Odyssey Accumulative

Ajax

A warrior in the Trojan War

Achilles

A warrior who gained great fame and died in the Trojan War.

"The Prince Sets Sail for Home" Book 15

Athena flies to Lacedaemon and tells Telemachus to come back to Ithaca. She warns him that some of the suitors will try to ambush and kill him on his way home, and tells him to avoid all the islands. The next morning, Menelaus arranges for Telemachus to leave for home with Pisistratus. When Telemachus mentions Odysseus in his good-byes, an eagle with a goose in its claws flies by: a good omen. At Pylos, Telemachus loads his gifts into his ship and sails to Ithaca; he takes along Theoclymenus, a prophet's son who killed a man in Argos and begs for hospitality. Meanwhile, back in Ithaca, Odysseus decides to test Eumaeus one more time. He tells Eumaeus that he plans to leave the next morning and try his luck begging at the palace, but Eumaeus urges him to stay until Telemachus returns. In response to Odysseus-as-beggar's questions, he tells him that king Laertes lives grieving for Odysseus and for Odysseus's mother. Odysseus then asks Eumaeus to tell his story and the swineherd gladly agrees, reflecting on the pleasure of remembered sorrows. Eumaeus says that his father was lord of two cities on the island Syrie. A Phoenician crew landed one day on the island and one of the men seduced a Phoenician nurse from his father's household. She left with them, and she brought the king's child with her: that child was the swineherd. Eventually the ship landed in Ithaca and Laertes bought the infant. Here Eumaeus's story ends The next morning, Telemachus arrives safely and secretly in Ithaca. He directs the ship to continue on to the city while he goes to Eumaeus farm. As he leaves the ship, they all see a hawk with a dove in its claws. Theoclymenus interprets this omen to mean good things for Odysseus and his descendants.

Lines 520-547 Odysseus finds shelter after heading to the woods not far from water. Where he found an olive grove and resided under their cover, where nothing could penetrate and pester his sleep. With the dead leaves abundance around the grove, he made a bed.

Describe the way Odysseus finds shelter after his shipwreck.

Athena intervenes by fleshing out the limbs of Odysseus. To change his physique again from a raggedy beggar to a buff man, otherwise it would be the scene where Athena inspired Penelope to show herself. (Pgs. 377/381)

How and when does Athena intervene?

Poseidon wrecks their sea vehicles and lands a huge mountain near their port. (Pgs. 291-292)

How and why does Poseidon punish the Phaeacians?

Helios punished Odysseus and his men by killing them with the grace of Zeus and stalling their return to Ithaca much longer.

How did Helios punish Odysseus and his men?

Odysseus plugged their ears with beeswax and Odysseus experienced the siren's songs but survived since he was tied up to the craft. (Pgs. 276-277)

How did Odysseus and his men survive the sirens?

Athena assists Odysseus in the chapter by telling him what's to come once he reveals himself. To disguise and act like a beggar. (Pgs. 298-300)

How does Athena assist Odysseus in this chapter?

Athena helps Odysseus by leading Nausicaa to him, relieving him of the brine and dirt left on his body and nourishing him. Now he has a chance to be favored by the queen and stow upon the sea back to his land. (Book 6)

How does Athena help Odysseus in Book 6?

With a memorable scar by Odysseus' leg when she was bathing him. (Pg. 405)

How does Eurycleia recognize Odysseus?

Nausicaa helps Odysseus by welcoming him as a lost wreck, giving him clothes, bathing him, rubbing him down with fine oils, and introducing him to the great land of Phaeacians. (pg. 174-178)

How does Nausicaa help Odysseus?

They escape by using the belly of the rams as a cloak, so that Polyphemus wouldn't notice the crew leaving as the sheep also left to walk the plains. (pg. 225)

How does Odysseus and his men escape from the cyclops.

Lines 230-240 Odysseus speaks of Calypso's traits, as they're all the more tempting than Penelope's. The beauty, stuature, and how she's mortal and will age and die.

How does Odysseus compare Penelope to Calypso?

Odysseus outwits Polyphemus by intentionally feeding him heavy wine, getting him drunk on the potency and soon enough blinding him. Speaking of his name to be "nobody" in a play of words, so that as Polyphemus cries for help. He speaks of "nobody" attacking him. (pg. 223-224)

How does Odysseus trick Polyphemus?

Lines 106-113 Penelope delays the suitors with her cunning intelligence by weaving with yarn, constantly weaving a web for old lord Laertes, which she would unravel at the end of each day to avoid taking time in this pseudo-brothel.

How has Penelope delayed the suitors?

Amphimedon

One of the suitors.

Book 19 speaks of the dream as being true, that it's an omen that would inevitably happen as Odysseus will return. The beggar-king even said to twist it as she liked, but it was impossible to change the fact that Odysseus would return to kill the suitors. (Pg. 408)

What does book 19 say about the truths of dreams?

Lines 125-143 The crowd demands that they would like her mother sent back somewhere, where her father picks the best to marry off to. So as she tempts them on, they'll continue to eat the worldly goods that Telemachus' lands provide.

What does the assembly demand?

Line 160-169 Athena was served bread, appetizers, meats, and wine. Along with water brought from a golden pitcher.

What food was Athena served?

Line 26 Poseidon visited the Ethiopian people, worlds away as stated.

What group of people did Poseidon visit?

Lines 4-12 His men reaped the cattle of the Sun and so, they were blotted of their return.

What happened to Odysseus' men?

Lines 213-225 Myrmidons traveled home unharmed. Philoctetes safe as well. Idomeneus returned with his whole contingent, Agamemnon, dead.

What happened to the other Greek leaders when they reach their homes?

Elpenor speaks to Odysseus of his death. How he went unwept and unburied, that these results will lead him to doom, by the Gods. Odysseus' mother tells her son about the torment and grief that Odysseus' family is experiencing as they wait for his return. Teiresias tells of the future, about how he is the only one alive and how doomed his fellow crewman will be. Along with the fact that his return would introduce spiteful suitors (Pgs. 250-256)

What information did Odysseus learn in the Land of the Dead from (Elpenor, Odysseus' mother, and Teiresias)?

The current Telemachus is trying to find out any information about his father's whereabouts so he could return and bring massacre amongst the ones who want to woo his mother.

What information is Telemachus trying to find out?

Lines 94-96 Odysseus is seen weeping at the headland, like always stated by the narrator.

What is Odysseus doing when we first see him in Book 5?

Line 4 Pylos is a setting dropped in book 3, where it's the storied citadel of Neleus. Where many sacrificed their cattle to Poseidon.

What is Pylos

Moly is what Hermes gave Odysseus to protect him against her magic drugs. (pg. 239-240)

What is moly?

Alcinous and Arete are related by blood, niece and uncle they are, while Alcinous treats her as a matriarch and honors her akin to the goddesses. (pg. 181)

What is unusual about the relationships between Alcinous and Arete?

Lines 409-415 The orders Telemachus gave to her mother explained that he was the man of the house and that his mother should return to her area, keeping the maids working hard with her own objectives to complete. Where he handles the external "problem".

What orders does Telemachus give his mother?

Lines 753-757 The suitors plan to catch up with Telemachus and ambush him. Ending his reign as the dominant male within the family and leaving his mother empty with none other but her side of family.

What plan do the suitors devise regarding Telemachus?

Homer begins by asking the Muse, the goddess of poetry and music, to sing to him about Odysseus and his travels. Odysseus and his crew have seen many strange lands and have suffered many trials. Their careless behavior has sometimes angered the gods, who have prevented their safe return to Ithaca.

What starts within the first scene of Odyssey book 1?

