The Odyssey:
Summaries for Unassigned Books
Directions: Use these summaries to bridge the gaps in the assigned reading. If you have
time, however, these chapters are also well worth reading.
You need to read Book 1 in full.
Book 2: Telemachus Sets Sail
On the next day, Telemachus calls the first assembly of the Ithacans since the departure
of Odysseus for Troy. Telemachus formally upbraids the suitors, demanding that they
quit the palace and leave his mother to her grief. Antinous retorts that the suitors will
remain until Penelope weds one of them and he denounces Penelope's ruse. (She had
vowed to choose a husband when she completed a shroud she had been weaving for
Laertes [Odysseus' father]. But each night she unraveled the portion she had woven
during the day.) A pair of eagles is interpreted as a favorable omen by Halitherses, a seer,
and Telemachus requests a ship for his voyage. After Telemachus dissolves the assembly,
the goddess Athena, disguised as Mentor, a faithful lord, promises to procure a ship and
crew. At the palace, after an exchange with Telemachus, the suitors grow worried about
his plans. Telemachus enjoins Eurycleia, nurse of Odysseus, to prepare provisions in utter
secrecy; he then departs at night and sails until dawn.
Book 3: King Nestor Remembers
Telemachus reaches the home of old Nestor on Pylos. Nestor and his sons are on the
shore offering a sacrifice to Poseidon. They welcome Telemachus but know nothing of
Odysseus. Telemachus asks Nestor to retell the story of the Oresteia, the murder of
Agamemnon by his wife’s lover, Aegisthus and the subsequent revenge killing of
Aegisthus by Agamemnon’s son, Orestes. Nestor feels that Menelaus (Agamemnon’s
brother and husband of Helen) would most likely have news of Odysseus. Nestor offers
to send Telemachus to Sparta with one of his sons in a chariot since this would be quicker
than going by sea. Telemachus accepts and leaves Nestor in charge of his ship.
Book 4: The King and Queen of Sparta
Telemachus arrives in Sparta where he receives a princely welcome. He and Nestor’s
son are bathed in a silver bathtub, rubbed in sweet oils, wrapped in purple robes, and led
to a banquet hall. Menelaus speaks of Odysseus, and Telemachus is touched by the tales
of the sorrows of Odysseus. Then Helen walks in; her beauty still is breathtaking.
Seeing his resemblance to Odysseus, Helen reveals Telemachus’s identity and tells some
anecdotes from the Trojan War. The next day, Menelaus tells Telemachus what he
learned from Proteus when he was becalmed by the gods. He gives more details about
the Oresteia. He also learned that Odysseus, homesick, has been kept on Calypso’s
island. Telemachus is anxious to return to his ship in Pylos, so Menelaus gives
Telemachus a rich parting gift. Meanwhile, back on Ithaca, the suitors learn that
Telemachus has left in search of news. Angered, they plot an ambush to kill him on his
return. Penelope learns about the plan and grieves, so Athena comforts her in a dream.
Book 5: Odysseus—Nymph and Shipwreck
At another council of the gods, once again without Poseidon present, Athena convinces
Zeus to allow Odysseus to return home—but not directly. First, he must go to the land of
the Phaeacians. Hermes takes Zeus’s command to Calypso who grudgingly goes along.
Odysseus thinks Calypso might be plotting more problems for him, so she swears an oath
to him and provides tools and materials with which to build a small boat or raft. Four
days later, Odysseus sets sail and travels for 18 days. Poseidon returns from Ethiopia and
spies him. He stirs up a terrible storm. All of Odysseus’s parting gifts are lost and he
huddles in his damaged craft. A demi-goddess, Ino, takes pity on him, offers him a scarf
of invincibility, and urges him to swim for land, but Odysseus stubbornly clings to his
craft. Poseidon sends one more big wave, and the vessel is completely destroyed.
