The (Book) Summaries:
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Book 1 A Goddess Intervenes
The minstrel began his story at a meeting of the gods, where they talk about
mortals' lives and the suffering of Aigisthos. Athena plead to his father Zeus for the
safe returning of Odysseus to his home Ithaka, because a goddess on the island of
Ogygia has kept our epic hero from going away. Athena then came disguised as a
friend of Odysseus' family, to come to rouse Odysseus' son Telemakhos' spirit. The
young boy seemed helpless at his own home, against (118) rude suitors of his mother
Penelope. Athena gave him some advice of how to deal with them, and the boy listens.
Two men of the pack seemed most dangerous and ruthless, Antinoos and Eurymakhos.
At dusk, Telemakhos prepares for the day after.
Athena - daughter of Zeus, who liked Odysseus and want to help him get
home
Telemakhos - son of Odysseus, bright young man, but weak against all
the suitors
Penelope - Odysseus' faithful and beautiful wife, whom men from every
where came to court her.
Antinoos - son of Eupeithes, a very rude suitor of Penelope
Eurymakhos - son of Polybos, another trouble maker (suitor)
Deus Ex Machina - Athena came to tell Telemakhos what to do
Epithet: pg 3 summorner of cloud (Zeus) grey-eyed Athena; pg 13 sea-girt
Ithaka;
Hero trait - Telemakhos is loyal to his family, and he want to find his father.
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Book 2 A Hero's Son Awakens
With Athena's help, Telemakhos was able to gather the towns people to
an assembly (suggested by Athena the day before). There he told his trouble and
expressed his anger against the suitors. Then he said he was going to find his father,
or at least of news of his death, or else he will never give his mother to any other man.
Zeus send two eagles to attack the suitors as a sign, but the suitors weren't scared.
After the assembly, Telemakhos decided to began his journey in secret, and told
Eurykleia to keep the it quiet. Athena gathered some good sailors to help Telemakhos,
then as the shape of Mentor, she came along with him.
Eurykleia - a faithful servant of Odysseus' family, raised both Odysseus and
Telemakhos
Deus Ex Machina - Athena helping Telemakhos: gather the towns people,
gather the sailors, comes along...
Epithet: pg 23 clear-headed Telemakhos; pg 29 royal Odysseus; pg 31
winedark sea
Hero trait - Telemakhos respects the gods and decide to find his father
(test his manhood / overcoming obstacles)
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Book 3 The Lord of the Western Approaches
Telemakhos and crew reaches Pylos. King Nestor greeted them well then
asked for the reason of their presence. Telemakhos tells his identity and asked for
news of his father. Nestor could not tell much of Odysseus' place-of-stay, but he did
tell Telemakhos that another captain named Menelaos might have more of a tale
to tell. So Telemakhos decides to go meet Menelaos. Nestor told his son Peisistratos
to go with the boy inland to find that red-haired captain.
Nestor - a captain with the Akhaian troops, with Odysseus at Troy, but fled
before the other ships, very generous, and told Telemakhos to go find Menelaos
Peisistratos - a son of Nestor, was told to accompany Telemakhos
Deus Ex Machina - Athena still helping Telemakhos
Epithet: pg 35 blue-maned god (Poseidon); Nestor, master charioteer; pg
37 Nestor, pride of Akhaians
Hero trait - Telemakhos decides to continue his journey rather than staying
to enjoy the feasts
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Book 4 The Red - Haired King and His Lady
They arrive at Lakedaimon, and meets Menelaos and his beautiful wife
Helen. Menelaos welcomed them and told his story of home-coming, and he guessed
that Odysseus should still be some where in the ocean. Meanwhile in Ithaka, the
suitors had heard of Telemakhos' leave and plotted to kill him on his return. One of the
suitors, Medon, warned Penelope of such plan, so she was very worried. But Athena
send a dream to her, and assured her of his sons safety. The suitors set up the ambush
near the Akhaian Bay, waiting for Telemakhos' ship.
