goes to the palace of King Alcinous and Queen Arete, where he is recieved with great kindness and generosity. The king and queen promise to help him to travel to Ithaca. After a couple days of resting there, at a banquet of the Phaecian nobility, Odysseus reveals his true identity and tells the story of his adventures during the nine years after the fall of Troy.


Book IX


Odysseus starts off on telling his story at the time when he and his men leave Troy. After splitting off from the other groups, Odysseus fleet came upon the land of the Cicones. Here the men raided the towns of riches and the woman. Odysseus warned his men not to over-do-it, but his men did anyway by taking the women to the beaches to party. Meanwhile the Cicones called upon their neighbors to help them fight the intruders. While Odysseus men were partying on the beach they were attacked. They fought back, but were ultimately defeated, suffering heavy losses.


The fleet sailed south, and was blown off Cape Maleas by a severe storm. They kept sailing on until they came upon the country of the Lotus-Eaters. The inhabitants of this strange land were amiable, but those of Odysseus men who ate of the lotus, a local plant, quickly lost all memory of home and duty. Odysseus and his men who did not eat the plant dragged the men who did eat it back to the ship and sailed on.


Moving westward, they eventually came to the island of the Cyclops. Leaving most of his men in a sheltered cove, Odysseus with only one ship landed on the island and he, with a party of twelve, went ashore. The group wandered until they came to a huge cave, outfitted with a shepherds equipment, and they went inside to await the owner. After a while, a huge Cyclops named Polyphemus came back to the cave, driving in his flocks before him, and pushed a gigantic rock in front of the entrance into the cave. When Polyphemus noticed the Achaeans in his cave, he immediately picked up two of them, smashed them against the ground, and then ate them raw. Odysseus tried to outsmart the cyclops by talking to him, but his efforts were in vain. In the morning Polyphemus killed two more of the Achaeans and took his flock outside, and rolling the enormous boulder back in front of the entrance.


Odysseus and his men knew that if they killed the giant in his sleep then they could not remove the rock to get out of the cave, so Odysseus devised a clever plan and they sharpened and hid a long olive pole. When Polyphemus returned to the cave that evening, Odysseus gave him some wine with a special ingredient that would make the cyclops sleep heavily. Before Polyphemus fell asleep he inquired of Odysseus name. The wily Achaean answered, Nobody. When the cyclops slept, Odysseus and his men took the olive pole and stabbed Polyphemus in the eye with it. The giant awoke screaming with rage and pain, but futilely fumbled for his assailants. His cries attracted his neighbors, but when he told them that Nobody was responsible for his eye, they assumed that it was an act of the gods, and returned to there homes.


In the morning Polyphemus opened the cave to let out his sheep to graze. Odysseus and his men tied themselves to the bellies of the sheep and slipped by the cyclops without him even knowing it.


Upon reaching their ship again, the Achaeans set sail at once in great terror. While still near the island, Odysseus foolishly shouted to Polyphemus, bragging about his exploit. The giant frantically hurled giant boulders in the direction of his voice, nearly hitting the ship on several occasions. Then even more foolishly, Odysseus announced his true identity. With that Polyphemus called upon his father, Poseidon, to punish the man who had harmed him.


Book X


After a few days time of sailing, Odysseus and his men came to an island of the name of Aeolus. The island was home to the king of the winds. The Achaeans were greeted with hospitality, and when they were ready to depart from the island, Aeolus, the king, gave Odysseus a large leather bag which held all the adverse winds which would drive his ships off course. Then they set sail and in ten days were in sight of Ithaca.


While Odysseus slept, his men began to think that the bag that Odysseus received from Aeolus contained treasures which he was going to hoard to himself. So they decided to open it. When they did they were blown away from Ithaca and back to the island of Aeolus. King Aeolus refused to give them forgiveness and banished them from the island. The Achaeans were forced to leave the island without any wind so they had to use the strength to move the ships by oars. Several days past until they came to the island of the Laestrygonians. These vicious cannibals attacked the unsuspecting visitors, and all the ships except Odysseus were sunk. The lone surviving ship sailed on until it reached the island of Aeaea, the home of the goddess Circe.


