The Odyssey Summaries

OCR A-Level Classical Civilisation: World of the Hero, Book Summaries

Book 1

In the twentieth year of Odysseus’ absence, the gods convene a meeting and, on Athene’s pleas, decide to order Calypso to release Odysseus. Athene seeks to put some spirit into Telemachus and, disguised as an old friend of Odysseus (Mentes), arrives in Ithaca. She succeeds in her mission, and advises Telemachus to confront the suitors in public. If they still insist on staying, he is to visit his father’s old friends Nestor, King of Pylos, and Menelaus, King of Sparta, to seek news of Odysseus.

Book 2 (not set)

Telemachus tries to stir the men of Ithaca to action against the suitors, but to no avail. He sets off secretly on the journey proposed by Athene. Athene accompanies him, disguised as Mentor. Telemachus visits Nestor.

Book 3 (not set)

First, he hears stories of other Greeks’ returns, but nothing of Odysseus. Accompanied now not by Athene but by Nestor’s son Peisistratus, he moves on to Sparta.

Book 4 (not set)

At Menelaus’ palace he hears from both Menelaus and his wife Helen more stories of the returns of Greeks and of his father’s exploits at Troy, and that his father is alive. Back in Ithaca, the suitors plan to ambush him on his return. Penelope is grief-stricken to hear of his departure.

Book 5

After a second council of the gods, Hermes sets off for Ogygia, and Calypso releases Odysseus. Odysseus sails off, but the sea-god Poseidon, enraged that Odysseus blinded his son the Cyclops, creates a tremendous storm, which nearly kills him. He is finally swept ashore on the peninsula called Scherie, where the Phaeacians live.

Book 6

Athene arranges that Nausicaa, daughter of the King Alcinous, should rescue him.

Book 7

Odysseus makes his way to the palace, where he is kindly received, well looked after, and enjoys full Phaeacian hospitality.

Book 8

During the next day’s festivities, the Phaeacian bard Demodocus sings some stories of Odysseus’ past adventures. Alcinous enquires who he is and why he weeps. Odysseus announces himself and tells the story of his journey from Troy to Calypso.

Book 9

For three years he is blown around the Mediterranean, experiencing adventures with the Cicones, the Lotus-Eaters, and the Cyclops Polyphemus, son of Poseidon, whom he blinds.

Book 10

Odysseus visits Aeolus the wind-god, the giant Laestrygonians (who destroy all his ships but his own), and the witch Circe, who sends him to the Underworld.

Book 11

In the Underworld Odysseus consults the seer Teiresias in order to find out how to return home. He meets the ghost of his mother Anticleia, various celebrated women, some dead companions from Troy (Agamemnon, Achilles and Ajax) and sees other heroes in torment.

Book 12

When he leaves Circe, he listens to the song of the Sirens, escapes Scylla and Charybdis and finally arrives on Thrinacia, the island of the sun-god. There his men refuse to heed Odysseus’ warning not to eat the sungod’s cattle. His last ship is destroyed in the subsequent storm at sea, and Odysseus alone survives, being swept away to Ogygia, the island of the demi-goddess Calypso, where he is marooned for seven more years.

Book 13

The Phaeacians load Odysseus with gifts and send him home. On his arrival in Ithaca, Athene meets him, warns him of the suitors, disguises him as an old beggar, and instructs him to visit Eumaeus.

Book 14

Odysseus is welcomed by Eumaeus (who does not recognize him) and hears about events in the palace.

Book 15

Athene summons Telemachus back from Sparta. He meets a prophet Theoclymenus, on the run for killing a man, and gives him refuge on board ship. Telemachus arrives home, avoids the suitors’ ambush, disbands his crew, puts Theoclymenus in the care of a friend, and sets off for Eumaeus’ hut. The beggar-Odysseus hears more news of Ithaca.

Book 16

Telemachus sends Eumaeus off to town to tell Penelope of his arrival home. In Eumaeus’ absence, Odysseus’ disguise is temporarily lifted and he is reunited with his son. They plan their action against the suitors.

Book 17

Telemachus reaches the hut and goes on ahead to the palace, followed by Odysseus and Eumaeus. Odysseus is recognized by his old hunting-dog Argus (iii). Odysseus begs in the palace, and is attacked and insulted, but Penelope asks Eumaeus to arrange for him to meet her.

Book 18

Odysseus beats up another beggar Irus, but remains on the receiving end of abuse and attacks. Penelope announces that she will remarry.

Book 19

The planned meeting between Penelope and Odysseus takes place. Odysseus persuades her that he has heard of ‘Odysseus’, and the grateful Penelope orders Eurycleia to wash him. Eurycleia recognizes him by his scar collected during the boar-hunt, and is sworn to secrecy. Penelope, still in ignorance of the beggar’s identity, announces that she will next day set up the trial of the bow and the axes: whoever can string Odysseus’ bow and shoot an arrow through the twelve axes will win her hand in marriage.

Book 20

Odysseus and Telemachus remove all the weapons from the hall. In the morning the suitors return to feast and revel. Further insults are directed against Odysseus. He is introduced by Eumaeus to a friendly oxherd, Philoetius. Theoclymenus, in a ghastly vision, foretells the suitors’ impending doom.

Book 21

Penelope fetches the axes and bow. Telemachus sets up the trial and nearly strings the bow himself. The suitors fail. Odysseus reveals himself to Eumaeus and Philoetius and tells Eurycleia to bar the doors. Penelope retires to bed. He persuades the suitors to let him try the bow, strings it and shoots through the axes.

Book 22

Odysseus, Telemachus, Eumaeus and Philoetius, first with bow and arrows, then with arms- and helped by Athene disguised as Mentor- slaughter the suitors. The house is cleansed, the faithless servants are hanged, and the faithful greet their lord.

Book 23

Eurycleia wakens Penelope. She cannot believe that the beggar is Odysseus, but by testing him about the construction of their marriage bed, she proves to her satisfaction that it is he. They make preparations to repel the suitors’ relatives, and go to bed.

Book 24

The ghosts of the suitors arrive in Hades, where Agamemnon and Achilles hear of Odysseus’ triumph: Agamemnon praises Penelope, contrasting her with Clytemnestra. Odysseus is reunited with his father Laertes . The suitors’ relatives gather to take revenge. After a brief engagement, Zeus and Athene intervene, and peace is restored in Ithaca.