Menelaos - a captain (general) in the Trojan War, a friend of Odysseus'
Helen - the pretty queen of Lakedaimon, (the cause of the Trojan War)
Medon - towns crier, also a suitor among the pack, nicer than the others, and tells
most of the (suitors') plans to Penelope
Deus Ex Machina - Athena still with Telemakhos
Epithet: pg 54 red-haired captain (Menelaos); pale-gold goddess
Aphrodite; pg 71 deep-lunged man of battle (Menelaos)
Hero trait - Telemakhos wants to continue his journey, and he obeys
(Athena) his elders' words.
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Book 5 Sweet Nymph and Open Sea
Athena plead for help from Zeus again, and this time, Zeus do send his
son Hermes to tell Kalypso to let Odysseus go. Odysseus was seen crying at the
goddess Kalypsos cave, and he was supposed to be a tough person. Kalypso
wanted to keep him, but she dared not to disobey the will of Zeus, so she gave
Odysseus one last meal and send him on a small raft home. The god of ocean,
Poseidon, is not happy. He starts storm to try to drawn Odysseus, but with help
from Athena and Ino, Odysseus was washed ashore the island Skheria. Then he
slept, in a bundle of leaves.
Hermes - Zeus' favorite son, the messenger god, can fly
Kalypso - the goddess who kept Odysseus for a long time, but had
to let him go
Odysseus - Our epic hero!
Ino - Kadmos' daughter, an immortal in the ocean, helps Odysseus
to get to land
Deus Ex Machina - Zeus send Hermes; Poseidon wants to drawn
Odysseus; Athena and Ino helping Odysseus
Epithet: pg 82 Hermes the Wayfinder; pg 83 Divine Kalypso; pg 87
Son of Laertes (Odysseus)
Hero trait - Self-centeredness and individuality (Odysseus wants to go
home); submission to the will of the gods (Odysseus prays for his life on the
ocean); continual striving toward a seemingly hopeless goal (Odysseus held on,
until he reaches land)
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Book 6 The Princess at the River
Odysseus slept while Athena sends a dream to the princess of the land,
Nausikaa. She told the princess to go wash the clothes near shore. And so, the
girl obeys and went with the servants. Obviously, she's going to meet Odysseus,
which was Athenas plan. The princess finds Odysseus and hears his plead for help,
thus she suggested that Odysseus should go find her parents, who can help him
get home.
Nausikaa - daughter of Alkinoos, princess of Phaiakian, nice, suggests
that Odysseus should ask help from her parents
Deus Ex Machina - Athena send a dream (voice) to Nausikaa
Epithet: pg 104 she of the white arms (Nausikaa)
Epic simile - pg 103
"...so came out rustling, like a mountain lion, rain-drenched, wind-buffeted,
but in his might at ease, with burning eyes - who prowls among the herd or flocks, or
after game, his hungry belly taking him near stout homesteads for his prey."
Pg 105
"...with crisping hair in curls like petals of wild hyacinth, but all red-golden.
Think of gold infused on silver by a craftman..."
Hero trait - self-centeredness and individuality (Odysseus wants food,
cloth, and he wants to go home)
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Book 7 Gardens and Firelight
Odysseus prayed while the women are returning to the city with the
laundry. Nausikaa went home and straight to her room. Meanwhile, Odysseus
enters the city surrounded by sea fog placed by Athena. Athena approaches
him in the city disguised as a small child. He asks her to take him to the palace
of Alkinoos. She led him to the palace and warned him not to stare at the towns
people. She also described to him the ancestry of Alkinoos' family. Odysseus was
amazed to find tremendous amount of luxury of Alkinoos' palace. At first the
family is surprised to see a stranger in their mansion but later offer him food and
other goods. Odysseus requests for a ship to take him home. The lord granted
his wish, then they began to talk of Odysseus' journey there.