After staying on the beach for a couple of days, Odysseus sent half his men under the command of Eurylochus to explore the island. Shortly afterward Eurylochus came back alone and told them of what happened to the others. The men where lured into a lavish palace where a beautiful woman lived. There they were fed and entertained. Then when the woman waved a wand they all transformed into pigs. He alone had stayed outside because of his suspicious nature, and so he escaped.


This weird tale, scared the rest of the men, but brave Odysseus set out alone to rescue his men. On the way there he encountered Hermes, messenger of the gods. Hermes gave him instructions on how to act with the enchantress, and he also gave him a magic herb called Moly with which to protect himself from her powers.


When Odysseus came to the palace, Circe received him graciously and then attempted to bewitch him, but with no avail. He soon overcame her and when he threatened her life, she returned his men to human form. After these events, Circe recognized Odysseus as someone whose eventual arrival on her island was predicted and whose acquaintance she longed for. The two soon became lovers and he and his crew stay for a year at her home.


After this year, Odysseus men start to yearn for Ithaca again. They remind Odysseus of his home, and he holds Circe to an old promise to help him return hime and she agreed. However, she pointed out to him, in order to have a sage voyage he must first go to Hades to consult the spirit of the prophet Tiresias. She gave him full directions for his journey and provided him with provisions and animals to sacrifice. And so, Odysseus and his men set sail once more.


Book XI


Following the instructions given to him by Circe, Odysseus and his men sailed to the end of the world. Here they made libations to the dead and offered prayers and sacrificed a ram and a black ewe. At once a horde of dead souls began to emerge out of Hades attracted by the odor of the fresh blood. Odysseus held off the horde with his sword, until Tiresias came.


The blind sear advised Odysseus about his return home. He admonished the hero of the various dangers that still awaited him on his journey home and how he would finally arrive at Ithaca unknown and friendless. After some more difficulties, he would re-take his rightful place as master of his house and island. Tiresias went further to tell him that his wanderings would not end until he was able to regain the favor of Poseidon. After he achieved that, he would lie out a long and tranquil life.


When Tiresias departed, Odysseus conversed with many other dead souls, all of whom were eager for news from the living world. After the sight of so many dead became unbearable to Odysseus, he fled to his ship and he and his men sailed out of the underworld.


Book XII


After leaving Hades, Odyesseus and his men returned to Aeaea to bury Elpenor, one of them who had fallen off the cliffs there and died. Circe again gave them provisions for their journey and gave Odysseus details about the hazards that were ahead of them. With the crew more confident and in high spirits, the ship set sail once more.


The first encounter they came to was the island of the Sirens. Here beautiful women attracted seamen with their dazzling songs and lured them onto the reefs surrounding their island, where the ships were wrecked. Odysseus wisely plugged his mens ears with wax so they would not hear the enchanting songs. However, he had himself tied up to the mast so he could listen to the songs. When the voices became audible he unsuccesfully tried to free himself, but the ship sailed past the island unharmed.


Shortly after this costly passage, the ship landed at the island where Hyperion, the sun god, kept his cattle. Odysseus warned his men strongly warned his men not to eat the cattle, as he was told by Tiresias and Circe. Despite his admonishes, his men, led by Eurylochus, slaughtered some of the divine cattle for a meal. When that happened it incurred thw wrath of all the gods. When they sailed from the island, a storm came up and one of the thunderbolts by Zues struck the ship. The bolt killed the entire crew, except Odysseus who was thrown off the ship. He was driven back through Charybdis, narrowly escaping being drowned. After nine days of drifting in the sea, he was washed ashore on Ogygia.


Here Odysseus ends his story to the Phaeacians.


