The Odyssey Summary
Description
Here you will find a The Odyssey summary (Homer's book).
We begin with a summary of the entire book, and then you can read each individual chapter's summary by visiting the links on the "Chapters" section.
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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024
Chapters
Chapters The Odyssey Summary Overview
A decade after the collapse of Troy, the legendary Greek warrior, Odysseus, has yet to return to his realm in Ithaca. His palace has been invaded by a large and unruly crowd of suitors courting his wife, Penelope, who remains loyal to her absent husband. The pair's son, Prince Telemachus, yearns to expel them, yet lacks the courage and experience to do so. One suitor, Antinous, intends to assassinate the young prince, thereby eliminating the only challenge to their rule. Odysseus, unbeknownst to the suitors, is alive but trapped on the island of Ogygia by the nymph Calypso, who is in love with him. He yearns for home, yet lacks the means to escape. As the gods and goddesses debate his fate, Athena, his biggest divine advocate, decides to help Telemachus. Disguised, she persuades the prince to call a meeting, reproaching the suitors and embarking on a journey to learn of his father’s fate. Back in Ithaca, the suitors plot to ambush and kill Telemachus upon his return. Zeus commands Hermes to free Odysseus from Calypso's clutches. Despite a storm sent by the vengeful sea god Poseidon, Odysseus sets sail and eventually finds refuge in Scheria, the home of the Phaeacians. They are captivated by his stories and promise him a safe journey home. Once back in Ithaca, Odysseus and Telemachus, who has survived the suitors' ambush, plan to reclaim their home. Odysseus's return and the subsequent massacre of the suitors brings a thrilling end to his long, arduous journey.
book 1
The tale of Odysseus's plight is set to be shared, inspired by the Muse. A decade has passed since the Trojan War's end, all Greek warriors, except Odysseus, have reached home. Odysseus is stuck on a distant island, Ogygia, with Calypso, a goddess who's in love with him and won't let him go. Back home in Ithaca, his wealth is being squandered by suitors vying for his wife Penelope's hand, with the hope of ruling his kingdom. Odysseus's son, Telemachus, now a young man, feels helpless and accepts his father might be dead. Athena, with Zeus's approval, embarks on a journey to Ithaca to meet Telemachus disguised as Mentes, an old friend of Odysseus. She informs him that his father is alive and will return soon. Athena advises Telemachus to gather the suitors and expel them from his father's property. She also instructs him to travel to Pylos and Sparta to gather any news about his father. After this meeting, Telemachus finds Penelope distressed by the court bard's song that recounts the Greeks' struggles following the war. The song serves to further upset the already grieving Penelope. Telemachus, much to Penelope's surprise, reprimands her. He states that Odysseus isn't the only one missing since Troy and recommends her to retire to her chamber if the music in the men's quarters displeases her. He also assures her that he will handle her affairs with the suitors. He then announces to the suitors that an assembly will be held the next day where they will be commanded to exit his father's property. Two defiant suitors, Antinous and Eurymachus, question Telemachus about his recent visitor. Telemachus, suspecting the visitor to be a disguised goddess, only reveals that the visitor was his father's friend.
book 2
At the next gathering, Ithacan elder Aegyptius commends Telemachus for stepping up in his father's absence. This is the first assembly since Odysseus' departure. Telemachus mourns the loss of his father and his home, now overrun by his mother's suitors, who are sons of Ithacan elites. He criticizes them for feasting on his father's livestock while courting his mother, instead of properly asking her father, Icarius, for her hand in marriage. Antinous, a suitor, blames Penelope for the stalemate, claiming she flirts with everyone but won't commit. He recalls a trick she used to avoid remarriage: promising to choose a husband once she finished knitting a funeral shroud for her father-in-law, Laertes. But each night, she unraveled her day's work, making sure the shroud remained incomplete. Antinous suggests sending Penelope back to her father to choose a new husband if she can't decide. Telemachus, loyal to his mother, hopes the gods will punish the suitors and, at that moment, two eagles in battle appear overhead. Soothsayer Halitherses sees this as a sign of Odysseus' return and warns the suitors of a potential slaughter if they don't leave. The suitors dismiss this as nonsense, resulting in a stalemate. As Telemachus plans his journey to Pylos and Sparta, Athena, disguised as Mentor, Odysseus' old friend, visits him. She assures him of a successful journey. Disguised as Telemachus, she gathers a dependable crew for his ship. Telemachus doesn't inform the household servants of his trip to avoid upsetting his mother. He only confides in Eurycleia, his old nurse, who fears he may face his father's fate. He reassures her, claiming divine protection.
