Summary of the Odyssey
Book 1- Athena intervenes to make the nymph Calypso release Odysseus. She visits
Odysseus' son Telemachus and tells him to visit Odysseus' old friends Menelaus
and Nestor to see if there is any news of his father. Meanwhile, the suitors
use up Od.'s stores.
Book 2- Telemachus calls an assembly to complain about the suitors' behavior, but they do not listen. He plans his trip to Pylos secretly and sets sail.
Book 3- Telemachus meets the old warrior Nestor, who tells him of the journey
home from Troy and the death of Agamemnon at the hands of his wife and her lover.
They sacrifice and have a feast.
Book 4- Telemachus arrives at Menelaus' palace in Lacedaimon (Sparta) and is
entertained there by Menelaus and his wife Helen. Menelaus tells of his adventure
in Egypt with the sea-god Proteus, and mentions Agamemnon's fate, but has no
news of Odysseus. Meanwhile the suitors plot to kill Telemachus on his return.
Penelope hears of the plot and prays to Athena.
Book 5- Hermes is sent to Calypso to give the message that Odysseus must be
allowed to depart the island. Sorrowfully she allows him to build a raft and
sail away, but his raft sinks in a storm brewed by Poseidon, who has a grudge
against him. The sea goddess Ino appears to the drowning Odysseus and gives
him her magic veil, which helps him to reach the shore of Scheria, where he
collapses exhausted under some bushes.
Book 6- Athena appears in a dream to Nausicaa, the daughter of the King of the
Phaeacians, telling her to prepare her marriage clothes, for she is almost old
enough for a husband. She and her maidens picnic by Nausicaa gives him food
and clothing.
Book 7- Odysseus asks Alcinous and Arete for help; Alcinous offers either to
give Nausicaa to him in marriage or to transport him home in the magic ships
of the Phaeacians. Odysseus gratefully chooses the latter, though charmed by
Nausicaa.
Book 8- Odysseus beats the arrogant Phaeacian men in their games, making a mighty
discus throw. Alcinous' minstrel sings the song of Ares and Aphrodite. Alcinous
gives gifts to his guest and Od. calls for the minstrel to sing of the Trojan
Horse. Odysseus weeps during the song, causing Alcinous to guess his identity
and ask him to tell his story.
Book 9- (narrated by Odysseus). Od. leaves Troy and after plundering the Cicones
his ship is blown by a storm to the land of the Lotus Eaters. Next they go to
the land of the Cyclopes, where Odysseus and his men become trapped in the Cyclops'
cave and Odysseus tricks the monster.
Book 10- The King of the Winds, Aeolus, places the winds in a bag for Odysseus,
but his sailors foolishly open the bag Next they go to the land of the cannibal
Laestrygonians, barely escaping. Next is the island of Circe the witch, who
turns some of Od.'s men into beasts. Odysseus foils Circe's plot and ends up
sleeping with her.
Book 11- Odysseus sacrifices to the dead and speaks to the ghost of Tiresias.
The prophet warns him not to eat the cattle of Helios (the sun), and predicts
his eventual homecoming. Odysseus sees among the dead his own mother and many
others, including his comrades Agamemnon and Achilles.
Book 12- Passing the Sirens, Scylla, and Charybdis they reach the island of
Thrinacia, where Helios' cattle live. Odysseus cannot prevent his men from slaughtering
the cattle for a feast. Thus Zeus sinks their ship and only Od. survives, clinging
to the mast and keel. He floats to the island of the nymph Calypso, who keeps
him captive several years. (end of Odysseus' narration).
Book 13- The Phaeacians deposit Odysseus, loaded with gifts, on the island of
Ithaca, his home. Athena meets him there and explains the challenge ahead of
him.
Book 14- Odysseus enjoys the hospitality of his honest swineherd Eumaeus, who
does not recognize him.
Book 15- Athena warns Telemachus about the suitors planning to kill him on his
return from Pylos. Telemachus returns, evading the ambush, and makes for the
hut of the swineherd.
Book 16- Odysseus reveals himself to his son and they discuss their plans to
retake the palace.
Book 17- Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, has a run-in with the evil herdsman
Melanthius and is abused by the suitors in his own house. Penelope asks to see
him, but he delays.
Book 18-. Od. fights with the rival beggar Irus. Penelope receives gifts from
the suitors. The arrogant suitor Eurymachus throws a stool at Odysseus.
Book 19-. Odysseus is questioned by Penelope and bathed by his old nurse Eurycleia,
who recognizes him by a scar. Penelope's dream.
Book 20- Od. prays to Zeus for success and receives a sign; Theoclymenus predicts
the end of the suitors.
Book 21-. Penelope promises to marry the man who can string Odysseus' bow and
shoot an arrow through 12 axe sockets. Only Odysseus is able to accomplish this
feat. Meanwhile the suitors are locked into the hall.
Book 22-. Odysseus, his bow in hand, begins to shoot the suitors and the battle
is joined. Od. kills the suitors, punishes Melanthius horribly, and cleanses
the hall with fire and brimstone.
Book 23-. Odysseus convinces Penelope of his identity when he passes a special
test she has set for him. Husband and wife are reunited.
Book 24-. The souls of the suitors make their way to Hades; the relatives of
the suitors demand vengeance but the fight is stopped by Athena.