Demodocus tells of the tale of the Trojan War, about Odysseus and the many lives lost during that war and of the important people during it. (pg. 194)

What tales does Demodocus tell?

Odysseus received warnings to disregard the herd of Helios and leave them be. Shun the island else they would be struck with a God's wrath. (Pg. 279)

What warnings did Odysseus receive regarding Helios?

Lines 190-199 Odysseus immediately finds reason to believe that this nymph is trying to commit a guilty act by sending him out to the endless body of water. That she'll harm him. That she'll need to recite an oath against harming him.

What does Odysseus say when Calypso tells him that he could leave?

Lines 320-328 Poseidon spies on Odysseus and becomes enraged that the gods released him as he was with Ethiopian friends. He then caused a phenomenon in the sea, quaking the earth with Odysseus on a raft.

What does Poseidon do when he realizes that Odysseus has left Calypso?

Lines 620-630 Telemachus learns of Odysseus' troubles. That he's kept captive in the clutches of Calypso.

What does Telemachus learn about Odysseus?

Lines 48-85 Telemachus speaks of his lost father and much about the nobles. Slandering them for squeezing him dry of resources cultivated by his kingdom. Treading his lands as if they own every square foot of it, he had enough of their foolry as suitors looking to meet his mother's hand in marriage.

What does Telemachus say to the nobles during the assembly?

Demodocus

A bard in Alcinous's court.

Calypso

A beautiful goddess who falls in love with Odysseus and holds him captive for seven years on the island Ogygia.

Circe

A beautiful witch from the island Aeaea who turns Odysseus's crew into pigs; when Odysseus (with the aid of the drug moly) proves immune to her spell, she falls in love with him and hosts him and his crew on the island.

Polyphemus

A Cyclops son of Poseidon whom Odysseus blinds.

Nausicaa

A Phaeacian Princess, daughter of Alcinous.

Achaeans

A general word that encompasses the Greek civilizations.

Phaeacians

A hospitable people who deliver Odysseus to Ithaca.

Amphinomus

A kindly and well-intentioned suitor.

Broadsea

A man in Alcinous's court who provokes Odysseus to take part in the athletic contests.

Laodamas

A man in Alcinous's court.

Scylla

A man-eating monster with six heads.

Elpenor

A member of Odysseus's crew who died by falling off Circe's roof after getting drunk.

Eurylochus

A member of Odysseus's crew who often disobeys Odysseus.

Charybdis

A monster that creates a whirlpool three times a day.

Cicones

A people that take revenge on Odysseus's crew .

Theoclymenus

A prophet who sails to Ithaca from Sparta with Telemachus.

Tiresias

A prophet with whom Odysseus speaks in the underworld.

Eurymachus

A rude and deceitful suitor.

Book 18

A rude beggar named Arnaeus (Irus for short) wanders into the palace. He insults Odysseus-the-beggar when they meet on the grounds, and Antinous decides to pit them against each other so that the suitors can enjoy the fight; the prize is sausage and a seat at the suitors' table. Odysseus-the-beggar pulls up his rags to reveal a powerful-looking body, and Irus is filled with fear. Odysseus decides to hurt him only slightly; he punches Irus on the neck and flings him outside. The suitors laugh and invite the stranger to eat at their table. The suitor Amphinomus is especially kind to Odysseus-the-beggar. As they talk, Odysseus mentions his own past violence and error, advises him to live lawfully, and hints at the suitors' impending deaths. Amphinomus feels very ill at ease, but the narrator notes that there is nothing to be done - he is fated to die on Telemachus's spear. Athena inspires Penelope to come down and speak to the suitors. The queen tells the suitors that if they hope to win her hand they should give her gifts, as is customary. Odysseus is pleased at this clever trick. The suitors send their servants to bring fine treasures and begin to dance and sing. Athena wants to rile Odysseus as much as possible, so she inspires Eurymachus to mock him once more, but Odysseus remains calm and predicts the suitors' deaths. Eurymachus throws a stool at Odysseus-the-beggar but the stool hits a servant instead. Telemachus scolds the suitors and sends them all to bed.

Irus

A rude beggar whom Odysseus fights.

Ctesippus

A rude, violent suitor.

Poseidon

A sea god who holds a longstanding grudge against Odysseus for blinding his son, the Cyclops Polyphemus. He makes Odysseus's journey home very long and difficult.

Book 8 Happenings

At dawn, Athena in the guise of Alcinous gathers people to the meeting grounds. When everyone arrives, Alcinous asks his people to bring a ship down to the sea and to find a crew of fifty-two men to transport Odysseus home; everyone else, he says, should gather to feast and celebrate. After everyone eats and drinks, the bard Demodocus sings about the battle between Odysseus and Achilles. The song moves Odysseus to tears. Though Odysseus hides his weeping under his cape, Alcinous notices the tears and urges the guests to move on to athletic competitions. There is a footrace, followed by wrestling, jumping, and discus-throwing. Laodamas invites Odysseus to join the competition, but Odysseus declines, citing his long suffering and exhaustion. Broadsea, another champion, taunts Odysseus, claiming that he must not be skilled in athletics. This angers Odysseus, and he agrees to compete in the games. He takes up the discus and throws it farther than any other competitor; Athena in disguise praises him and goads him on, and Odysseus boasts that he'll defeat anyone in the crowd in any sport - anyone except the king, because he is Odysseus's host. Alcinous admits that Odysseus's anger is reasonable, and tells him that the Phaeacians do not excel in all sports but are masters of racing and sailing, and feasting as well, and tells his court dancers to begin dancing. Meanwhile, the bard tells the story of Ares and Aphrodite. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, was unfaithful to her goldsmith husband Hephaestus with Ares, the god of war. When Hephaestus learned of the infidelity from Helios, the god of the sun, he created very fine gold chains that he slipped around the posts of Aphrodite's bed. He pretended to leave for a trip, and when Ares and Aphrodite went to bed together the near-invisible chains trapped them in each other's arms. When Hephaestus found them he cried out in anguish and all the gods gathered at his house, laughing at the unusual sight. The gods laughed because the crippled Hephaestus defeated the powerful god of war. Only Poseidon can convince Hephaestus to free Ares. After the story ends, Alcinous's best dancers perform, and Odysseus is amazed at their skill. Alcinous calls on the twelve peers of his kingdom to gather fine parting gifts for Odysseus. Broadsea gives Odysseus a beautiful sword to apologize for his taunts, and Odysseus graciously accepts the apology. Queen Arete gives Odysseus a trunk of fine clothes, and the maids give him a bath. He talks to Nausicaa, who teasingly reminds him that he owes her his life. Then he joins Alcinous at the table. The bard Demodocus describes 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. Odysseus cries to hear the tale. Only Alcinous notices his tears, and he asks the bard to stop singing. He urges Odysseus to finally reveal his identity and to explain his tears.

Eupithes

Antinous's father.

Book 6 Happenings

As Odysseus sleeps, Athena flies to a Phaeacian city where the princess Nausicaa, daughter of the king Alcinous, lies sleeping. Disguised as a girl the princess's age, Athena scolds her for the poor condition of her clothes, and suggests that they go to the shore to wash them. In the morning, the king gives her a wagon and a team of mules, the queen packs her a lunch and some olive oil for applying after bathing, and she goes with her maids to the beach where Odysseus lies sleeping. They wash the clothes, bathe, and oil themselves. As they wait for their clothes to dry they play games in the sun By Athena's design, the girls romping wakes Odysseus. He's a little apprehensive at first but he walks out toward them, shielding himself with leaves. All the girls except Nausicaa run away at the sight of the naked, sea-briny man. Odysseus stands at a respectful distance, compliments her beauty, and begs her for help. The princess responds that Zeus must have destined Odysseus for pain, but agrees to lead him to town, because it is customary to be friendly to strangers and beggars. Odysseus bathes, oils, and clothes himself, and Athena makes him very beautiful. The girls are amazed at the transformation; they give him food and drink. Nausicaa invites Odysseus to ride into town with her, but on second thought asks him to enter the town alone, to avoid giving the townspeople cause for gossip. On the way to town, she says, Odysseus should turn into a grove near her father's estate and wait for the girls to reach town. Then he should walk into the palace, find the king and queen, and beg the queen for mercy. Odysseus does as she says; in the grove, he prays for Athena's protection. She hears his prayers, but she is too frightened of Poseidon to appear to Odysseus undisguised..