book 3
In the city of Pylos, Telemachus and his mentor, Athena, who is in disguise, observe a grand religious ritual where many bulls are offered to Poseidon, the sea god. Despite his lack of experience in public speaking, Telemachus, with Athena's support, approaches King Nestor to inquire about his father, Odysseus. Yet, Nestor has no updates about the famed Greek warrior. He shares a story about the discord between Agamemnon and Menelaus after Troy's fall and how Odysseus remained with Agamemnon while Nestor left with Menelaus. Nestor expresses his hope that Athena will guide Telemachus as she did Odysseus and voices his concerns about the suitors occupying Telemachus's home in Ithaca. He hopes that Telemachus will gain fame defending his father, much like Agamemnon's son, Orestes. Telemachus then questions Nestor about Agamemnon's end. Nestor describes how a coward named Aegisthus, who didn't fight in Troy, married and killed Agamemnon with his wife Clytemnestra's consent. Aegisthus would have seized Agamemnon's throne if Orestes, who was in exile in Athens, hadn't returned to kill both Aegisthus and Clytemnestra. Nestor uses Orestes's bravery as a lesson for Telemachus. Nestor's son, Pisistratus, is sent to accompany Telemachus to Sparta. They begin their land journey the following day. Athena unveils her divine identity by transforming herself from Mentor into an eagle before the whole Pylos court, but decides to remain behind to safeguard Telemachus's ship and its crew.
book 4
Over in Sparta, Menelaus and Helen, the king and queen, joyfully welcome their guests, Pisistratus and Telemachus. They quickly identify Telemachus as Odysseus's son due to the striking family likeness. During a hearty feast, they fondly remember the numerous times Odysseus demonstrated his cleverness at Troy. Helen shares a tale of Odysseus disguising himself as a beggar to infiltrate the city, while Menelaus recounts the clever Trojan horse ruse, credited to Odysseus, which led to the Greeks' victory over Troy. The next day, Menelaus shares his own post-Troy journey. He recalls being stranded in Egypt and forced to catch Proteus, the divine Old Man of the Sea. Proteus guided him back to Sparta and also revealed the destinies of Agamemnon and Ajax, both Greek heroes who survived Troy but met tragic ends in Greece. Proteus shared news about Odysseus as well; he was alive but held captive by Calypso on her island. This encouraging news energizes Telemachus and Pisistratus to sail back to Pylos, en route to Ithaca. In the meantime, the suitors at Odysseus's house discover Telemachus's travels and plan to trap him on his return. Penelope learns about their plot from Medon, the herald, who overhears their scheme. She is pained at the thought of losing her son, having already lost her husband, but Athena sends a phantom appearing as Penelope’s sister, Iphthime, to comfort her. Iphthime assures her that Telemachus is under the goddess's protection.
book 5
All the gods, excluding Poseidon, meet once more on Mount Olympus to decide on Odysseus's destiny. Athena convinces Zeus to step in and send Hermes, the gods' messenger, to Calypso's island. He is to tell her Odysseus must finally be allowed to leave to go home. Calypso protests, speaking strongly of the male gods' double standards, but eventually, she gives in to Zeus. Odysseus, now the sole survivor from the contingent he led at Troy, gets Calypso's help to build a new boat and provision it. She sadly watches as he sails away. After eighteen days at sea, Odysseus sees Scheria, the Phaeacians' island and his next stop as decreed by the gods. Poseidon, coming back from Ethiopia, sees him and realizes what the others have done. He creates a storm, which threatens to drown Odysseus, but Ino, a goddess, saves him with a magical veil. Athena also helps him, navigating him between the deep sea and dangerous coastal rocks. Eventually, a river on the island's coast allows him to swim to safety. Following Ino's instructions, he returns the veil to the sea and takes shelter in a nearby forest.