Alkinoos - the lord of Phaiakians, generous, but likes to show-off
Arete - the lady of Phaiakians, generous
Deus Ex Machina - Athena telling Odysseus what to do, disguised as
a little girl
Epithet: pg 116 silver-studded chair; honey-hearted wine; pg 118
ivory-skinned lady (Arete)
Hero trait - self-centeredness and individuality (Odysseus wants to
go home)
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Book 8 The Songs of the Harper
Athena disguised as Alkinoos' crier and gathered the towns people to
an assembly held by Alkinoos. The king introduces his guest and assigns missions
to his people. The younger citizens will find a black boat and best sailors and sai
to the mansion where they will be treated for dinner. The older ones must organize
a festival at the mansion. He invited Demodokos to come and sing for them. At the
festival he sings of the clash between Odysseus and Akhilleus. Alkinoos suddenly
gets the idea of a sporting-event so the visitor can go home telling his friends what
great athletes the Phaiakians are. Alkinoos' son Laodamas thought that maybe
the stranger could compete in something, so he asked him. Odysseus didn't want
to join, until a young man named Seareach invoked him. Thus he threw a discus
farther than anyone there did. Athena, disguised as a Phaiakian, cheered for him.
Alkinoos still wishes to impress Odysseus. He told Demodokos to sing the conflict
between Ares and Hepaisthos and then told his sons to do a dance that no one
else can do. Odysseus was amazed. Alkinoos wished for gifts to be given to the
stranger while Odysseus requested a song about the Battle of Troy from
Demodokos. Alkinoos sees that Odysseus has been weeping throughout the
story and cuts it off asking for the identity of the stranger.
Demodokos - a blind minstrel, "the lord of songs"
Laodamas - One of Alkinoos' sons, very good at boxing and dancing.
Seareach - The phaiakian youth who invoked Odysseus to join a sporting
event, and seen Odysseus throws the discus farther than everyone.
Deus Ex Machina - Athena disguised as the crier, the citizen
Use of History - Odysseus shares his travels with Alkinoos' family;
Demodokos sings of the Battle of Troy
Epithets: wine-dark sea; Odysseus, raider of cities; Noble Odysseus,
expert in adversity; Odysseus, the great tactician
Hero trait - self-centeredness (Odysseus weeps for himself); Pride is his
own superiority (Odysseus would not join a competition the first time)
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Book 9 New Coasts and Poseidon's Son
Odysseus identifies himself as lord of Ithaka. He first described his
homeland, then he started his adventure story. First Odysseus and his crew lands
on Ismaros. There they raided the towns. Zeus was angry and killed many of
Odysseus' men with a storm. The rest landed on the island of Kyklopes, who are
uncivilized giants that only has one eye. Because they are hungry and tired,
Odysseus and some of his crewmen go onto the island where they encountered
the son of Poseidon - Polyphemos. The giant ate some of Odysseus' men, and
the rest were trapped, until they escape by blinding the Kyklopes in his sleep,
forcing his to open the door to call for his fellow Kyklopes. Odysseus and his men
safely escaped the island, but not after Odysseus has a final yell at Polyphemos.
Now we know why Poseidon hold such a grudge against Odysseus.
Polyphemos - son of Poseidon, a ruthless Kyklope, blinded by
Odysseus, and hates him for that
Poseidon - the god of the ocean, who hates Odysseus for disrespecting
him and hurting his son
Deus Ex Machina - Zeus threw a storm at Odysseus' crew
Epithet: pg 152 four-wheeled wagons; pg 159 stiff-legged sheep;
pg 161 black-prowed vessel's track
Epic simile: pg 156
"...So with our brand we bored that great eye socket while blood ran
out around the red hot bar. Eyelid and lash were seared; the pierced ball hissed
broiling, and the roots popped. In a smithy one sees a white-hot axehead or an
adze plunged and wrung in a cold tub, screeching steam-the way they make
soft iron hale and hard-; just so that eyeball hissed around the spike."