Books XIII-XVI


The generous Phaeacians give Odysseus many valuable gifts and then transport him to Ithaca in one of their ships. When Odysseus arrives on one of the beaches at Ithaca, he is met by Athene. She disguises him as a beggar so he can learn the situation on the island and make his plans without being recognized.


After Athene leaves him, Odysseus travels up into the hills to the farm of Eumaeus, the swineherd. Eumaeus welcomes him and treats him kindly despite his look of an old, dirty beggar. Shortly afterward Telemachus arrives from Sparta and also goes to the farm. While Eumaeus goes an an errand, Odysseus reveals his true identity to his son. Then they decide that his return home will be kept a secret, even from Penelope and his father Laertes. Telemachus will go back to the palace as if nothing had happened. And then Odysseus will follow, still in disguise. At the opportune moment, they will take vegeance on the suitors.


Book XVII


When morning arrives the following day, Telemachus returns to the town and calls upon his mother. Penelope is overjoyed that he has returned. She listens eagerly to his report of his hospitable welcome by Nestor and Menelaus and of the rumor that Odysseus might still be alive on the island of the nymph Calypso.


Shortly afterward, Eumaeus and Odysseus also set out for the palace. On the way they encounter the cheif goatherd Melenthius. This wicked servant of the royal house is disloyal and an appeaser of the suitors. When he sees the old beggar, he insults him cruelly, and without provocation, kicks him. Odysseus hot temper is aroused, but he has a role to play and is able to control himself. He is defended from further harm by Eumaeus.


The two soon then enter the palace, where the suitors are at their banquet tables. Telemachus provides Odysseus with a place to sit and some food, and gives him permission to beg from the guests. All the suitors give Odysseus something except for Antinous, their leader. Antinous insults Odysseus and then hits him with a footstool. Odysseus curses Antinous and even some of the suitors are aroused by this needless corruption.


Penelope asks Eumaeus about the stranger and then suggests that he be brought to her in order to tell his story and to offer any news he may have of her husband. Odysseus acquiesces to see her that night.


Book XVIII


Later that day, in the afternoon to be exact, the suitors are exercising in the courtyard, when Irus, another beggar whom many of the suitors are fond of, arrives at the palace. This vagabond is a big, portly man and quite a braggart. He immediately begins to bully Odysseus, to the amusement of the suitors. He threatens to beat up Odysseus unless he leaves Ithaca at once. Then Antinous arranges a boxing match between the two beggars. Irus struts about, playing the hero and boasting about how he will win easily. When the beggars undress to fight, everyone is amazed at the muscular body of Odysseus. The coward, Irus, now trys to back out, but Antinous will not allow this. Odysseus tries to go somewhat easy on Irus, but ends up breaking the beggars jaw. The suitors then congratulate Odysseus and give him his prizes for coming out victorious and then retreat inside for dinner. Odysseus tries to warn Amphinomous, the kindest of the suitors, of the impending doom for them, but the young man pays no attention to him.


Penelope makes an appearance before the suitors, after carefully grooming herself. The lovely queen expresses her angriness to the suitors about the fight which just took place and scolds them for still exhausting up the resources of her husbands estate. The noblemen are ashamed of this and send for their servants to fetch some gifts from their houses or ships.


At dinner that night Odysseus condemns Melantho, one of the maidservants of the palace, who has become the mistress of Eurymachus, for her lack of loyalty. His jibes drive her and the other serving girls from the hall. He and Eurymachus engage in an argument and the young man throws a stool at Odysseus. Odysseus quickly moves out of harms way and one of the stewards is hit. Everyone present grows excited and in the uproar Telemachus suggests that they all go home for the night. Despite their surprise at Telemachus braveness, the suitors do so.


Book XIX


After the suitors leave, Odysseus and his son remove of all the weapons stored there. They hide the arms in another section of the palace locked up. Then Odysseus sends Telemachus to bed. Penelope and her maids now come down to the hall in order to clean it. Melantho and Odysseus again argue, but Penelope scolds the insolent maid.