book 6
Athena, in a dream, visits Nausicaa, a Phaeacian princess, disguised as her friend. She suggests that Nausicaa wash her clothes at the river to attract her suitors. The following day, Nausicaa goes to the river where Odysseus finds her and her maids, who are all unclothed while their clothes dry. Odysseus, who is also nude, respectfully requests their help without disclosing his identity. Nausicaa permits him to clean himself, and Athena enhances his attractiveness, causing Nausicaa to develop feelings for him. To avoid attracting attention, Nausicaa provides him with directions to the palace and tips on how to engage with Queen Arete of the Phaeacians. Odysseus, after praying to Athena for the Phaeacians' hospitality, heads towards the palace.
book 7
Odysseus, on his journey to King Alcinous' palace, is stopped by Athena disguised as a young girl. She guides him to the palace and shields him with a mist to prevent any issues with the Phaeacians, who are kind but slightly distrustful of strangers. She instructs him to address his request for assistance to Queen Arete, who is wise and influential, then leaves for Athens. Odysseus arrives at the palace during a festival for Poseidon. He's awed by the king's wealth and the palace's grandeur. Upon seeing the queen, he bows at her feet, and the protective mist vanishes. The king, initially suspecting him to be a deity, is reassured by Odysseus that he's human. Odysseus explains his situation, and the royal couple promise to send him home on a Phaeacian ship the next day. In a private meeting with the king and queen later, Queen Arete identifies the clothes Odysseus is wearing as those she made for her daughter Nausicaa. She questions Odysseus, who narrates his journey from Calypso’s island, including his encounter with Nausicaa who gave him the clothes. He assures them it was his decision to arrive at the palace alone. King Alcinous is so taken with Odysseus that he proposes to marry his daughter to him.
book 8
On the following day, Alcinous gathers his Phaeacian advisors. Athena, returning from Athens, ensures everyone attends by spreading the news about the divine guest on their island. During the meeting, Alcinous suggests providing a ship for the visitor to help him get back to his own land. This suggestion is accepted, and Alcinous welcomes the advisors to his palace for a feast and games in honor of his guest. At the feast, a blind singer named Demodocus tells the tale of a feud between Odysseus and Achilles at Troy. All enjoy the tale except Odysseus, who cries due to the painful memories it brings. Noticing Odysseus's sadness, the king concludes the feast and begins the games. The games consist of boxing, wrestling, racing, and discus throwing. When Odysseus is asked to join, he, still burdened by his past sufferings, refuses. But when one of the young Phaeacian athletes, Broadsea, mocks him, Odysseus's pride is triggered. After easily winning the discus throw, he dares the Phaeacian athletes to any contest they choose. The argument gets heated, but is cooled down by Alcinous who insists that Odysseus join another feast where the Phaeacian young men amuse him with their superior skills in song and dance. Demodocus performs once more, this time a light-hearted song about a secret affair between Ares and Aphrodite. Afterwards, Alcinous and the Phaeacian men, Broadsea included, present Odysseus with gifts for his homeward journey. During the evening meal, Odysseus requests Demodocus to sing about the Trojan horse and the fall of Troy, but the song brings him to tears again. Observing this, King Alcinous halts the music. He finally asks Odysseus to reveal his identity, his origin, and his destination.