Hero trait - facing hardship without despair (the fight to survive against
Polyphemos); self-centeredness and individuality, hubris (Odysseus yelled at
Polyphemos about his success, and he revealed his identity to the giant)
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Book 10 The Grace of the Witch
Odysseus and his men land on Aiolia Island. And received hospitality
from the king Aiolos. Odysseus was given a bag of wind as gift. But while Odysseus
was sleeping, some curious men opened the bag. They thought it contains gold,
but instead winds blew their ship off course. They ended up back on the island of
Aiola and was send back to sea without pity. They docked on the land of the
Lastrygonians and were chased by those men-eaters. Odysseus cut the cord
and set sail. They land on Aiaia, where Kirke the witch lives. She turned the
scouts into swine, which Eurylokhos escaped to tell the tale. Odysseus went
alone, and with help from Hermes, he "defeated" Kirke and was given the ways
of the trip home. At the end of the chapter, a sailor named Elpenor fell from the
roof and was killed after drinking too much wine. Odysseus buried him, and his
trip to the underworld follows.
Eurylokhos - a close friend and officer of Odysseus
Kirke - the which that almost turned Odysseus into swine, but was
defeated and helped Odysseus and his men escape her island
Deus Ex Machina - Hermes helped Odysseus defeat Kirke.
Epithet: baleful Aietes; Helios, the light of the mortals; Perse, child
of the Ocean stream
Hero trait - submission to the will of the gods (Odysseus listen to
Hermes); determination never to give up or surrender (Odysseus decide to save
his men)
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Book 11 A Gathering of Shades
Odysseus followed Kirkes guide and found Teiresias the prophet.
He "went" to the land of the dead by sacrificing fine lambs to Persephone.
There he met many of his friends at war, and ladies of misfortune. He met his
mother Antikleia and they wept together. Agmemnon told his story of death
by his own wife Klytaimnestra, and warned Odysseus not to trust women and
not to warn the people of Ithaka of his home-coming. Many ghost came to ask
him of news in the living world, Odysseus was spooked by the voices and
Persephone, and he ran to his ship.
Agmemnon - a officer at war with Odysseus, killed by his unfaithful
wife
Teiresias - the dead prophet, tells Odysseus of his fate
Use of History: Odysseus is telling his adventures
Journey to the underworld: Odysseus seeks his fate from Teiresias
Epithet: pg 186 pale Persephone
Hero trait - Remarkable degree of courage, submission to the will
of the gods
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Book 12 Sea Perils and Defeat
They went back to burn Elpenors body and equipments. Then Kirke
began to tell Odysseus of what's going to happen on their voyage home. She
told the tale of Seirenes, Skylla and Kharybdis. She warned him not to kill any
sheep on Thrinakia, or he will be punished by Zeus. They passed the Seirenes
safely, only to lose 6 men (trying to fight) passing Skylla and Kharybdis. When
finally landed on the land of Helios, the crew disobeyed Odysseus' order and
killed most of the sheep there. Helios wanted revenge, so Zeus threw thunderbolts,
killed all except Odysseus, and he drifted to the island of Kalypso.
Skylla - twelve-legged, six-headed beast (dog) who ate six of Odysseus
crew
Kharybdis - the tide
Helios - overlord of the high noon (sun god)
Epithet: pg 223 Zeus, the son of Kronos; pg 224 dangerous nymph
Kalypso
Epic Simile: pg 218 (where Skylla is eating the six men)
Hero trait - self-centeredness and individuality; quest for personal
honor (Odysseus wants to fight Skylla)
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Book 13 One More Strange Island
Odysseus finished telling his story and thanked Alkinoos, Arete, and
the Phaiakians. Odysseus fell asleep on the ship, and the crew did not wake him
when they reached Ithaka. The sailors unloaded Odysseus, and the gifts onto
shore, then they left for home. Poseidon took his complains to Zeus, and after
fair reasoning, Zeus decides that Poseidon can punish the Phaiakians by turning
that ship into stone. The god of earthquake obeyed, sparing the isolation (mountain
around their city) of Skheria. From then on, Alkinoos learns not to take any more
wanderers home on his ships... Poor Odysseus woke but can not believe that he is
indeed in Ithaka. He even accused the Phaiakians as liars ("not honorable").
Athena turned into a shepherd and came to guide him. After hearing the truth of
where he is, the excited Odysseus made up a little story to explain his presence.
Too bad his listener is Athena, who knows his bag of tricks better than any one
else. Athena told him news of Penelope and Telemokhos, and advice him to go
stay with the swineherd first. Athena changed him into an old man who no one
would recognize as Odysseus, and then she left to find Telemokhos.