As the servants work, Penelope and Odysseus talk. She tells him of her husband who has been gone for twenty years and of how she must now pick a suitor because her son is now a grown man. Odysseus is deeply touched by her story and has to strive hard with himself to not reveal his identity. Penelope then inquires Odysseus of himself. The wily beggar creates a tale, with him meeting Odysseus. He even goes on to state that Odysseus is still alive and on his way home.


After they are finished conversing, Penelope has Eurycleia, an old nurse of Odysseus, to clean the tired and worn feet of the beggar. As Eurycleia washes him, she notices an old scar on this leg and realizes that he is Odysseus. She is about to tell the queen when Odysseus sternly admonishes her to keep his identity for the time being. Eurycleia consents.


Penelope returns to Odysseus and tells him that she has chosen a way to pick a suitor to marry her. She decides to hold a contest in which the contestants must string Odysseus bow and shoot the arrow flawlessy through twelve axes. The winner will become her husband. After this, Penelope goes to her room, and Odysseus prepares a bed for himself on the floor of the deserted hall.


Book XX


During the night, Odysseus rumbles about in his bed, worrying about the coming encounter with the suitors. Athene appears to him, however, and promises him her aid in the struggle, and that it is obviously a guarantee of success. Meanwhile Penelope is also perpturbed. She prays to Artemis, begging that she be rescued from marriage to another man, even if it means her death.


The next morning, Odysseus asks Zeus to give him a sign in his favor. his request is answered by the ominous rumbling of the clouds overhead. The omen is noticed by many others also and a general mood of foreboding sets in. Throughout the day, Odysseus continues to keep watch of all ther servants, trying to see who is still faithful to him. Melanthius arrives with his goats for the days banquet and persists in baiting Odysseus. Eumaeus comes to the palace also, driving the hogs for slaughter and again demonstrates his goodness. Another servant arrives, Philoetius, the cheif cowherd, who shows that he also is faithful to Odysseus.


The suitors, who had been again planning the assination of Telemachus, eventually return to the palace also. During their lunch, one of the suitors insults Odysseus and flings a bone at him. This act enragens Telemachus. He then stands and delivers a speech on all the suitors vices and wrong-doings. Stunned by the boldness of the young man, the group of suitors merely laugh at him because of they had been drinking. The soothsayer Theoclymenus cautions them that a catastrophe is impending in which they will all be punished, but they are beyond reforming and mock the poor man until he leaves the palace. The suitors thus continue to drink and have a good time, but Telemachus all the time stays alert, waiting for his fathers signal.


Book XXI


The suitor who is able to string Odysseus bow and successfully shoot an arrow through the twelve arrows arranged will become the king, explains Penelope to the suitors as she brings the great bow into the hall. The suitors accept the challenge. Telemachus tries to string the bow, eager to see if he is as strong as his father, but fails four times. During an interval, Odysseus takes Eumaeus and Philoetius aside and quietly identifies himself to them. They are overcome by emotion and quickly carry out the orders he gives them.


After the short interval, the suitors attempt to string the bow, but each and everyone of them cannot successfully string it. At this point, Antinous suggests that they postpone it until the next day. They all agree to this, but then Odysseus, who has meagering in the corner of the hall, now asks for a chance to string the bow. The suitors become angry and refuse him the opportunity, but Penelope, however, is willing to give him a shot at it, although she assures the group that if strings it she would not marry him. Telemachus orders his mother and the servants out of the room and then hands Odysseus the bow. Meanwhile, unseen by the suitors, Eumaeus and Philoetius lock the doors of hall and the palace.


Odysseus accepts the bow from Telemachus and effortlessly strings the bow in one try. Then he fits an arrow to the bow and shoots it straight through the axes. As the suitors sit astonished by this feat by the beggar, Telemachus grabs a sword and spear and steps to his fathers side.





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