Name: _________________________________________
Odyssey Chapters 9-16 Summary
Mods: ____________
Directions: Fill in the blanks according to the summary for chapters 9-16.
After Odysseus finishes his tale, Alcinous, Phaeacia’s king, vows to sail Odysseus home
and to supply him with gifts. Odysseus passes the time on his way back to Ithaca by sleeping.
When he arrives at Ithaca, Athena covers the land in a mist so that Odysseus does not
recognize the place. This will give her time to help him plan without him rushing back home.
After Athena reveals herself to Odysseus, they both hide his treasure. Odysseus then
hears how the suitors have been trying to steal Penelope for three years. He probably feels
happy to learn, however, that Penelope has remained faithful to him. Athena then disguises
Odysseus as an old beggar so that no one will recognize him. While in disguise, she wants
Odysseus to test everyone in order to discover who has been loyal and who has not.
Athena then helps Odysseus plan. She advises him to go to the house of Eumaeus, his
loyal swineherd first. She says he should do this so he has time to plan the slaughter of the
suitors. Odysseus and Athena then part ways.
At the hut, Eumaeus shows Odysseus loyalty by telling him how he longs to see his
master once again. Eumaeus also shows this trait when he tells the beggar that he misses and
loves Odysseus so much he wants to see him more than he wants to see his own family. Before
going to bed, Eumaeus then shows Odysseus hospitality by preparing him a bed by the fire.
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While Odysseus is at Eumaeus’, Athena is at Sparta in order to encourage Telemachus to
return to Ithaca. She warns Telemachus to get there soon because the suitors might succeed in
taking away his home. She also warns him that some of them want to ambush him. She tells him
a different, safer path to take in order to get home.
The next morning, Menelaus and his wife, the famous Helen, agree to supply
Telemachus with a ship back home. They also supply him with provisions (supplies) and gifts
for his journey home.
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Meanwhile, that same morning, at Eumaeus’ hut, Odysseus learns that his father,
Laertes, is alive but that his mother is died because she worried so much for her son.
At the same time, Telemachus arrives at Ithaca and goes to the house of Eumaeus. There,
he sees the beggar and shows him hospitality. While Eumaeus is gone telling Penelope of her
son’s return, Odysseus reveals himself to Telemachus, who is disbelieving at first but then, at
Odysseus’s urging, does believe the beggar is his father. After a nice reunion, Eumaeus returns
and he takes the beggar with him to the palace while Telemachus goes on separately. At the
palace, Odysseus sees his dog, Argos, who is dying.
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Inside the palace, Odysseus sees suitors plaguing his home, behaving rudely. He goes
from suitor to suitor in order to beg food from them. He does this to see who is hospitable and
who is not. While doing so, the suitors mock and abuse him.
Soon, a beggar named Irus shows up and threatens the beggar (Odysseus). Odysseus
says there is plenty for them both but the other beggar gets angry and challenges Odysseus, who
accepts. The suitors are thrilled (excited) about the impending fight, and they promise that the
winner will be able to receive food from them for as long as he likes.
The suitors feel bad for Irus when they see the beggar’s (Odysseus’) powerful build. Irus is
scared but forced to fight because of a threat from Antinous. The beggar (Odysseus) wins the
quick battle without a problem.
Odysseus then warns the suitors to leave the palace; they listen but do not change their
ways. Penelope then shows up and encourages the suitors by getting them to bring her gifts,
which they lay at her feet.
Odysseus then meets a cruel maid named Melantho who is in love with Eurymachus.
She insults Odysseus and only scurries off after Odysseus threatens to kill her.
Athena makes the suitors tease/taunt Odysseus in order to make him angrier. The suitor,
Eurymachus, leads the insults and throws a heavy bowl at Odysseus.
Later that night, Telemachus hides the weapons while Odysseus goes to speak with
Penelope. After speaking with her, Eurycleia washes his feet. While doing so, she notices the
scar on Odysseus’ leg, and realizes the beggar is Odysseus. Odysseus tells her that if she reveals
this, he will kill her; she is offended, however, and so would never do that.
The following day, an omen, thunder, comes from Zeus in response to Odysseus’ prayer
for a sign. The suitors show up, and return for the day. Odysseus’ loyal cowherd, Philoetius,
shows up next and introduces himself to Odysseus.
Meanwhile, the suitors plot Telemachus’s death. While doing so, a bird flies above the
suitors’ left hands. Ctessipus tells the suitors that this is a bad sign. As a result, they drop the
plan to kill Telemachus.
The scene ends with Ctessipus, a suitor, throwing an ox hoof at Odysseus. They laugh,
and when the prophet, Theoclymenus, warns them to leave the palace, they brush him off; so, the
prophet leaves in order to save himself.