The Odyssey
Odyssey is a Greek word meaning “the tale of Odysseus.”
It consists of 12,109 lines in dactylic hexameter
It is made up of 24 books in three sections
Here are the key players:
• Odysseus, king of Ithaca
• Telemachus, his son
• Penelope, his wife
• Laertes, his dad
• Anticlea, his mom
• Mentor, his friend (Athena disguised)
• Alcinous and Arete, king and queen of the Phaeacians
• Nausicaa, princess of Phaeacian
• Menelaus
• Helen
• Nestor
• Antinous, leader of the suitors
• Eumaeus, Odysseus’ faithful swineherd
The quest of Telemachus: Books I-V
Book I
• Homer invokes the muse to tell a story of a man who wanders.
• Quick review of the Trojan War
• Athena begs Zeus to release Odysseus from his prison on the island of the
nymph Calypso
• She approaches Odysseus’ son, Telemachus (disguised as Odysseus’ friend
Mentor) and reminds him to act: if Odysseus is dead, he must assert
himself; if Odysseus is living, he must find him.
• Penelope is harassed by suitors and they abuse Telemachus when he
orders them to leave.
Book II
• Telemachus calls an assembly of the men of Ithaca
• He denounces the suitors as scoundrels
• Antinous attacks him verbally
• Mentor (Athena disguised) supports Telemachus but the assembly
disperses
• Mentor tells Telemachus what to do to get a ship
• Athena disguised as Telemachus goes to town and gets the crew and ship
Book III
• Telemachus accompanied by Mentor (Athena) arrives at Pylos (home of
Nestor)
• Nestor tells of the war and Agamemnon’s death
• Suggests that he travel to Sparta to ask Menelaus who may have more
recent information
• Telemachus and Nestor’s son travel overland to Sparta
Book IV
• Arriving at Sparta Telemachus and Nestor’s son are treated well.
• Helen remarks how much Telemachus looks like Odysseus and
Telemachus breaks down
• In a private meeting, Menelaus tells of his adventures in Egypt
• Telemachus prepares to go home
• Meanwhile back in Ithaca the suitors discover Telemachus’ absence and
decide to kill him upon return
Book V
• Back on Mt. Olympus Athena convinces Zeus to send Hermes to release
Odysseus from the nymph Calypso.
• Hermes finds Odysseus weeping on the beach
• Calypso agrees to release him and he builds a boat and sets sail
• Poseidon returns from Ethiopia, is angry that Odysseus is released, and
causes a storm
• Odysseus manages to survive with the help of Athena and a sea nymph and
reaches the island of Scheria, the home of the Phaeacians where he
collapses in the brush.
The wanderings of Odysseus: Books V-XII
Book VI-VIII
• Odysseus is discovered by Princess Nausicaa, fed and clothed
• He goes to the palace and is welcomed by King Alcinous and Queen Arete
• He hears the bard, Demodocus, sing songs about his argument with
Achilles and the story of the Trojan horse. He weeps.
• He tells of his last few years with Calypso and gets ready to tell the rest of
his story
Book IX-XII
• Odysseus has many adventures which you will read about in class.
The return and vengeance: Books XIII-XXIV
Book XIII
• The Phaeacians give Odysseus many gifts and transport him to Ithaca in a
magic ship.
• He is met on the beach by Athena who disguises him as a beggar so he can
scope out the lay of the land.
• Odysseus goes to the hut of a faithful servant, Eumaeus.
• While the servant is away, Telemachus returns and also goes to the hut.
• Odysseus reveals his identify and makes Telemachus keep it a secret.
• Telemachus returns to the palace.
Book XIV
• Telemachus calls on his mom (Penelope) and introduces her to soothsayer
who foretells the coming of Odysseus.
• Odysseus and the servant go to the palace. Odysseus’ dog recognizes him
and then dies.
• Telemachus gives Odysseus a seat and honors him. The other suitors do as
well, except Antinous who hits him.
XV-XVIII
• Increased tension between Odysseus, Telemachus and the suitors.
XVIII
• Penelope meets Odysseus disguised as a beggar.
• Odysseus’ aged nurse recognizes him from a scar on his leg.
• Penelope tells Odysseus that she will pick the suitor who can string her
husband’s bow and shoot an arrow through twelve axes.
Book XX
• Zeus sends a signal of support.
• Telemachus and Odysseus are further insulted by the suitors.
Book XXI
• Penelope brings in the great bow.
• The suitors accept the challenge.
• None are successful.
• Odysseus effortlessly does it and Telemachus steps to his side.
Book XXII
• Odysseus kills the suitors.
• He spares Phemius the bard and Medon the herald.
• The treacherous female servants of Penelope are hanged.
• He remembers all the servants and cries while greeting them.
Book XXIII
• Odysseus and Penelope are reunited.
• She doesn’t recognize him at first, but he tells her secrets that only he
would know.
• They spend special time together
XXIV
• Odysseus visits his father, Laertes.
• While he is gone, the citizens come to the palace to claim their dead.
• The father of Antinous seeks revenge so they try to storm Laertes’ house.
• Zeus states that Odysseus’ revenge is justified.
• The attackers are killed and Zeus throws and lightening bolt for good
measure.