Deus Ex Machina - Athena came as a shepherd to guide Odysseus,
then changed him into an old man.
Epithet: pg. 233 father of gods, god of the stormy sky(Zeus); pg. 234
god of horizons, god of earthquakes(Poseidon)
Epic simile: (almost) pg. 230 line 39 to 43
"...Just as a farmer's hunger grows, behind the bolted plow and
share, all day afield, drawn by him team of winedark oxen: sundown is benison
for him, sending him homeward stiff in the knees from weariness, to dine..."
Hero trait - submission to the will of the gods (Odysseus listens to
Athena)
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Book 14 Hospitality in the Forest
Disguised as the old man, Odysseus went to the swineherd of his
land. The swineherd, named Eumaios, took the stranger in and fed him.
Eumaios talked about how great Odysseus the king was, and how rude those
suitors had been. Odysseus gave hints that says, "Odysseus is coming",
but no matter what, Eumaios would not believe him. After being asked,
Odysseus told a fake story of his life. Before their rest, Odysseus tested
Eumaios's heart by "asking" (through a story) for a blanket for the winter
night, which Eumaios passed very easily. The last thing Odysseus saw
before his sleep was Eumaios sitting outside, along with the swines...
Eumaios - the faithful swineherd who kept Odysseus for the night
Formality: The formal speaking style is used through out the book.
Epithet: pg 249 O my swineherd (Eumaios); pg 253 master of
improvisation (Odysseus); pg 259 the forester (Eumaios)
Hero trait - Odysseus testing Eumaios, hides his identity like
Athena says
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Book 15 How They Came to Ithaka
Athena send a dream to Telemakhos, telling his to go home right
away and beware of the suitors. Telemakhos obeyed and set his journey
home. Zeus send a sign to tell them the fate of the suitor (eagle killing goose).
He said goodbye to Peisistratos (son of Nestor) and continued his journey
home. Theoklymenos, a hunted man from Argos was accepted by Telemakhos
to go with him. He with help from Athena, escaped death. Odysseus, still at
the swineherds home, tested Eumaios' heart once again, and stayed with him.
Telemakhos send Theoklymenos to be with the ship mate, and got off the ship
toward Ithaka on foot.
Theoklymenos - a hunted man from Argos, a gifted prophet, and
accepted by Telemakhos
Deus Ex Machina - Athena helping Telemakhos
Epithet: pg 267 son of Nestor, (Peisistratos); lord of the great war
cry (Menelaos);
Hero trait - Telemakhos is determined to go home as quickly as
possible; submission to the will of the gods (listen to Athena)
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Book 16 Father and Son
Telemakhos got to Eumaios' home, telling him to inform Penelope
(only) of his return. Athena instructs Odysseus to show himself to Telemakhos,
and the two rejoiced. Planning the attack of suitors, Odysseus told Telemakhos
to hide all the weapons except two swords. The suitors meanwhile, knowing the
safe return of Telemakhos, planned another murder, but Penelope found out
and gave them a warning.
Amphinomos - a good-hearted suitor, who disagreed on killing
Telemakhos
Deus Ex Machina - Athena turning Odysseus to normal, then back to
beggar again
Epithet: noble and enduring man (Odysseus); pg 304 Penelope, wise
daughter of Ikarios
Hero trait - facing hardship without despair; submission to the will of
the gods (Odysseus' plan to kill all the suitors)
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Book 17 The Beggar at the Manor
Telemakhos went home first. Eumaios guide Odysseus to the hall.
On the way Odysseus was kicked by Melanthios, but Odysseus held his anger.
On the threshold of his house, his old dog Argos recognizes him then died.
Telemakhos gave "the beggar" some food and tell him to go to the suitors for
more. Antinoos threw a stool at him, while Amphinomos gave him two loaf of
bread. Penelope wishes to meet the stranger, but Odysseus decide not to
show himself yet.