book 9
Odysseus reluctantly shares his unfortunate travels with the Phaeacians. After leaving Troy, he and his men are blown to Ismarus, the Cicones' city. They ransack the city, but their greed leads them to stay too long, and the Cicones attack. Odysseus and his crew escape, but six men from each ship are lost. A storm sent by Zeus carries them to the land of the Lotus-eaters for nine days, where some of Odysseus's men eat the lotus fruit that causes them to forget their home and desire to stay. Odysseus is only able to leave by forcing his men back to the ship. They then navigate to the land of the Cyclops during a dark night. After feasting on wild goats from an island, they find a cave on the mainland filled with sheep and dairy products. Despite his men's advice to steal food and leave, Odysseus chooses to stay, which proves detrimental. The cave is home to the Cyclops Polyphemus, son of Poseidon, who initially appears hospitable but soon becomes violent, consuming two of Odysseus's men and holding the rest captive. Odysseus considers fighting Polyphemus but realizes only the Cyclops can move the rock blocking the cave entrance. Instead, he hatches a plan. The next day, Odysseus finds a wooden staff, hardens it in the fire, and gets Polyphemus drunk on wine. When asked his name, he replies, "Nobody." Once Polyphemus falls unconscious, Odysseus and a few men drive the burning staff into his eye. Polyphemus cries out, "Nobody's killing me," misleading his neighbors into leaving. In the morning, Odysseus and his men escape unseen by clinging to the underside of Polyphemus's grazing sheep. Once safely on their ships with Polyphemus's sheep, Odysseus reveals his true identity. Unable to reach his former captives, Polyphemus prays to his father, Poseidon, for revenge against Odysseus.
book 10
Odysseus and his crew leave the Cyclops' region and land at Aeolus's place, the keeper of the winds. Aeolus gives Odysseus a bag that holds all the winds, except for a western breeze that will lead them to their homeland. Within ten days, they can see Ithaca, but Odysseus's men, thinking the bag holds treasures, open it out of greed, releasing the winds that blow them back to Aeolus. However, Aeolus, believing the gods despise Odysseus, refuses to aid them further. Without wind to support them, they row to the territory of the Laestrygonians, a tribe of gigantic beings. The king, Antiphates, and his queen eat some of Odysseus's men. Odysseus and the remaining crew escape their clutches, but their ships get destroyed by boulders hurled by the Laestrygonians, with only Odysseus's ship managing to escape. Next, they sail to Aeaea, the home of the enchanting witch Circe. Circe bewitches some of Odysseus's men, turning them into pigs. Hermes, appearing as a youth, instructs Odysseus to consume a herb called moly to avoid Circe's spell and attack her. Odysseus does so, overpowering Circe and forcing her to restore his men. He becomes Circe's lover, and they live a year of luxury. When his men convince him to resume their journey, Circe advises Odysseus to visit the underworld and consult the blind prophet, Tiresias, on how to reach home. The following day, Odysseus rallies his men for departure, only to find that his youngest crew member, Elpenor, had drunkenly fallen from the roof and died the night before. Odysseus then reveals their next route, which is not straightforward, to his discontented men.
book 11
Odysseus makes his way to the River of Ocean in Cimmerian land. Here, he performs rituals, as advised by Circe, to summon the spirits of the dead. Elpenor, a crewmember who fell from Circe's roof, is the first to appear. He pleads with Odysseus to give his body a dignified burial on Circe’s island. Odysseus then converses with the Theban prophet Tiresias, who explains that Poseidon is avenging his son Polyphemus' blinding by the Achaeans. Tiresias provides a prophecy of Odysseus' future - he will regain his wife and home from the intrusive suitors, and then embark on another journey to placate Poseidon. He cautions Odysseus to avoid the Sun’s herds in Thrinacia to prevent more adversity and the loss of his crew. After Tiresias leaves, Odysseus interacts with other spirits. His mother, Anticleia, informs him about the happenings in Ithaca and her death due to the sorrow of his absence. He also has encounters with spirits of renowned men and heroes and learns about their lives and demises. Odysseus attempts to conclude his story and requests his Phaeacian hosts to let him rest. However, the king and queen request him to carry on, curious if he met any fallen Greeks from Troy in Hades. He narrates his experiences: he meets Agamemnon, who shares his assassination story by his wife, Clytemnestra. He also encounters Achilles, who inquires about his son, Neoptolemus. Odysseus tries to converse with Ajax, who had committed suicide due to his defeat in a contest against Odysseus for Achilles’ arms, but Ajax shuns him. Odysseus also observes King Minos, Heracles, the hunter Orion, and others. He witnesses Sisyphus' eternal punishment of rolling a rock uphill only for it to roll back down. He also sees Tantalus, tormented by unquenchable hunger and thirst. Soon, Odysseus is swarmed by souls wanting to know about their kin in the living world. Frightened, he retreats to his ship and sails off immediately.