Book 7 Happenings

As Odysseus walks toward the city, Athena surrounds him with a protective mist. Disguised as a little girl, she guides him to the castle. She tells Odysseus to be bold and advises him to win the queen Arete's sympathies, because her judgment holds much weight in the kingdom. Odysseus marvels at Alcinous's fruitful realm and luxurious household. He goes inside the palace, where many people are feasting, and puts his arms around Arete's knees - at that moment, the mist around him dissipates. He blesses her family and begs her for safe passage home. Alcinous sits Odysseus down next to him, Odysseus eats and drinks, and they all raise their wine glasses to Zeus. Alcinous tells the lords that they will convene tomorrow to sacrifice to the gods and arrange the stranger's journey home. He wonders whether the stranger might be a god; the behavior of the gods has changed - they used to come to mortals undisguised. Odysseus responds that he is only mortal, weighed down with mortal suffering, and regrets that he must eat despite his grief: hunger eases his memory. He begs to be conveyed home - all he wants is to see his home and family again, and to die happily. As the servants clear away the plates, Arete notices that Odysseus is wearing clothes from her household, and asks about them suspiciously. Odysseus tells her a fuller version of his story, then: he describes his entrapment on Calypso's island, his escape and difficult journey, and his encounter with Nausicaa - how she gave him clothes and directed him to the castle. He claims that it was his idea not to accompany the princess into the city. Alcinous wishes that such a man as Odysseus could stay in Phaeacia and wed Nausicaa. He tells Odysseus that he will arrange that a ship will carry him home the following morning.

Aegisthus

Clytemnestra's lover, Agamemnon's murderer.

Sirens

Creatures disguised as beautiful women whose beautiful singing lures sailors to jump into the sea and drown.

The men of Laestrygonia are cannibalistic giants of men, devouring most of Odysseus' crewmates as they encounter. (pg. 234)

Discuss Odysseus' encounter with Laestrygonians

The dream was yet another omen with birds. There was an eagle and flock of 20 geese, each resembling a suitor. The eagle represented Odysseus, son of Laertes, that would kill each suitor in their geese form within Penelope's dream. (Pgs. 407-408)

Discuss Penelope's dream.

In the dream, guided by Athena. Nausicaa is told to wash her clothes at the beak of day, so that she'll soonly be wed with an appearance capable to being wed off to nobles. But the real dream reason was to meet Odysseus. (pg. 169)

Discuss the dream that Nausicaa is guided by.

The two are beggars and one disguised as one and the other literal. The fight was simple and short, Odysseus got one block in to rattle his brain and left him out in the cold. It was a fight to determine who got the goat sausage. (Pgs. 375-378)

Discuss the fight between Odysseus and Irus

Book 23

Eurycleia tells Penelope that Odysseus has finally come home and killed the suitors. The nurse mentions the telltale boar tusk scar on Odysseus's knee, but Penelope refuses to believe the story. She comes downstairs to speak to the stranger; he looks like Odysseus but also like the mysterious beggar. As she considers the stranger in indecision, Odysseus tells Telemachus that the palace must look as though they are celebrating a wedding; he wants to keep secret the fact that he has killed most of the high-born young men in Ithaca. Athena changes Odysseus back into a handsome younger man. He chides Penelope for her cold welcome and tells the nurse that he will sleep alone. To test the stranger, Penelope tells Eurycleia to bring him the bridal bed, but Odysseus cries out angrily that the bed cannot be moved because he built it around an olive tree. The story is definite proof of his identity; Penelope cries and embraces him. Odysseus warns Penelope that he must make one more long, dangerous journey before they can settle down in peace. According to the prophecy in Book 11, he must travel to a land far from any sea, plant an oar, and sacrifice animals to Poseidon. Finally they retire to bed. Before he leaves the following dawn, Odysseus tells Penelope to stay with her maids in her room, because men might come to avenge the suitors. He sets out with Telemachus, the swineherd, and the cowherd.

The irony lays waste as Odysseus speaks that if the king himself returns, there'd be hope. The irony being that Odysseus is the king, so to speak that he would kill the suitors himself. (Pg. 341)

Find and discuss the irony on p. 341

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For people using this

Laestrygonians

Giant cannibals.

Medon

Herald in Odysseus's court.

Odysseus

King of Ithaca, husband of Penelope, and father of Telemachus, former commander in the Trojan War, Odysseus is the flawed, beloved hero of this tale of homecoming and revenge. His character is deeply contradictory: he is both a cunning champion and a plaything of the gods, a wise commander and a vainglorious braggart. After the Trojan War, which left him swollen with pride and fame, Odysseus seeks adventure on his way home; but the journey brings much defeat and humiliation, and the Odysseus that lands on the shores of Ithaca is a humbler, wiser man, more pious and reserved. As longing for adventure wanes, homesickness grows; the strictures of honor replace the demands of glory. Only when Odysseus learns to yield some control of his fate to the gods can he take charge of his life and bring peace to his household.

Menelaus

King of Sparta, commander in the Trojan War, Agamemnon's brother.

Zeus

King of all the gods, and the god of sky and lightning. He holds assembly on Mount Olympus and negotiates the desires and grievances of the gods. He punishes Odysseus when his crew eats the Cattle of the sun god Helios. He allows Athena to help Odysseus, and he allows Poseidon to hurt him.

Antiphates

King of the Laestrygonians.

Agamemnon

Menelaus's brother, murdered by his wife's lover when he came home from the Trojan War.

Pisistratus

Nestor's son.