Melanthios - a goatherd, very unfaithful, rude
Epithet: pg 310 Penelope the wise; pale-gold Aphrodite; pg 311
Argive exile, Theoklymenos
Hero trait - submission to the will of the gods; restraint rather than
exerting strength; facing hardship without despair (Odysseus now as a
beggar)
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Book 18 Blows and A Queen's Beauty
A true tramp named Iros came to the feast and start a fight with
Odysseus. With help from Athena, Odysseus beat him badly. Now he's
respected a little more, and food was no longer a trouble. Odysseus know
that Amphinomos was good, and warned him to go away. But the young
suitor stayed. Athena wanted Penelope to look prettier again, and made
those suitors love her even more. Penelope then tells Telemakhos to stop
the suitors from abusing the beggar. Odysseus met Melantho, the traitor
servant, and angered her. Eurymakhos made fun of Odysseus then threw
a stool at him, so Telemakhos yelled at them and told them to go home.
Melantho - the very unfaithful servant girl who treat Odysseus
badly
Epithet: pg 336 Iros the tramp; pg 346 shrewd and kindly man
(Odysseus)
Deus Ex Machina - Athena changes Penelopes appearance
Hero trait: practice restraint; facing frustration without despair;
submission to the will of the gods (Odysseus still as a beggar)
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Book 19 Recognitions and a Dream
Odysseus is now ready to begin his plan. He tells Telemakhos to
hide the weapons into the storage room, and a story to cover his action.
Melantho wanted to drive Odysseus out of the house, but Penelope kept
him in. The two of them talked. Odysseus never revealed his identity, but he
told Penelope all about "her lord". Penelope liked this stranger, and said he
seemed like Odysseus (irony). When Eurykleia was ordered to wash
Odysseus feet, she saw the scar on his leg and recognizes him! But
Odysseus thinking quick and grabbed Eurykleias throat. He threatened to
kill her if she tells the secret to others, but loyal Eurykleia promises not to
say a word about it. Athena distracted Penelope, so she didn't notice.
Penelope told Odysseus about a dream she had, and she told him about
a contest idea for the suitors: twelve axe heads lined up, and who ever
shoots an arrow clear through all of them will be the new lord of Ithaka.
Autolykos (mentioned in a story) - Odysseus' mothers father. A
great thief and swindler by Hermes' favor
Epithet: pg 355 golden Aphrodite; pg 358 great master of
invention (Odysseus); pg 361 master improviser
Hero trait - practice restraint rather than exert strength
(Odysseus being the beggar)
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Book 20 Signs and a Vision
At night, Odysseus heard some of the servants (woman) went out
to the homes of suitors. He was very angry, and he prayed for a sign. Zeus
send the omen through a servant, which cursed for the end of the suitors.
The suitors came with death plan for Telemakhos, but when Amphinomos
saw the omen - an eagle clinging to a rockdove, he spoke out against such
an idea. Odysseus started another day of insults and humiliation. Athena
"added spices" here and there, thus more suitors are taking him on.
Theoklymenos foresees the death of them all, but the suitors would not listen.
They kept on making fun of Odysseus, and urge Telemakhos to sell that
beggar for slavery. But that would not ever happen.
Philoitios - the cattle foreman, very loyal to Odysseus
Ktesippos - a rich Samian, who threw a cows foot at Odysseus
Agelao - son of Damastor, another rude suitor
Epithet: pg 379 clear-eye (Telemakhos); pg 380 Melanthios the
goatherd; pg 386 the man of vision (Theoklymenos)
Hero trait - restraint; submission to the will of the god; facing
frustration without despair (Odysseus being the beggar)
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Book 21 The Test of the Bow
Penelope enters the room with the twelve-axe-heads. She
announced the contest of shooting and said the person who make an
arrow go through all twelve holes using Odysseus' bow will be her new
husband. Antinoos eagerly tries to win, but he could not even string the
bow. Leodes, Eurymakhos, and all the others failed to string the bow.
Thus they were frustrated. Mean while, Odysseus revealed his identity
to Eumaios and Philoitios and asked them to fight with him later.