book 12
Odysseus finds his way back to Aeaea where he lays Elpenor to rest and spends another night with Circe. She explains the trials he'll come across on his journey back and gives him advice on how to overcome them. As he sails away, Odysseus shares Circe’s guidance with his crew. They draw near to the enchanting Sirens' island, and following Circe’s advice, he stuffs his crew's ears with beeswax and secures himself to the ship's mast. Only he listens to their captivating song that offers to tell the future. The allure of the Sirens' melody is so powerful that Odysseus pleads to be untied, but his loyal men only tighten his restraints. Moving past the Sirens’ island, they must sail between Scylla and Charybdis. Scylla is a monstrous creature with six heads, each one devouring a sailor whenever ships sail past. Charybdis is a gigantic whirlpool threatening to gulp down the entire ship. Following Circe's instructions, Odysseus steers the ship close to Scylla’s cave. As they glance across the strait at Charybdis, Scylla's heads dip down to snatch six of the sailors. Odysseus' journey takes him to Thrinacia, the Sun God's island. He intends to bypass it, but Eurylochus, an outspoken crew member, persuades him to allow the tired crew to rest there. They are stranded for a month by a storm. Initially, they subsist on their provisions, but when these diminish, Eurylochus convinces the crew to disregard Odysseus and kill the Sun God's cattle. They do so while Odysseus is sleeping. When the Sun God finds out, he requests Zeus to punish them. Soon after they depart Thrinacia, Zeus stirs up another storm, sinking the ship and drowning the crew. Only Odysseus survives, just barely, and is carried back to Charybdis, which he narrowly escapes again. Clinging onto the remnants of his ship, he eventually washes up on Ogygia, Calypso’s island. Odysseus stops his narrative here, telling the Phaeacians that there's no need to repeat his time on Ogygia.
book 13
Odysseus completes his tale and eagerly prepares for departure from Scheria. The following day, Alcinous arranges his presents on the vessel that is to escort him back to Ithaca. As twilight falls, Odysseus embarks, sleeping uninterrupted throughout the voyage, unaware of the ship's arrival the next dawn. The crew discreetly unloads him and his gifts, then return to their homeland. Spotting Odysseus on Ithaca, Poseidon grows furious with the Phaeacians for aiding his enemy. He seeks Zeus's permission to reprimand them, and as their vessel approaches Scheria, it fulfills the prophecy from Book 8 and transforms into solid rock, sinking into the depths. The spectators on the coast instantly recognize the fulfillment of the prophecy and agree to discontinue their tradition of assisting lost travelers. On Ithaca, Odysseus awakens to an unrecognizable landscape, veiled in mist by Athena to guard its identity while she strategizes his next steps. Initially, he blames the Phaeacians, believing they've misled him. However, when Athena, disguised as a shepherd, assures him he's in Ithaca, he cleverly hides his identity until she uncovers hers. Pleased with his cunning, Athena instructs him to punish the suitors by seeking refuge in Eumaeus's hut. She updates him about Telemachus's quest for news about him and alters his appearance to that of an elderly beggar to avoid recognition.
book 14
Odysseus stumbles upon Eumaeus outside his shack, unrecognized by the latter due to his worn-out appearance. Even so, Eumaeus welcomes him in, offering him a meal of pork. Throughout the meal, Eumaeus continuously praises the memory of his previous master, Odysseus, whom he assumes is gone forever, while expressing his disgust towards his current masters, the wicked suitors. Odysseus hints that Eumaeus will soon reunite with his former master, but Eumaeus dismisses this, having had too many experiences with freeloading wanderers who make up stories about Odysseus for handouts from Penelope. Despite this, Eumaeus grows fond of his guest, allowing him to stay overnight and lending him a cloak for the chilly night. Responding to Eumaeus's curiosity about his past, Odysseus fibs, claiming he hails from Crete and had fought alongside Odysseus in Troy. He shares that he safely returned home but was later impoverished after a disastrous trip to Egypt. It was during that journey, he adds, that he learned Odysseus was still alive.