Book 10 Happenings

Odysseus continues his story to the Phaeacians: The men's next stop was the Aeolian island, home to the god of the winds. They stayed with Aeolus for a month, and his parting gift to Odysseus was a sack holding the winds. Aeolus freed the West Wind to blow Odysseus's ship toward home, the men sailed for nine days, and on the tenth they caught sight of Ithaca's shores. Just then, Odysseus fell asleep from exhaustion. His crew became suspicious that the tied up bag Odysseus had gotten from Aeolus contained a great treasure he wasn't sharing, so they untied it to see what was inside and in doing so freed the winds. Odysseus woke and watched in despair as the winds blew them back out to sea and then to Aeolus's island. Odysseus begged Aeolus for help, but Aeolus believed that Odysseus's misfortune proved that he was hated by the gods, and turned him away. There was no wind to help them, so the men had to row; after seven days, they reached the island of the Laestrygonians. Odysseus sent a few men to investigate - were the inhabitants civilized people or monsters? They met a princess at a well, and she sent them inside her father's palace. They saw an enormous queen, who called over her husband Antiphates; he walked in and ate one of Odysseus's men, but the other two fled. The Laestrygonians ate most of Odysseus's crew, but one ship escaped. Odysseus and his single ship sailed on, and anchored on Circe's island. They rested for two days, and Odysseus went out and killed a deer to feed his men. They feasted and slept. The next morning, Odysseus told the men that he saw smoke rising somewhere in the middle of the island, and the men cried out in fear of the inhabitants of the island. Odysseus responded that crying does them no good, and sends half his men to investigate. When the men came to Circe's palace, they heard her singing as she weaved. They called out to her and walked in - all but Eurylochus. She welcomed them to her table, but she mixed a potion into their food that erased their memories of home and turned them into pigs. Eurylochus ran back to the ship and told Odysseus that the men vanished into the palace and did not return. Odysseus set off for the palace, but before he reached its doors he met Hermes, who was disguised as a young man. The god gave him a drug called moly that would make him immune to Circe's potion. When Circe touches you with her wand, the god advised, run at her with your sword until she backs away in fear and invites you to her bed. The god told Odysseus to accept the goddess's offer, but only after she swore a binding oath not to hurt him. When Odysseus walked into Circe's palace, everything happened just as Hermes predicted, and Circe then guessed that the stranger must be Odysseus. When they retired to bed, Circe's maids prepared a bath and a feast. But Odysseus was too troubled to eat, so Circe transformed his crew from swine to men again. Odysseus returned to his ship to hide his cargo in caves and to call the rest of his crew back to the palace. Eurylochus urged the men to depart right then, instead of rushing into a situation that might be a trap; he reminded them of the men that died in Polyphemus's cave because of Odysseus's poor judgment. But the men followed Odysseus, Eurylochus included. The men stayed on the island for a year, living in luxury, but after a year the crew grew increasingly restless and finally convinced Odysseus that it was time to leave. Circe advised him to go down to the land of the dead to speak to the ghost of Tiresias, a blind prophet. Circe told him to find the spot where the River of Fire and the River of Tears meet, to dig a trench there, to pour milk and honey, wine, and water for the dead, to sprinkle barley; finally, she said, he must promise the dead to kill a heifer when he returned to of Ithaca and to slaughter a black ram for Tiresias. Afterwards, Odysseus must slaughter a ram and an ewe with his head turned away. Only then will the shades emerge. At that moment, Odysseus's crew must burn the corpses while Odysseus keeps the shades away from blood; then Tiresias will appear and advise him how to complete his journey home. As Odysseus and his crew woke the next morning to depart, they discovered that Elpenor, the youngest member of the crew, had gotten drunk the night before, slept on the roof, and when he woke in the morning at the sound of the other men working he fell off the roof and broke his neck. Odysseus explained their coming journey to the underworld, and the men were disappointed to learn how complicated the trip will be.

"Kingdom of the Dead" Book 11

Odysseus continues telling his tale to Alcinous and the Phaeacians. When he and his men reached the entrance to the world of the dead, they did exactly as Circe said: they dug a trench, offered libations, and sacrificed a ewe and a ram. Thousands of ghosts appeared when the blood started flowing. The first ghost that approached them was Elpenor. He asked Odysseus to bury him and grieve for him properly when the crew returned to Aeaea, and Odysseus gladly agreed. The next ghost was Anticleia, Odysseus's mother, but Odysseus did not let even her approach the blood. Finally Tiresias appeared. Once he drank the blood of the slaughtered animals, he told Odysseus that his journey home would be full of trouble: Odysseus had angered Poseidon by blinding Poseidon's son, the Cyclops Polyphemus. The men will reach home, said Tiresias, if they leave the Cattle of the Sun unharmed. If they kill the cattle, Odysseus will come home alone. But before settling down in peace, he will have to make one more voyage to a land far away from any sea and make sacrifices to appease Poseidon. Only then will his long travels come to an end. Odysseus asked Tiresias how to speak to the ghost of his mother, and Tiresias explained that a ghost would speak only if it drank the animals' blood. Odysseus let his mother drink the blood, and suddenly she recognized him. She told him that Penelope still grieved and waited for him, that his estate was still in Telemachus's hands, and that his father lived in poverty and solitude. She herself died of grief and longing for Odysseus. He tried to put his arms around her, but each time she dissolved at his touch. At this point Odysseus concludes his tale. It is late, and he asks the court again for passage home. The king and queen promise him many fine gifts if he stays on a little longer and ask him to describe the soldiers and heroes he met in the land of the dead. Odysseus describes the conversation he had with Agamemnon. The ghost discussed his wife's infidelity; he told Odysseus that her lover Aegisthus murdered him and his comrades right at the dinner table. His wife's behavior, he said, stained all women everywhere. He advised Odysseus to keep some things hidden from his wife, and to arrive home in secret. Next Odysseus talked to Achilles, who said that he would rather be a slave on earth than a king in the land of the dead. Odysseus told him that his son , acted very bravely and killed many men, which pleased Achilles. Then the shades swarmed violently around him, wanting to talk to him. He ran back in fear to his ship, and they set sail.

Book 20

Odysseus lies awake and worries about fighting an entire crowd of suitors - and the crowds that will come to avenge their deaths. Athena reassures him and helps him fall asleep. Meanwhile, the queen lies awake and wishes for death: even death is better than the infidelity she fears will be forced upon her. Her crying rouses Odysseus, who asks Zeus for a good omen. Right away, Zeus sends a clap of thunder. Eurycleia instructs the maids to clean and decorate the house for the feast to be held during the archery contest. Odysseus ignores another insult from the goatherd and speaks briefly to the cowherd. An eagle flies by with a dove in its claws, and Amphinomus convinces the suitors to stop plotting against the prince and start feasting instead. Athena wants to rouse Odysseus's anger so she inspires a suitor names Ctesippus to fling a hoof at him; Telemachus loudly chastises the suitor, but Odysseus remains calm. Another suitor urges Telemachus to convince Penelope to take another husband, and Telemachus refuses yet again. Athena makes the suitors break into irrational, hysterical laugher. The seer Theoclymenus points out dark omens: blood on the walls, ghosts at the doors, a mist that covers the sun. The suitors mock the seer and insult the king once again.