Athena quiets the storm and Odysseus swims/floats for two days. He dodges destruction
on a treacherous reef before finally coming ashore. Safe on land, at last!
Book 6: The Princess and the Stranger
On Phaeacia, Athena comes to Nausicaa, the king’s daughter, in a dream and urges her to
take her washing to the river. There, she and her attendants amuse themselves playing
ball and accidentally wake Odysseus. He covers himself and addresses Nausicaa with
flattery. She is not afraid of him, and allows him to bathe and clothe himself and gives
him food. On the return to town, Nausicaa suggests that Odysseus wait and come into
town separately, so people won’t gossip. She gives him directions to seek out her
mother, Queen Arete, in the palace and seek her favor.
Book 7: Phaeacia’s Halls and Gardens
Odysseus agrees with Nausicaa to enter the town separately. Athena places a fog around
Odysseus so that he can enter unobserved. Asking directions from a little girl (Athena in
disguise), Odysseus finds the palace, goes through the halls, and begs Queen Arete for
her help. Not knowing his identity, King Alcinous offers Odysseus food and drink. They
assure Odysseus that, regardless of his identity, they will arrange for his transport home.
Alcinous urges Odysseus to sleep; he can reveal his identity tomorrow.
Book 8: A Day for Songs and Contests
Odysseus is welcomed by those who gather to feast and hear the minstrel sing. When the
minstrel sings of Troy and of Odysseus and the other heroes, Odysseus cries but is able to
hide his tears. When the minstrel continues, Alcinous notices Odysseus’s sorrow and
suggests games and contests. Finally, the young men ask Odysseus to join the
competition. Odysseus declines and is reviled by some of the youths. Then Odysseus
proves himself by throwing a discus farther than any other. Apologies follow and the
blind minstrel (Homer?) sings a great, rather bawdy story about Ares and Aphrodite
(lines 300-410) and dancers perform. The princes offer Odysseus gifts, and Odysseus
praises the blind minstrel who then sings of the Trojan horse strategy. Odysseus again
cries; Alcinous asks the minstrel to stop and bids Odysseus identify himself. He assures
Odysseus that they will take him home and reveals a prophecy that one day when
homeward bound after helping a traveler one of his ships will be destroyed by Poseidon
and a range of hills and mountains will be raised around the city.
You need to read Books 9 and 10 in full.
Book 11: The Kingdom of the Dead
Odysseus sailed forth to the river Ocean, which encircles the earth, and offered the proper
sacrifice on the shore. The spirits clustered round the blood. First Elpenor spoke,
requesting cremation and burial. Then Teiresias, who predicted the homeward voyage,
the battle with the suitors, and a strange journey to men who know no sea. Odysseus next
conversed with his mother, Anticleia, thrice attempting vainly to embrace the ghost. Then
he spoke with the shades of famous women. Odysseus here, interrupts his story, but
Alcinous persuades him to continue. In Hades, he next met Agamemnon who recounted
his death and warned of faithless women. He spoke with Achilles, reporting the noble
deeds of Achilles' son, Neoptolemus, at Troy. But the shade of Aias did not speak; he still
resented Odysseus. He observed Minos, Orion, Heracles, and the torments of Tityus,
Tantalus, and Sisyphus, Finally, he departed for Aeaea.
You need to read Books 12 and 13 in full.
Book 14: The Loyal Swineherd
Odysseus, in the disguise of a beggar, finds Eumaeus, the swineherd, and is welcomed.
Eumaeus reiterates Athena’s information about the bad situation in Ithaca. Odysseus
entertains Eumaeus with a false tale about himself but assures him that Odysseus still
lives. Odysseus spends the night and is pleased that Eumaeus is still faithful.
Book 15: The Prince Sets Sail for Home
At Athena’s urging, Telemachus leaves Menelaus and Helen. Athena warns Telemachus
that the suitors plan to murder him; therefore, Telemachus should take a different route
home and seek the loyal Eumaeus for news. Odysseus spends the day and night with
Eumaeus, and Telemachus reaches Ithaca.