book 15
In Sparta, Athena finds Telemachus and Nestor’s son, Pisistratus. She warns Telemachus that the suitors are trying to marry his mother and advises him to return home quickly. She reveals their planned ambush and informs him to first visit Eumaeus, the swineherd, who will inform Penelope of his safe return. The following day, Telemachus announces his departure and receives parting gifts from Menelaus and Helen. As he leaves the palace, a sign appears in the form of an eagle with a stolen goose, which Helen believes signifies Odysseus' impending return and revenge on the suitors. Upon reaching Pylos, Telemachus insists on going directly to his ship, refusing to visit Nestor again. Just as they are set to leave, Theoclymenus, a prophet’s descendant who is escaping from a murder charge in Argos, requests to join. Telemachus accepts him and promises hospitality in Ithaca. At Eumaeus' hut, Odysseus pretends to leave, hoping Eumaeus will invite him to stay longer. He suggests he could work for the suitors, but Eumaeus dismisses it as a dangerous idea. The two men then exchange stories, and Eumaeus shares his past as a kidnapped royal child sold to Odysseus’s father in Ithaca. The next day, Telemachus arrives in Ithaca. He leaves the ship while the crew sails to the city. He leaves Theoclymenus with trusted crewman, Piraeus. As they separate, a hawk with a dove in its claws flies by, a sight Theoclymenus interprets as a promising sign for the strength of Odysseus’s house and family.
book 16
Telemachus arrives at Eumaeus’s hut where he meets a stranger (Odysseus in disguise). Eumaeus shares Odysseus’s story and suggests the stranger should stay at the palace with Telemachus. However, Telemachus is worried about the suitors' possible reaction, so Eumaeus goes alone to inform Penelope that her son has returned. Once Telemachus and the stranger are alone, Athena reveals to Odysseus and calls him outside. When he returns, his disguise is dropped, and he appears in his heroic form. Initially, Telemachus is in disbelief, but they soon embrace and shed tears. Odysseus shares his journey with the Phaeacians and starts planning to overthrow the suitors. Their plan involves a surprise attack from within the palace: Odysseus will pose as a beggar while Telemachus hides extra weapons out of the suitors’ reach. They plan to seize these weapons and eliminate the suitors. Before Eumaeus can deliver the news of Telemachus's homecoming to Penelope, a messenger from the ship beats him to it, announcing Telemachus's return to everyone in the palace. The suitors, upset that their scheme has been thwarted, gather outside to plan their next action. Antinous proposes killing Telemachus to prevent him from exposing their wicked plans at a public gathering. However, Amphinomus, a more considerate suitor, convinces them to wait for a sign from the gods. Penelope later confronts Antinous about the plot against her son, which she learned about from Medon in Book 4. Eurymachus manages to soothe Penelope with his deceitful assurances and fake concern for Telemachus’s safety.
book 17
Telemachus departs from Eumaeus's hut, leaving Odysseus behind, and makes his way back to his home. He is warmly greeted by his mother, Penelope, and the nursemaid Eurycleia. Once inside, he encounters Theoclymenus and Piraeus. He advises Piraeus to keep his gifts from Menelaus hidden to avoid them getting stolen by the suitors. At dinner, he shares what little information he got about Odysseus during his travels, however, he keeps it a secret that he saw Odysseus at Eumaeus's place. Theoclymenus then declares that Odysseus is currently in Ithaca. In the meantime, Eumaeus and Odysseus begin their journey to the city, following the route Telemachus took. They cross paths with Melanthius, a lowly follower of the suitors, who ridicules Eumaeus and physically abuses the disguised Odysseus. Upon reaching the palace, Odysseus is treated poorly by the suitors, who reluctantly serve him food. Antinous, one of the suitors, goes out of his way to offend him and even hits him with a stool. When Penelope hears about this, she asks to meet the beggar, hoping to learn more about Odysseus. However, Odysseus is cautious not to be seen by the suitors heading towards her. Eumaeus decides to return to his hut, leaving Odysseus alone with Telemachus and the suitors.