Book 9 Happenings

Odysseus names himself and begins telling the story of his long travels after leaving Troy. In the beginning of the journey, he and his men sacked the city of the Cicones and carried away many spoils; Odysseus wanted to leave, but his men decided to stay and plunder and feast. Meanwhile the Cicones called their neighbors for backup, and the expanded army killed many Achaeans before the rest escaped. Zeus sent down a hurricane, the men rested for two days, and then a North wind sent the ships in the wrong direction. After nine days, the ships reached the land of the Lotus Eaters. There, the crewmen that ate the fruit of lotus lost all desire to return and all memory of home - they only wanted to stay and eat lotus. But Odysseus forced them to return to the ships, tied them to the masts, and told the remaining men to set sail. Next they came to the land of the Cyclops. The one-eyed Cyclops have no laws, no councils, no farms, no ships or traders. Odysseus and the crew from his ship went to explore the continent while the other men waited on a nearby island. When the men reached the shore, they saw a large cave with flocks of sheep and goats in the yard: the home of a giant. Odysseus left most of his crew on shore and went with twelve men to the cave, taking along a container of very strong wine. The giant was not at home, and the crew looked at his flocks, his cheeses, and his buckets for milking. The men wanted to take what they could and run back to the ships, but Odysseus insisted that they stay to receive the giant's gifts (thought now, he tells the Phaeacians, he regrets his stubbornness). In the evening the Cyclops came home, closed the entrance to the cave with a giant rock, milked his sheep and goats, and lit a fire. Suddenly he noticed the men and asked them angrily who they were. Odysseus responded that they were Achaeans that had lost their way home, and urged the Cyclops, whose name was Polyphemus, to obey custom, respect the rules of the gods, and receive them generously. Polyphemus scoffed at Odysseus's warnings and said that his kind doesn't fear Zeus or any other god. He promptly bashed two men dead against the ground and ate them gruesomely. Odysseus wanted to kill Polyphemus there and then, but realized that if he killed Polyphemus he and his men would have no way out of the cave, since only the giant could roll back the huge rock blocking the entrance. So they lay there all night in the cave in terror. At dawn Polyphemus lit the fire, milked his sheep, and ate two more men for breakfast. He then left for the day, shutting the entrance of the cave behind him with the huge rock. Meanwhile Odysseus plotted revenge. He took Polyphemus' club and his men filed it down to a point and singed it at the end. At dusk Polyphemus returned, milked his sheep and goats, and ate two more men for dinner. Odysseus offered Polyphemus his strong wine, and Polyphemus drank three bowls. As the giant became drunk, Odysseus mentioned that his own name was Nobody. In thanks for the wine, Polyphemus promised to eat him last and fell asleep, vomiting human flesh. Seeing their chance, Odysseus and four other men heated up the sharpened club and used it to gouge out the Cyclops' eye. Polyphemus screamed in agony, and other Cyclops rushed up to his cave and asked who was hurting him. The Cyclops yelled 'Nobody,' so they walked away. Odysseus was delighted that his trick succeeded. Next, Odysseus plotted their escape. He arranged the rams in the cave in groups of three and lashed a man to the belly of each middle ram; he lashed himself to the belly of the remaining old ram. At dawn, when Polyphemus let the rams out of the cave, the men escaped too. Once outside the cave, Odysseus untied himself and his men and they all hurried to the ships. When they were out on the water, Odysseus yelled back to Polyphemus that Zeus has punished him for his crimes. In response, the furious Polyphemus broke off the top of a cliff and threw it in the direction of the ship, so that a wave drove the ship back to shore. Once they were at a safe distance again, Odysseus yelled back again to say that it was he, Odysseus, that blinded the Cyclops, if anyone should ask. Polyphemus remembered that a prophet once told him that he would be blinded by someone named Odysseus and called out to his father Poseidon to exact revenge: he prayed that Odysseus should never reach home, or that he should reach home alone and after great suffering. The Cyclops threw another rock, and the resulting wave threw the ship back to the island where the rest of the crew sat waiting. Odysseus divided up the stolen sheep, but he slaughtered the old ram in Zeus's honor. However, the sacrifice did not appease the god. The men slept and departed at dawn.

Book 22

Odysseus shoots Antinous through the throat just as the suitor is about to take a sip of wine. The king kicks the table and scatters the food on the floor, and the food mingles with Antinous's blood. He reveals himself to be the long-absent king of Ithaca. The suitors, horrified, plead for mercy, blame Antinous for their wrongdoings, and offer to repay all they have stolen. But Odysseus tells them that no amount of wealth can wipe out their crimes. Eurymachus calls the suitors to battle, but Odysseus quickly kills him. Telemachus kills Amphinomus and then runs to get weapons for himself, Odysseus, Eumaeus, and Philoetius. Eumaeus guards the side-door to the palace so that no suitors can escape. The goatherd Melanthius climbs through a secret passageway into Odysseus's storeroom and brings weapons to some of the suitors. Eumaeus and Philoetius catch Melanthius when he returns for more weapons and leave him strung up in the storeroom in great pain. Athena appears in the guise of Mentor; she then turns into a swallow and flies to a beam on the roof to watch the fighting. The suitors shoot arrows at Odysseus, but Athena makes sure the arrows miss their mark again and again. Odysseus and Telemachus slaughter the suitors like eagles attacking little birds. Odysseus spares only the bard and the herald Medon. Telemachus brings out Eurycleia; she is happy to see the suitors dead, but Odysseus warns her that it is wrong to rejoice over the bodies of the dead. He tells her that the men's dishonorable behavior earned them the wrath of the gods. He then asks her to gather the dozen servant women who shamed the household by sleeping with the suitors. Once they arrive, he tells the servant women to help Telemachus, Eumaeus, and Philoetius clear away the corpses and the blood. When they finish the job Telemachus beheads the women with a cable; then the three men take Melanthius outside and cut off his nose, ears, genitals, hands, and feet. Finally, Odysseus asks the servants to sterilize the house with smoke.

Laertes

Odysseus's father, who lives in poverty on a farm.

Autolycus

Odysseus's grandfather, with whom he got the hunting scar on his knee. King of Thieves, a thief and a liar

Eurycleia

Odysseus's kindly nurse, and the first person to recognize Odysseus in his beggar disguise.

Anticleia

Odysseus's mother, who died of longing for her son.

Argos

Odysseus's old dog.

Penelope

Odysseus's wife and Telemachus's mother. In the beginning of the story, Penelope's most prominent qualities are passivity, loyalty, and patience (along with beauty and skill at the loom) - the age-old feminine virtues. She does very little but lie in bed and weep. But from the start we are given to understand that she possesses other hidden qualities. The trick of the loom, which she weaves and unweaves in order to hold the suitors at bay, matches the cunning of any of Odysseus's plans. Her final scene, in which she mentions the bridal bed built around the olive tree, shows her cleverness as well: she tests Odysseus just as he has tested her. Theirs is a marriage of wits.

Telemachus

Odysseus's young son. Telemachus spends his youth helplessly watching the suitors corrupt his household and harass his mother Penelope, but Athena's forceful guidance helps him mature from a nervous youth to a confident, eloquent man - much like his father. Although Athena's hovering, controlling presence might seem oppressive and restrictive, it helps the prince to acquire a great deal of freedom in speech and action. His final passage into manhood is the fight against the suitors, where he proves his courage and skill.

"The Loyal Swineherd" Book 14

Odysseus, still disguised as a beggar, walks to the swineherd's house. Eumaeus invites Odysseus in to eat and drink and tell his story. Odysseus thanks the swineherd for his hospitality, and Eumaeus answers that Zeus decrees that everyone be kind to beggars and strangers. He serves Odysseus two pigs, barley, and wine. He complains that the suitors eat all the best hogs without fearing the revenge of the gods, who honor the just acts of men. The suitors must think Odysseus is dead, says the swineherd, because they shamelessly deplete what was once the richest realm in this part of the world. Odysseus-the-beggar tells Eumaeus that he was born in Crete, the unlawful son of a rich man and a concubine. As a young man he loved adventure and war but not home and family: he won honor in battle and took a lot of treasure from foreign lands. Then he led a fleet in the Trojan war, battled for ten years and came home; but only a month after homecoming he set out again for Egypt to seek more treasure. However, his men killed and plundered in the Egyptian farms against his will, and an army from the Egyptian city came and killed or enslaved the whole crew, though he escaped by begging the king for mercy. He stayed in Egypt for seven years and collected a great fortune. Odysseus-the-beggar left Egypt with a Phoenician con man, who convinced him to go to Libya. But Zeus struck their ship with lightning and he alone survived. He floated on the mast of the ship for nine days until he reached Thesprotia, where king Phidon treated him kindly and told him that Odysseus was sailing home with great treasure. Phidon sent him to the city of Dulichion by ship, but the crew of the ship dressed him in rags and tied him up on an Ithaca beach. Finally, he escaped and stumbled across Eumaeus's home. Here Odysseus-the-beggar finishes his invented tale. Odysseus decides to test Eumaeus's generosity: he describes a freezing, snowy night during the Trojan War when he complained to Odysseus that he was about to die from the cold. Odysseus then sent one of his own men on a made-up mission so that he, the beggar, could take his cloak. Eumaeus praises the story and lends Odysseus-the-beggar a cloak of his own.

Mentes

One of Athena's disguises.

