Odyssey Books 1-4 Summaries

The Odyssey
Books 1-4 Summaries
by Erin Salona

Book ONEAthena Advises Telemachus
Homer’s invocation to the Muses
(9 daughters of Zeus worshipped for
Inspiration to art and music)
The reader learns:
Poseidon has stranded Odysseus with Calypso, the nymph
Poseidon is upset with Odysseus for poking the Cyclops’ eye out
Athena begs Zeus to let Odysseus return to Ithaca
Hermes is sent to free Odysseus from Calypso

Book ONE
Athena comes to give advice to Telemachus & is disguised as Mentor, a male family friend.
Suitors have overrun Odysseus’ home & want to marry his mother, Queen Penelope.
Mentor/Athena tells Telemachus to find a boat & to sail to different places asking about his father
She tells Telemachus that he should warn off the suitors or kill them upon his return.

Book ONE
From Mentor, Telemachus decides that he should go to Pylos and Sparta to talk with both King Nestor and King Menelaus.
If Telemachus learns that his father is alive, he should go home and put up with the suitors, knowing his father will be home soon.

Book ONE
If Telemachus learns that his father is dead, he should prepare a proper burial for him.
Also, he will have to ask Odysseus’ father Laertes choose a suitor for her to marry (due to arranged marriages)
Telemachus is also informed by Mentor that he will have to kill the suitors who will not leave their home.

Book TWOTelemachus Confronts the Suitors
Telemachus calls all of the Greek men together to discuss his problem with the suitors.
During the assembly, Zeus sends two eagles– omens of death– to fly over the suitors.
Halitherses, a prophet, interprets these eagles to mean Odysseus is coming home and will kill the disrespectful suitors.

Book TWO
Antinous, the most arrogant suitor, blames Penelope for the problems because she seduces every suitor but will commit to none of them, says Antinous.
Penelope has been tricking the suitors.

Book TWO
Penelope has been weaving a burial shroud for Laertes during the day but unraveling it at night.
She will not marry a suitor until the shroud is done.
A maid tells a suitor of Penelope’s trick.

Book TWO
Eurycleia, slave and Telemachus’s old nurse/ care-giver, helps him prepare for the trip.
Telemachus begs the nurse not to tell his mother that he has left until some time has passed
Mentor/ Athena finds a crew for Telemachus and they all sail away together.

Book THREEThe Visit to Nestor
Telemachus & ship arrive at Pylos, the land of King Nestor.
They arrive during a festival in honor of Poseidon (who is Odysseus’s enemy)
Nestor doesn’t know who Telemachus is and invites him to feast with them
Nestor then asks Telemachus who he is
Telemachus asks Nestor if he has seen Odysseus

Book THREE
Nestor praises Telemachus
Nestor says that he & Odysseus were friends
Nestor says that Athena likely helped Odysseus
Telemachus doubts Athena’s power
Athena, disguised as Mentor, assures Telemachus that a god can save a mortal

Book FOURThe Visit to Menelaus and Helen
Nestor sends Telemachus and Athena, still disguised as Mentor, to Sparta.
In Sparta, King Menelaus & wife Helen, are back together and happy.
Telemachus doesn’t tell them his identity.
Menelaus reminisces about Odysseus & tells war stories; Telemachus cries
Menelaus says no soldier worked harder than Odysseus & that he doesn’t know if he is alive or dead.

Book FOUR
Telemachus cries for his father
Menelaus figures out Telemachus’s identity
Helen says aloud that Telemachus must be the son of Odysseus
They tell Telemachus that they heard that Odysseus is alive & living with the nymph Calypso
The suitors have planned to kill Telemachus when he returns home

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Odyssey Books 1-4 Summaries

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