book 18
Arnaeus, another beggar who goes by the name Irus, enters the palace. He's bold for a beggar and challenges Odysseus to a fight, thinking he can easily defeat the older man. However, the goddess Athena grants Odysseus additional strength, and Irus quickly regrets his decision. Despite trying to back out, the suitors encourage the fight for their amusement. Odysseus manages to easily defeat Irus without killing him. The suitors are impressed, and one of them, named Amphinomus, praises Odysseus. Seeing the imminent danger, Odysseus warns Amphinomus to leave the palace. But, despite his concern, Amphinomus stays, as Athena has destined him to die by Telemachus's hand. Athena inspires Penelope to present herself to the suitors. She enhances Penelope's beauty, causing the suitors to desire her more. Penelope leads them on by hinting that she might remarry if Odysseus doesn't return. She cleverly tricks them into giving her gifts, which delights Odysseus. When Odysseus sends the maidservants to Penelope, Melantho, a maidservant, disrespects him. Athena fuels Eurymachus’s anger towards Odysseus, leading to a potential fight. However, Telemachus steps in and calms the situation, frustrating the suitors.
book 19
As the suitors call it a night, Telemachus and Odysseus follow through with their plan of removing the weaponry from the room, under the illumination provided by Athena. To justify their actions to Eurycleia, Telemachus says they are trying to prevent the arms from rusting. After this task is completed, Telemachus leaves as Penelope enters to interrogate the stranger. Aware of his claims of knowing Odysseus, she probes him for a description of her spouse. Odysseus does so meticulously, stirring emotions in Penelope. He then shares about his encounter with Odysseus and his journey to Ithaca, which mirrors the accounts he had given to Athena and Eumaeus, with some variations. He assures Penelope that Odysseus is alive and should return within a month. Penelope suggests that the beggar rest on a bed, but he declines, preferring the floor. He hesitantly allows Eurycleia to wash his feet. During this, she spots a scar that she instantly recognizes as the one Odysseus got during a hunting trip with his grandfather Autolycus. Emotionally, she hugs Odysseus, who quickly hushes her. Athena manages to keep Penelope distracted, preventing Odysseus's secret from spreading. Eurycleia recovers and pledges to keep the secret. Before retiring, Penelope shares a dream she had with Odysseus where an eagle killed all her pet geese and then turned into her husband, proclaiming he had killed her lovers. Confused about its meaning, Odysseus interprets it for her. However, Penelope decides to choose a new husband: the first man who can shoot an arrow through twelve axes in a line.
book 20
Both Penelope and Odysseus are restless that night. Odysseus' thoughts are dominated by the challenge of defeating the many suitors, but Athena provides him comfort, reminding him of the omnipotence of the gods. Conversely, Penelope is anguished by her husband's absence and the impending decision to remarry and desperately wishes for Artemis to end her life. Her sorrow awakens Odysseus, who seeks solace and signs from Zeus. The god of thunder replies with a loud thunderclap that stirs a nearby maid to express her distaste for the suitors. As the new day dawns and the palace begins to stir, Odysseus and Telemachus respectively encounter Eumaeus, the swineherd, Melanthius, and Philoetius, a loyal herdsman who still maintains hope for Odysseus's comeback. The suitors, who have been scheming to kill Telemachus, enter. However, Amphinomus dissuades them from their plan when an eagle, clutching a dove, appears as an ill omen. Nevertheless, Athena ensures that the suitors remain hostile through dinner to keep Odysseus's fury alive. One of the suitors, Ctesippus, hurls a cow's hoof at Odysseus, prompting Telemachus to threaten him with his sword. The suitors' laughter echoes in the room, oblivious to the bloodstained walls and their eerie, ghost-like faces, which Theoclymenus sees as signs of inevitable doom.
book 21
Penelope reveals Odysseus's bow and declares she will wed the suitor who can both string it and fire an arrow through a dozen axes. Telemachus attempts to string the bow but does not succeed. The suitors all try, one after the other, to string the bow, even after warming it up, but they all fail. Odysseus then steps outside with Eumaeus and Philoetius. He checks their loyalty and discloses his identity via the scar on his foot. Odysseus promises them they'll be treated like Telemachus's siblings if they assist him in battling the suitors. Upon Odysseus's return, Eurymachus is holding the bow but cannot string it, which makes him realize his inferiority to Odysseus. Antinous advises they wait until the next day to get Apollo's blessings before making another attempt. Disguised Odysseus requests the bow, causing resistance amongst the suitors who fear he might succeed. Antinous mocks Odysseus, warning him of self-inflicted disaster. However, Telemachus overrules and instructs Eumaeus to hand over the bow to Odysseus. Without a surprise, Odysseus easily strings the bow and shoots an arrow through all the axes.