Lines 48-63 Blah-blah, Hermes the Messenger God now makes his strides to the nymph's cavern. Blah-blah, he finds her there, Calypso the needy is to be delivered words from the immortal mortals.

Paraphrase lines 48-63

Their adventure ended in horror as Scylla, the six-headed monster ate men in accordance with each head. Their encounter with Charybdis as she was a huge whirlpool that sucked the water, would damage and threaten their route of transport to pass "her". Though it ended with Odysseus getting out. (Pgs. 278-279)

Paraphrase the adventure of Scylla and Charybdis

Lines Whatever, Her entrance was quickly explained but detailed. She entered deep in thought with two other females followed back. Covered in a veil, she was in a tragic state as she still cried for her lost husband, Odysseus

Paraphrase the entrance of Penelope.

The last paragraph shows Penelope eavesdropping on each word that the suitors and each word that Odysseus and company speak of. The last paragraph foreshadows that during the time of supper, Odysseus will give them their final meals or close to it. (Pg. 423)

Paraphrase the last paragraph on p. 423

The meeting was one nearly of father and son, or a pseudo-relationship to take place over the one Odysseus never formed with his child. Eumaeus treats Telemachus as if own blood and skin. Then the story goes on with meeting Odysseus disguised as a beggar and telling Eumaeus to inform his mother and mother only of his return. (Pgs. 338-342)

Paraphrase the meeting between Eumaeus and Telemachus

The omen of the birds introduced the luck that Telemachus will have in his reign along with all his descendents. The seer himself exclaimed of it as the "will of god". (Pg. 336)

Paraphrase the omen of the birds.

Melanthius is Dolius' son, foul and abusive but probably because of his view of Odysseus and his great achievements. He kicks Odysseus in his beggar disguise and speaks of his beggar role and how it benefits him for no work and laziness engulfs him. Speaks of how he can work on his farm, teach him how to work with cattle and of the sort. (Pg. 361)

Paraphrase the passage about Melanthius on p. 361

The customs between host and guests rests on balance, balance on being too warm or too cold to guests. Customs include that they're welcome to come and go, give gifts, food, and pretty much anything the guest requests. (Pgs. 321-322)

Paraphrase the passage that talks about the customs between host and guests

The transformation is very sudden and the reaction from Telemachus is very much the quickest and simplest response. His very physical features changed, skin and all. After he changes, Telemachus immediately believes that Odysseus is a god that rules the skies, not believe he was his father. (Pg. 344)

Paraphrase the transformation of Odysseus from beggar to god-like creature

Lines 124-131 Athena saw "swaggering" suitors holding many grands and riches as they were treated like kings by servants while waiting to woo Penelope.

What did Athena see when she went to Odysseus' home in Ithaca?

Book 21

Penelope sets out Odysseus's bow and axes, and announces to the suitors that the archer that can shoot an arrow cleanly through the axes will have her hand in marriage. Telemachus tries it first, to set an example, but he can't even string the bow. The suitor Leodes tries the bow and fails: it is too stiff to bend. Other suitors lack the strength to string it as well. Meanwhile, Odysseus speaks to Eumaeus and the cowherd, Philoetius, outside the palace: he tells them his true identity, shows them his scar as proof, and enlists them in the coming battle. He asks Eumaeus to carry him the bow after the suitors have tried it, and to tell the maids to lock their doors; he asks Philoetius to lock the courtyard so that no men can escape. Odysseus reenters the palace, where Eurymachus has just failed to string the bow. Odysseus-the-beggar advises the suitors to rest and pray to the archer god while he himself tries the bow, just to amuse them. Antinous warns him angrily that he may end up like the drunken Centaur Eurythion, who was mauled by his hosts the Lapiths. But Penelope urges the suitors to let the stranger try his luck; there is no shame in such a thing, she says, compared to the shame the suitors have brought on the household. Telemachus asserts his right to be the one to hand over the bow and sends Penelope to her quarters. Eumaeus carries the bow to the king amidst the mocking of the suitors. Odysseus strings the bow as gracefully as a bard tuning his lyre; Zeus sends down a bolt of lightning. Then the king shoots the arrow cleanly through the row of axes. He says to Telemachus: it's time for the song and dance that follow a feast.

Line 144 Telemachus' first impression onto sparkle-eyed Athena was "Hello Stranger!".

What did Telemachus say to Athena?

They all had to drink blood. (Pg. 254)

What did the people in the Land of the Dead have to do before they could speak to Odysseus?

He speaks of not having the desire to slay Telemachus, that if only the gods above with Zeus, grants and commends the works, will he kill him. Otherwise, he'll hold back. (Pg. 351)

What does Amphinomous say to the suitors?

Lines 259-262 Calypso gave Odysseus an axe and also an adze before leaving the lands.

What does Calypso give Odysseus before he leaves?

Book 17

Telemachus goes into the city; the suitors are friendly to him, but their intentions are dark. He tells Penelope that Menelaus had heard that Odysseus had been trapped on Calypso's island. Theoclymenus adds his prophecy: he says that Odysseus is in Ithaca as they speak, plotting revenge. Not long after, Eumaeus and Odysseus set out for the city, with Odysseus disguised as a beggar. On their way, they run into the goatherd Melanthius, who insults them and even gives Odysseus a kick. Odysseus wants to hit him back but he stays calm. As the two men approach the castle, Eumaeus warns Odysseus-the-beggar that someone might hit or mock him just for the fun of it, and Odysseus replies that he can withstand any humiliation after his years of wandering. As they speak, Odysseus notices an old dog lying neglected in the dust and dung: it's Argos, who was once Odysseus's puppy. Master and dog recognize each other right away, but at that moment the old dog quietly dies. Odysseus enters his own house for the first time in twenty years. Telemachus tells Eumaeus to instruct Odysseus-the-beggar to go around the table begging for scraps, and Athena seconds that advice: it's a way of separating the bad suitors from the innocent ones. Most suitors pity him and give him food, but Antinous asks Eumaeus angrily why he has brought the strange beggar to court. Antinous flings a stool at the king, but Odysseus contains his anger once again, and tells the other suitors that such undeserved violence will meet with punishment from the gods. The other suitors agree that the gods will strike down Antinous for his crime. Telemachus is anguished to see his father abused, but he hides his feelings. Eumaeus speaks briefly to the queen and then goes back to his farm, but Odysseus and Telemachus stay behind with the suitors.

Ares

The god of war, Aphrodite's lover.

Aeolus

The god of wind.

Book 19

That night, as the suitors sleep, Odysseus and Telemachus lock up most of the weapons as part of their plan. Telemachus goes to sleep, and soon after Penelope comes to question the strange visitor, and she and Odysseus-the-beggar sit down to have a conversation. He tells her that he once hosted Odysseus in his home. She weeps to hear her husband's name, but decides to test the stranger's honesty by asking him for details. The king describes Odysseus's clothes and his herald, and Penelope weeps again; she herself gave Odysseus the clothes in the story. He tells her that Odysseus has been at sea for a long time but that he will be home before the month is over. Penelope asks her maids to bathe the stranger, but he refuses such a luxury; instead, the nurse Eurycleia washes his feet. The old nurse cries to hear Odysseus's name and swears the there is a great likeness between her king and the old beggar. Odysseus slyly agrees. But when the nurse begins to wash Odysseus's feet, she notices a scar Odysseus received while hunting with his grandfather Autolycus. She drops his foot, spilling the basin of water, and cries out in recognition. Odysseus begs her to be silent, however, and she gladly promises to keep his secret. Meanwhile, Athena distracts Penelope from noticing the scene. When the nurse leaves, Odysseus-the-beggar resumes his conversation with Penelope. She asks him to interpret a dream in which an eagle flies down from the mountains and breaks the necks of twenty geese in her household, and then announces that it is her husband who has just killed the suitors. Odysseus tells her that the dream means certain death for the suitors, but Penelope is skeptical that the dream was a prophecy rather than mere fancy. She also tells him that she plans to announce an archery contest to finally choose a new husband. Odysseus promises that her husband will return before a single man strings the bow.

