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The Odyssey

The Odyssey. Books I – II Summary. Odysseus’ trials on his journey home from Troy. The story then turns to Telemachus interacting with Athena and dealing with the suitors. Telemachus takes on the role of a leader and openly condemns the suitors and plans to sail for news of his father.

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The Odyssey

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  1. The Odyssey

  2. Books I – II Summary • Odysseus’ trials on his journey home from Troy. • The story then turns to Telemachus interacting with Athena and dealing with the suitors. • Telemachus takes on the role of a leader and openly condemns the suitors and plans to sail for news of his father.

  3. I – II: Important motifs and themes • In Medias Res: in the middle of the journey • Denied Nostos: homecoming • Omens from the gods: promise coming from Athena and the eagles • A crafty family: Penelope’s cleverness • From child to man: Telemachus’ journey

  4. Books III-Iv Summary • Telemakhos sails to Pylos and meets Nestor and his sons. • Hekatombs take place. What is the news that Nestor speaks of? • Meets Menelaus and Helen • Menelaus traveled the world and acquired wealth • Menelaus and Helen discuss Odysseus in stories • What happened after the war? What news of Odysseus? • Penelope laments and the men plan to stop Telemakhos

  5. III-IV: Important motifs and themes • Hekatombs and paying honor to the gods • xenia (hospitality) • Orestes as the example of the avenging son – a FOIL to Telemakhos • Athena’s support and open transformation • Weak freeloaders plotting murder – the unguarded home

  6. Books V-VI Summary • Zeus sends Hermes to tell Kalypso to release Odysseus. • Kalypso complains of the gods’ double standards. • 18 days at sea, sighting Scheria, Poseidon returns • Poseidon’s wrath… Ino’s veil and a river bring safety • Athena’s dream to Nausicaa • Naked pleading and post-bathed Odysseus • Nausicaa’s instructions to Odysseus

  7. V-VI: Important motifs and themes • Odysseus, very self-confident and deliberative… almost to fault. • Different from the Iliad, the man.. not just the hero. • The double-standard in terms of mating. Gods and mortals, men and women.

  8. Books VII-VIII Summary • Alkinoos having a festival to Poseidon • Odysseus appears at his wife Arete’s knees • Alkinoos impressed with Odysseus, thinks he’s a god, offers his daughter’s hand • Odysseus is provided a ship to return home • The minstrel Demodokos speaks of a fight, bringing emotion to Odysseus • Seareach’s accusation and loss • Story of Aphrodite and Ares’ affair • Odysseus cries at tale of Trojan horse, identity is?

  9. VII-VIII: Important motifs and themes • Flings vs. familial responsibility • The adventure-seeking foolish youth vs. the pains of an experienced hero • The meanings of names

  10. Book IX Summary • Sacking the city of Ismarus, loss of men • The Lotus eaters • Killing of goats on the island of the Kyklopses • Try to steal sheep from Polyphemus’ cave • Men eaten or part of the future meal plan • Polyphemus drunk and blinded • “Nobody” and escape under the sheep • One pompous cry

  11. IX: Important motifs and themes • The temptations of the world in a negative light • Horrible guests and hosts • Kleos and Hubris – dooming qualities

  12. Book X-XII Summary • Aeolus and the winds • Antiphates and the giants • Circe, pigs, and a year of rest • HELL – Tiresias’ prophecy, a mother’s tears, old comrades, & questionable women • The Sirens • Scylla and Charybdis • Thrinacria and Helios’ flock

  13. X-XII: Important motifs and themes • Temptation preventing nostos – Odysseus as well • Those diabolical, cheating women • Kleos isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be, but still important

  14. Book XIII-XIV Summary • The Phaiakans send Odysseus home with his gifts, asleep on Ithaka • The Phaiakans are rewarded by having their ship turn to stone • Odysseus awakes and meets Athena, deception vs. deception • In disguise he goes to swineheard Eumaios • A story of a life in Krete and Odysseus still being alive

  15. XIII-XIV: Important motifs and themes • Disguises for the sake of information gathering – patience above all • And you get kleos! And you get kleos! And you get kleos! • Xenia isn’t important when you have family relations to keep happy

  16. Book XV-XVI Summary • Athena urges Telemakhos to return home in secret - Bird omen 1. • Telemakhos bypasses a greeting to Nestor and also brings along Theoclymenus. • Odysseus tests the swineherd’s xenia and shares stories • Telemakhos returns to the hut, bird omen 2, and sends Eumaios out with a message to his mother • Odysseus sheds his disguise and the father and son embrace and discuss plans • The suitors, good and bad, talk to Penelope about the plan to kill Telemakhos

  17. XV-XVI: Important motifs and themes • Meeting in a swineherd’s hut = real, emotional humans • Bird omens • Antinous vs. Amphinomus • Xenia can be bypassed in situations of urgency

  18. BookS XVII-XVIII Summary • Telemakhos gives his mother hope with news of Odysseus, Theoclymenus swears that Odysseus is in Ithaca • Odysseus abused by Melanthius, words with Antinoos, then injured by him • Penelope is told by Eumaios of the beggar’s story and wishes to meet him, which Odysseus will do later • Odysseus kicks Irus’s butt, Amphinomus given the opportunity to leave • Penelope speaks to the suitors with glamour and cunning, Melantho ridicules Odysseus, and more broken furniture

  19. XVII-XVIII: Important motifs and themes • “Of all that breathes and crawls across the earth,Our mother earth breeds nothing feebler than a man.” • Mercy for Amphinomus? Pfft, Athena wants blood! • Worse and worse actions from Antinoos and others. A sign of moral weakness, especially from one highborn. Foils. Encouraging their future slaughter.

  20. BookS XIX – XX Summary • Odysseus has an audience with Penelope. • Proves that he met… himself… and tells her Odysseus shall return within the month • Eurycleia recognizes Odysseus • The eagle and 12 geese • Penelope decides to remarry one who can shoot the arrow… she begs Artemis to kill her • Suitors plot murder, eagle + dove, Athena encourages their arrogance to enrage • COW HOOF!

  21. XIX-XX: Important motifs and themes • All portents, all the time!… all bloody (blood, thunderclap, etc) • The wish for the suitors’ demise. The maid, the herdsman, etc. • Repetition at work.

  22. BookS XXI – XXII Summary • The suitors attempt to string the bow • Odysseus reveals himself to the swineherd and shepherd • Odysseus requests a chance to string the bow • SUCCESS! All is revealed and Antinoos is killed • Odysseus’ party gets weapons and fight, Melanthius gets weapons for the suitors and is trapped, Athena ends it • Ladies clean and are killed, Melanthius

  23. XXI-XXII: Important motifs and themes • The bow brings Odysseus’ story full circle • People “fall” from their own flaws

  24. BookS XXIII – XXIV Summary • Penelope in doubt • Odysseus argues that the olive tree bed cannot be moved • Odysseus recounts his voyage and the prophecy • Suitors in the underworld • Odysseus visits Laertes • Fathers have an uprising, Laertes is a beast, all accept Odysseus as king

  25. XXIII-XXIV: Important motifs and themes • A love through cleverness …no one can move their wedding bed

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