book 22
Odysseus swiftly fires a second arrow, striking Antinous in the throat before the suitors can grasp the situation. They're stumped, assuming it was a fluke, until Odysseus unveils his identity. Fear sets in as Philoetius and Eumaeus have locked all possible exits. Eurymachus proposes that Antinous was the only villain among them, trying to pacify Odysseus. However, Odysseus declares his intention to spare no one. Eurymachus attempts to attack him but gets killed by an arrow. Telemachus spears and kills Amphinomus next. Telemachus fetches more weapons from the storage but neglects to lock the door. Melanthius seizes this opportunity, arms the suitors, but is captured and confined on his second trip to the storeroom by Philoetius and Eumaeus. All hell breaks loose in the palace hall. Athena, in the guise of Mentor, motivates Odysseus, testing his mettle before intervening in the combat. Odysseus and his allies cause significant casualties while only sustaining minor injuries. Athena finally enters the fray, and the battle concludes promptly. Odysseus lets the bard Phemius and the messenger Medon live, as they were forced to partake in the suitors' excesses. Leodes, the priest, pleads for mercy in vain. Odysseus orders Eurycleia to emerge. She gleefully watches the suitors' demise, though Odysseus curbs her enthusiasm. She rounds up disloyal handmaidens who are tasked with cleaning the carnage and scrubbing the bloody furniture. They are then executed. Odysseus instructs Telemachus to kill them with a sword, but Telemachus opts for hanging, a more shameful death. Finally, Melanthius, the betrayer, is tortured and murdered. Post massacre, Odysseus orders the house to be disinfected.
book 23
Eurycleia wakes Penelope, who failed to hear the battle downstairs. She initially doubts Eurycleia's account and stays skeptical, even upon seeing Odysseus in person. Telemachus scolds her for her lukewarm reception of Odysseus. However, Odysseus is preoccupied with the potential fallout from slaughtering Ithaca's prominent young men. He plans for them to retreat to their farm. To prevent suspicion, a musician starts a joyful tune. Penelope continues to be suspicious, fearing divine trickery. She instructs Eurycleia to move her wedding bed, to which Odysseus reacts passionately, revealing the bed cannot be moved as it was crafted from an olive tree trunk around which the house was built. This information convinces Penelope that the man is indeed her husband. After a joyful reunion, Odysseus shares some of his adventures and the prophecy he must fulfill as told by Tiresias in Book 11. The following day, he and Telemachus depart for Laertes' orchard, leaving Penelope with orders to stay in her room and avoid guests. Athena shrouds Odysseus and Telemachus in darkness for a covert exit through town.
book 24
Hermes escorts the ghosts of the suitors to the underworld, where they encounter Agamemnon and Achilles. The suitors' fate leaves the two men in shock, leading Agamemnon to compare Penelope's loyalty to Clytemnestra's deceit. Amphimedon, a suitor familiar to Agamemnon, partially blames their demise on Penelope's unsureness. Meanwhile, Odysseus heads to his father Laertes' farm in Ithaca. He finds his father frail and unrecognizable due to his grief. He doesn't disclose his identity right away, pretending he's an old acquaintance of Odysseus. However, seeing his father tear up at his mention, Odysseus can't contain himself and reveals his identity, using his scar and childhood memories as proof. He updates Laertes on the suitors' defeat. As Laertes and Odysseus share a meal, news of the palace slaughter spreads across the city, thanks to the goddess Rumor. The suitors' parents gather to plan their course of action. Despite Halitherses reminding them of the suitors' deserving end, Antinous’s father, Eupithes, riles them up for revenge. Their makeshift army locates Odysseus at Laertes' farm, but Athena, disguised as Mentor, intervenes. Antinous’s father is killed by Laertes, and Athena makes the people of Ithaca forget the massacre and accept Odysseus as their king. Thus, tranquility is reestablished.