Alcinous

The Phaeacian king who hosts Odysseus very hospitably and helps him return to Ithaca.

Arete

The Phaeacian queen.

Philoetius

The cowherd that helps Odysseus fight the suitors.

Hesphaestus

The crippled goldsmith god, jilted husband of Aphrodite.

Aphrodite

The goddess of love, wife of Hephaestus.

Lines 178-189 Calypso tells Odysseus to prepare a raft made of lumber cut from bronze tools as she prepares items for the raft to carry off.

What does Calypso tell Odysseus to do to prepare for his

Athena

The goddess of wisdom, justice, and courage. She takes a particular liking to Odysseus, and by extension Telemachus - perhaps because Odysseus's suffering is greater than his crimes, perhaps because he embodies the values she champions. Secretively and light-handedly, she guides Telemachus and helps Odysseus when she can. She usually appears to mortals disguised as another mortal or as a bird; it might be that she is naturally reticent (as Zeus is naturally dramatic and ostentatious), or it might be that she takes pains to allow her heroes freedom of choice. Her partiality to Odysseus sometimes conflicts with Zeus and Poseidon's resentments, so she must act indirectly.

Eumaeus

The loyal swineherd who helps Odysseus defeat the suitors.

"The Cattle of the Sun" Book 12

The men returned to Aeaea, performed all the proper funeral rites for Elpenor, and buried his body. Before Odysseus and his men depart, Circe told Odysseus that he must pass the island of the Sirens, who will try to lure the men to their deaths with their songs. She advised that Odysseus put beeswax in the men's ears, and that they tie Odysseus to the mast if he insisted on hearing the Sirens' songs. Next, she told him, the crew must pass between Scylla, a terrible six-headed monster, and Charybdis, who creates a whirlpool that sucks whole ships down into the sea three times a day. Only the ship Argo has passed between these monsters with no lives lost. Circe advised that Odysseus sail his ship past Scylla and sacrifice six men rather than risk getting sucked down into the whirlpool and sinking. Odysseus asked if he can escape Charybdis and fight off Scylla, but Circe chastised Odysseus for his stubbornness: Scylla is immortal and can't be defeated. The sun rose as Circe finished, and the men prepared their ship for departure. As the ship sailed away, Odysseus told the men Circe's advice, though he told them that Circe said he must hear the Sirens' songs, and didn't mention Scylla and Charybdis because he didn't want to paralyze the men with fear. As they pass the island of the Siren's the men put wax in their ears and lash Odysseus to the mast and they pass without incident. When they came to Charybdis they carefully sail around the whirlpool, and Scylla grabbed and ate six men. Filled with grief and pity, the men sail away as fast as possible. Next they reached the island of the Sun. Odysseus wanted to avoid the island altogether, but Eurylochus insisted that the crew needed rest. Odysseus made the men swear an oath not to eat any cattle, but they were trapped on the island for a month by an inopportune wind; eventually their stores ran out and the men began to starve. One day Odysseus fell asleep, and Eurylochus convinced the men to eat the Cattle of the Sun: it's better to die at sea from the wrath of the gods, he said, than to die of hunger. Odysseus woke up to find that the men had broken their oaths and killed some cattle. The sun god Helios angrily asked Zeus and the other gods to punish Odysseus's crew for killing his cattle, and Zeus complied. Strange things began to happen to the cattle that had been killed: they bellowed and moved. But the men continue to feast for six more days before sailing away. As soon as they were out at sea Zeus sent down a storm that destroyed the ship and killed everyone aboard except Odysseus, who hung on to some pieces of wood. The wind drove him back toward Charybdis right when the monster made the whirlpool, but Odysseus saved himself by hanging on to the branch of a fig-tree. After the whirlpool spit back out his little raft he drifted at sea until he reached Calypso's island. Here Odysseus stops his tale: he had told the rest earlier.

Hermes

The messenger god.

Antinous

The most insolent and impious suitor. Antinous riles the other suitors to conceive violent schemes against Odysseus and Telemachus, ignores rules of basic decency, and mouths off every chance he gets. He is the first to die in the battle.

"Ithaca at Last" Book 13

The next day, King Alcinous stows Odysseus's many gifts on the ship and everyone feasts. When Odysseus walks onto the ship the next morning, he falls into a deep, sweet sleep - a sleep that resembles death, and that erases briefly the memory of his twenty years away from home. The ship lands in a harbor in Ithaca and the crew places the sleeping Odysseus and his gifts in a spot far away from any road to hide him from thieves. Poseidon is angered that the Phaeacians helped Odysseus and gave him so much treasure, despite Poseidon's grudge. Zeus considers Poseidon's complaint a bit trivial, but he encourages him to take whatever action will soothe his anger. To take revenge, Poseidon fulfills a prophecy mentioned in book 8: he turns to stone the Phaeacian ship that carried Odysseus to Ithaca just as it returns to the Phaeacian harbor, so that the ship sinks. The Phaeacians are terrified that he will also create a mountain around their harbor and block their access to the sea, as the prophecy says, so they pray and sacrifice to him to try to appease him. Back in Ithaca, Odysseus wakes from his long sleep. Athena has surrounded him with mist to protect him, so at first he doesn't recognize his surroundings. He thinks that the Phaeacians tricked him and brought him to some foreign land. Then Athena appears in the guise of a young shepherd, and tells Odysseus that he is in Ithaca, after all. Odysseus conceals his joy and tells Athena (who he doesn't recognize) 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 while he slept. Now Athena changes into a woman, praises Odysseus for his cunning, and reveals her real 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. Odysseus notes that Athena had been kind to him during the war but that she seemed to have abandoned him during his long travels. Athena delights in his grace and cunning: these qualities, she says, are the reason she can't help but stick by him. She explains that she had not helped him during his travels for fear of inciting Poseidon's anger. She tells Odysseus about the suitors' treachery and about Penelope's loyalty. Odysseus realizes he might have died Agamemnon's ignoble death had Athena not warned him, and 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.

Melanthius

The rude goatherd

Book 24

The suitors' ghosts fly crying to the underworld. As the ghosts arrive, Achilles, Agamemnon, and Ajax discuss their own deaths. Agamemnon envies Achilles and Ajax their deaths in battle. Agamemnon recognizes Amphimedon, one of the suitor's ghosts, and asks him why so many noble young men have died all at once. Amphimedon describes the suitors' courtship, Penelope's loyalty, and Odysseus's revenge. Agamemnon is glad that Odysseus's wife was more faithful than his own, and says that gods and men will forever praise her good sense and self-restraint. Meanwhile, Odysseus and his three companions come to Laertes' farm. Odysseus finds his father working in the vineyard and weeps to see his decrepitude. Despite his pity, he decides to test his father's loyalty. He tells Laertes that he is a traveller from another land, and that he once hosted Odysseus. But Laertes cries to hear Odysseus's name, and Odysseus breaks down and reveals his identity. Laertes asks for proof, so Odysseus shows him the scar and describes the fruit trees Laertes gave him when he was a boy. They embrace joyfully. As the men eat lunch, Dolius and his sons come in after working in the fields and happily greet the long-absent king. The goddess Rumor flies around the town and spreads the news of the suitors' deaths. Soon, the dead men's relatives come to gather the corpses. Antinous's father Eupithes calls out for revenge, but the herald Medon warns the crowd that the gods are on Odysseus's side. Some back down in fear, but others get ready for battle. Athena appears at Zeus's side and asks him if he wants the fighting to continue; he tells her that the townsmen should forget their grievances and live in peace. Back at the farm, Odysseus and the other men get ready to face the army from town. Athena in the disguise of Mentor gives Laertes great strength and he kills Eupithes with a spear. Athena orders the townsmen to stop fighting, and they flee in terror; Odysseus obeys the decree as well. Ithaca is finally at peace.