You need to read Book 16 in full.
Book 17: Stranger at the Gates
Telemachus returns to his home alone and leaves the other two to follow. Telemachus is
greeted by Penelope and by Eurycleia, the old nurse. The suitors return;
Odysseus/beggar and Eumaeus arrive. When Odysseus returns, his old dog Argos hears
his master’s voice and tries to wag his tail, but death takes the faithful dog. Telemachus
gives food to the beggar/Odysseus, who begs among the suitors and is ridiculed by them.
Antinous is the worst of the suitors; finally he throws a stool at the beggar/Odysseus and
hits him on the shoulder. Penelope hears of this and asks to see the beggar, who says she
should wait until nightfall. Eumaeus returns to his hut.
You need to read Books 18 and 19 in full.
Book 20: Portents Gather
After visiting with Penelope, Odysseus has a bad night’s sleep, thinking of the action the
next day. Athena reassures him. He asks her for a plan, but she tells him that as long as
she is on his side, he’ll be fine. Penelope awakes from a dream that she was once again
sleeping next to Odysseus. In the morning, Odysseus receives a favorable omen from
Zeus. Telemachus awakes and prepares himself for the day’s action. A goatherd and a
cowherd both address Odysseus/beggar—the first disrespectfully and the second
extremely courteously. The beggar promises a suitor who heckles him that Odysseus will
return. Telemachus warns the suitors to leave the beggar alone, but one of them throws
an oxhoof at him, missing. Harsh words and threats ensue between the suitors and
Telemachus. Then the suitors begin to laugh hysterically. A seer warns them of doom
approaching, but they laugh him out of the house. The suitors go back to heckling
Telemachus. Meanwhile, upstairs, Penelope listens at her door.
Book 21: Odysseus Strings His Bow
Penelope brings forth Odysseus' bow and announces the contest of the axes. The suitors
attempt, in turn, to string the bow but none can bend it. Odysseus reveals his identity to
Eumaeus and Philoetius and orders them to have all the gates barred. Meantime,
Eurymachus and Antinous decline to enter the contest. Odysseus demands a try but the
suitors are afraid lest he succeed where they have failed. Eumaeus brings him the bow,
which Odysseus strings, and he shoots an arrow clean through the axeholes. At a sign
from Odysseus, Telemachus straps on his sword and stands by his father.
Book 22: Slaughter in the Hall
Odysseus kills Antinous with one of his arrows and blocks the threshold, keeping the
suitors trapped. He tells the suitors that they will all die today. Eurymachus tries to lay
all the blame on Antinous and offers to repay Odysseus, but Odysseus tells the suitors to
either fight or flee. The swineherd, the cowherd, and Telemachus arm themselves and
stand at Odysseus’s side. The goatherd helps the suitors by fetching arms for them, but
the swineherd and cowherd catch him and tie him up. The four of them methodically
massacre all of the suitors. Athena helps by deflecting the spears thrown by the suitors.
Odysseus performs a purification of the house with smoke.
You need to read Book 23 in full.
Book 24: Peace
Hermes escorts the ghosts of the suitors to Hades. Agamemnon and Achilles are there
discussing their own deaths. One of the dead suitors tells the story of Odysseus killing
the suitors, and Agamemnon praises both Penelope and Odysseus. Meanwhile, back on
Ithaca, Odysseus expects a backlash from the families of the suitors, so he and his men go
to see Laertes, Odysseus’s father, at his farm. Laertes has greatly aged and seems to be
greatly grieved by his son’s absence. Odysseus at first pretends to be someone else who
played host to Odysseus five years earlier, but when Laertes breaks down, he gives in and
reveals his true identity. The families of the suitors bury their dead relatives and plot
revenge against Odysseus. There is a brief clash, but Athena and Zeus intervene to
establish a peace between the two camps.