Odysseus went back to the hall, and asked to try the bow. The suitors
afraid that he might actually win, and tried to stop him. But Penelope
granted his wish. Odysseus smoothly strung the bow, then shoot the
arrow clear through all twelve axe heads.
Epithet: Pg 397 Eurymakhos, suitors in chief; pg 401
Penelope, daughter of Ikarios
Epic simile: Pg 404
"...But the man skilled in all ways of contending, satisfied by
the great bow's look and heft, like a musician, like a harper, when with
quiet hand upon his instrument he draws between his thumb and
forefinger a sweet new string upon a peg..."
Hero trait - restraint; facing frustration without despair
(Odysseus being the beggar, waiting for his turn to shoot)
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Book 22 Death in the Great Hall
Odysseus aimed for Antinoos' throat and killed him. The suitors
went around looking for arms, but they can not find any. So they yelled,
and tried hard to escape. Eurymakhos blamed Antinoos for everything,
but Odysseus will not let them live. Eurymakhos raised his sword at him,
so Odysseus killed that trouble-maker with one arrow. Telemakhos ran
to get armor for his father, while the traitor Melanthios went to get
weapons for the suitors. Odysseus ordered Eumaios and Philoitios to tie
up Melanthios, while the father and son take care of the suitors. One
by one, they went down, and the only two spared were Phemios and
Medon. Later, Odysseus ordered the twelve unfaithful servants to clean
the hall, bury the bodies, then hang themselves. Melanthios' nose and
ears were cut off, and his hands and feet were gone too. The work is
done, and the master and slave rejoice.
All the suitors
Phemios - The Harper minstrel who Odysseus spared his life.
Epithet: Pg 413 the goatherd, Melanthios; pg 416 Athena, Hope
of Soldiers;
Epic simile: (almost) pg 422
"...his father spattered and caked with blood like a mountain lion
when he has gorged upon an ox, his kill - with hot blood glistening over his
whole chest, smeared on his jaws, baleful and terrifying..."
Hero trait - willingness to destroy in order to cleanse, purify or
strengthen (Odysseus killing every suitor)
--------------------
Book 23 The Trunk of the Olive Tree
Eurykleia went to call Penelope to see Odysseus, but Penelope
would not believe her. She followed the nurse to see her son, and there she
found Odysseus. They exchanged words, until Odysseus got ticked off at
Penelopes coldness. He yelled at her about that bed he made (next of a
tree trunk) should always be where he sleeps, and thus proved himself to
be the man Penelope loved. They talked all night about their stories of the
past, and Odysseus told her the prophecy that Teiresias told him. The next
morning, Odysseus, his herdsmen, and Telemakhos set trail to see Laertes,
and to deal with the suitors' relatives.
Epithet: pg 431 the attentive lady (Penelope); pg 432 the patient
hero, Odysseus; pg 437 the teller of many stories (Odysseus)
Hero trait - dedication to individual fulfillment (Odysseus wants to
see his father)
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Book 24 Warriors, Farewell
Hermes led the suitors' ghosts to the land of the dead, there
Agamemnon and Akhilleus talked. Agamemnon spoke to Amphimedon
and asked for what happened, when he finished, Agamemnon praise
Penelope for her faithfulness. Odysseus and his men arrived at Laertes'
home and soon after they rejoiced. Odysseus began to feel scared of the
suitors' ghost as well as the living relatives of those suitors. Athena turned
his father into a stronger person, so he can help Odysseus in the fight.
Eupeithes, Antinoos' father heard the news and wanted revenge. He won
over many suitors' angry relatives, and they advanced toward Laertes'
home. Athena killed Eupeithes then broke off the fighting, with Zeus'
thunderbolt as the weapon, she commanded both side to make peace.
Finally, the war at home ended.
Eupeithes - father of Antinoos, who wanted revenge of his
sons death
Deus Ex Machina - Athena breaking off the fight
Epithet: pg 445 Hermes, pure Deliverer; pg 451 Klytaimnestra,
the adulteress;
Hero trait - submission to the will of the gods; untimate subordination
of personal desires to social demands and responsibilites (Odysseus wanted
to fight, but he listened to Athena and stopped)