Helios

The sun god, owner of the Cattle of the Sun.

Paraphrase the conversation between Eumaeus and Odysseus.

Their conversation began as Odysseus startled the guard dogs. Eumaeus fending off the dogs later, shoo'd them as he approached the strange beggar-in-disguise. He told him of the absence of his master, how he belonged to nobody but Odysseus. Telling that Odysseus was surely dead and complaining of the suitors taking their stock. Odysseus tells his story that he made up as a beggar, on the behalf of Eumaeus' request. How Odysseus was born elsewhere and struggled and that he declared that Odysseus will return alive. (Pgs. 301-318)

Penelope prays to Artemis, a goddess huntress to shoot an arrow between her breast and kill her. She asks for suicide as more requests of death such as by whirlwind.

To whom does Penelope pray and what does she pray for?

The advice Circe left with Odysseus was to travel to the House of Death, speak to the blind prophet to get home to Ithaca. (pg. 245-246)

What advice did Circe give Odysseus before left the island?

Line 312-314 Athena gives the advice for Telemachus to drive the suitors away and call out the highest of nobles, lords. To his audience and tremble as he seeks the name of gods to declare his purpose. His mother going back to her rightful family. The other advice is to fit out a ship with twenty oars and sail for news of his lost-father, Odysseus, listening for news or rumors.

What advice does Athena give Telemachus?

Lines 353-358 Nestor gives advice to Telemachus that he shouldn't leave home for too long or else tho swine herd of suitors will carve his belongings. But he strongly advised him to visit Menelaus before he returns.

What advice does Nestor give to Telemachus?

Book 16

When Telemachus arrives at the farm, Eumaeus asks him to take care of the stranger. Telemachus gladly offers to give the stranger clothes and a sword. Odysseus-the-beggar interjects to say that it upsets him to hear about the sad state of affairs at the palace, and that he wishes he could help fight the suitors; if he were Odysseus, he says, he would deserve death if he did not fight his offenders, and he would gladly die trying to fight them rather than tolerate their insulting behavior. Telemachus asks Eumaeus to go to the palace and tell Penelope that her son has returned home safely, but to tell no one else, not even Laertes. Athena approaches the farm, but only Odysseus and the dogs can see her. He walks outside to talk to her, and she tells Odysseus to reveal his true identity to Telemachus so that the two can plan their revenge against the suitors. She makes Odysseus look like himself again. When he steps back inside, Telemachus is amazed at the transformation - he thinks Odysseus must be a god, since only gods can change so easily. I am your father, Odysseus tells him; Telemachus can't quite believe it at first, but Odysseus explains that Athena is responsible for his magical transformation. Odysseus asks Telemachus to describe the suitors so that they can plan an attack. Telemachus doubts that only two men can defeat such a large group of suitors - over a hundred in total - but Odysseus reminds him that Athena and Zeus will stand by them as well. Odysseus tells him to go to the palace and mingle with the crowd of suitors. Eumaeus will bring Odysseus, once again disguised as a beggar, into town later. Odysseus further instructs Telemachus to keep his return secret - even from Laertes, Penelope, and Eumaeus. Both Eumaeus and a herald from Pylos report to Penelope that Telemachus has come home. The suitors are dismayed to hear the news. They gather at the meeting grounds and complain that a god must have saved Telemachus's life. Antinous proposes to murder him on home soil, but in secret, to avoid persecution. Amphinomus suggests that they should only kill the prince if the gods are in favor of the murder, and the suitors all agree to this more moderate plan. Penelope emerges from her chambers and confronts Antinous about his schemes against Telemachus. She reminds him that Odysseus once saved his father, and shames Antinous for mistreating Odysseus's land and wife in his absence. Eurymachus tells Penelope that he will not let Telemachus be harmed, but his reassurance is dishonest. Meanwhile, Eumaeus returns to the farm, and he, Telemachus, and Odysseus (once again disguised as the beggar) eat and fall asleep.

Melanthius is a goatherd, Philoetius is a cowherd, and the two resemble the good and bad of Odysseus' kingdom. (Pgs. 416-418)

Who are Melanthius and Philoetius and what role do they play in helping Odysseus?

Lines 440, 457 The chief suitors are Antinous and Eurymachus, sons of Eupithes and the other of Polybus.

Who are the chief suitors?

Lines 366-386 The one who lended aid was Leucothea, a sea nymph who pitied Odysseus. She told him to strip and leave his raft, swim to Phaeacian lands while having an immortal scarf tied to his waist, which he has to throw back to the wine-dark sea after reaching ashore.

Who finds Odysseus during the shipwreck and what does she tell him to do?

Aeolus is yet another King, king of the Aeolian Islands. Aeolus was thought to be able to control the winds and helped Odysseus by packing him ox skin with 4 "winds" within. (pg. 231)

Who is Aeolus and how does he try to help Odysseus

Arete is the queen of Phaeacia (pg. 181)

Who is Arete?

Autolycus is Odysseus' grandfather. He was the reason that Odysseus got the hunting scar on his knee, he lives in Parnassus, and gave Odysseus his name.

Who is Autolycus? Give 3 facts about him

Demodocus is a blind poet for the Phaeacian people. (pg. 193-194)

Who is Demodocus?

Eumaeus is Ithaca's and Odysseus' loyal swineherd. Tended to the hogs for long and having to suffer a servant with no master. (Pg. 306)

Who is Eumaeus?

Medon is their favorite herald, a messenger of Ithaca, always present at their meals. (Pg. 360)

Who is Medon?

Nausicaa is the daughter of King Alcinous, Odysseus first sees her screaming for assistance as her ball had flung and sunk with a whirlpool. (pg. 172)

Who is Nausicaa and what is she doing when Odysseus first sees her?

Line 540 Pisistratus is Nestor's son, a young spearman already in the ranks of captains who will accompany Telemachus to Sparta to visit Menelaus for the "whole" truth.

Who is Peisistratus?

Line 408 Proteus is the father of Eidothea, also the "Old man of the Sea" serving none other than the great God of the Sea, Poseidon.

Who is Proteus?

Lines 300-455 The one supporting Telemachus is Pallas Athena. Ranging in a broad span within the story, she helps him set up a loyal crew and pick out the best ship as disguised as respectable men.

Who is assisting Telemachus to leave Ithaca?

Personally, Antinous seems to be the worst of the suitors when his personality is put to face-value. We see that he's obviously a man bound not by the respects for others and holds no regards for people. Sure, he could've just held his thoughts but he went straight and snapped at Odysseus in his beggar form. He wasn't smart enough to hold his words as it might've went back to him if Odysseus really were a hidden god. And everyone sides with the luckless beggar, so much as to hurl a stool at the beggar who had just wanted food. He also proposed empty threats such as to skin him alive for just wanting food.

Who is the worst of the suitors? Why? Give evidence to support your answer.

Line 139 Telemachus saw Athena first from the group of lazing suitors.

Who saw Athena first?

The seer Theoclymenus is whom Telemachus takes with him. (Pgs. 327-328)

Whom does Telemachus take home with him?