Odysseus Prepares to Reclaim his Estate (Book
13-16)
Summary of Important Events:
-Book 13
1. He finishes his tale and everyone at the Phaiacian Feast is well
pleased by his words. The King and Queen especially praise him and tell him
they will bestow even more gifts upon him before he leaves. They all sit down
for a feast, sacrificing part of an ox. Odysseus was glad to see the sun set
and asked his hosts to let him and his men be off. They left the island and
Odysseus lays down a blanket on the poop deck to rest while the crew rows.
2. Early in the next
morning they arrived at the harbor of Phorcys, on the island of Ithaca. While
Odysseus was still asleep the crew took him off shore, off the beaten roads and
layed him there with his goods and gifts close by. Then the crew rowed away
homeward bound.
3. Poseidon is angry
that Odysseus got home so safely and with such large amounts of wealth that he
asks Zeus to allow him to punish the Phaiacians. Zeus agrees and the
Earthshaker freezes the crew and boat into stone as a warning. This comes to
pass and Alcinoos recogonizes the stone ship as what an ancient Oracle said
would happen eventually. So to appease Poseidon in hopes he won’t raise
mountains around the city, he declares they would never convoy strangers who
came to their lands and sacrifice twelve bulls.
4. Athena decided to
make it so Odysseus doesn’t recognize his homeland, which is covered in mist,
when he awakes so that she would have the opportunity to speak with and
disguise him. Athena comes to him as a rather noble Sheperd and explains that
the land he is in is Ithaca. He is delighted, but thinking he is keeping his
identity from her, makes up a story of who he is and how he got back. She
transforms back and they speak in honest. Pallas Athena councils him to conceal
his identity from everyone. He kisses the land from joy and happily prays to
the Naiads. Athena and him store his booty in a sacred cave so that robbers
don’t loot it.
5. They sit down and
talk. Athena tells him that Penelopia is being besieged by unwanted tutors.
Odysseus would have been killed like Agamemnon had he simply returned home as
planned. She gives him instructions. She will: turn him into an old beggar man,
he must visit the loyal servant pig caretaker Eumaios while Athena brings
Telemachos back from Lacedaimon, then they can have revenge.
7. She turns him into
an old man and roughens his appearance with poor clothing and smell.
-List
of Important/New Characters By Familial Relations:
-Servants
-Eumaios
-List
of Themes
-Worship/Obiediance
to the Gods; trusting Athena
-Wit;
Athen & Odysseus coming up with a plan
-Loyalty;
Odysseus to Athena and the opposite
-Book 14
1. Odysseus journeys to the swineherd’s home and pig pen. He is almost
attacked by the man’s guard dogs, but Eumaios tells them off. He offers the
raggedy beggar/traveler man hospitality and a warm meal. Eumaios tells Odysseus
how torn up he is over the supposed loss of his master. He explains how the
wannabe suitors are killing are the animals for indulgent feasting and wasting
his good master’s fortune. Travelers often come through with false news of Odysseus
and they make Penelopia very distraught. Odysseus promises that Odysseus will come
back take his estate back and restore the kingdom properly.
2. Eumaios tells of how
Telemachos grew into a fine boy then man, but has foolishly gone to Pylos.
3. Odysseus weaves a
story of his origin, to satisfy the curious swineherd. Claiming he was from
Crete, rich, and a brave warrior, he essentially told his own tale with a
different ending. He told Eumaios he acquired the wealth from Egyptians for
seven years, then went on to Thesprotia, where the King was kind and generous.
However, the crew that was supposed to take him home betrayed him and tried to
enslave him, but Odysseus got away with the help of the Gods.
4.Eumaios tells him to
cut the crap because his lies are obvious. Odysseus tries to make a bargain,
but Eumaios will have none of it, not wanting to be a bad host. Other
swineherds come in and they all have a feast then lie down to sleep.
5. Odysseus had a plan
and tells a story to nudge the swineherd into letting him borrow a cloak. The
swineherd acquiesces and lays upon Odysseus a very warm special cloak.
6. The swineherd goes
outside to sleep, for he does not like being away from the pigs who are not
truly his property. Odysseus is please with this because it shows how devoted
and careful the man is to his master.
-List
of Important/New Characters By Familial Relations:
-No
new characters
-List
of Themes:
-Loyalty;
Eumaios to Ody and his property
-Hosplitality;
Eumaios to Ody
-Subtlety;
Odysseus telling story to get cloak
-Book
15
1. Athena travels to Lacedaimon to inform Telemachos that it was time to
return to Ithaca. She tells him that Eurymachos is close to forcing Penelopia
to marry him. Her brothers and father all encourage her marriage to Eurymachos.
Athena also says that she might take things which belong to Telemachos or that
he might want, as a dowery. She also tells him of the men who are lying in wait
to kill Telemachos between Ithaca and Samos. Once he arrives in Ithaca, he
should go immeadiately, by himself, to the swineherd and have him deliver the
message that Telemachos is home to Penelopia.
2. He roses Pesistratos, his companion, and then goes to tell Menelaos of
his desire to leave at once. Menelaos agrees, but asks that they have breakfast
and give parting gifts first. He also asks that Telemachos allow him to
accompany him on his adventures. Telemachos replies that although he is honored
that Menelaos would want to come, and he will definitely accept breakfast and
gifts, he is actually going home.
3. Menelaos and Helen gift him with a fine two-handled chalice, a silver
mixing bowl, and a precious robe Helen made herself. She told him to give it to
his future wife, bot for now let Penelope take care of it. They had breakfast
then were about to depart for Nestor’s home, then Ithaca, when suddenly an
eagle flew over head clutching a goose in its claws. Helen interprets this omen
as saying Odysseus will be home or is home and is preparing to extract revenge
on the suitors.
4. Then Telemachos traveled through the day and rested for the night at
Pherai in the house of Diocles. The next day the pair arrived in Pylos, where
Telemachos pleaded with Pesistratos to help him make hast and leave and not
visit the kind, generous, and talkative Nestor. Pesistratos was torn between
being a good host and helping his friend, but decided to agree to Telemachos’s
wishes.
5. They are praying, sacrificing, and getting ready for the journey when a
man approached Telemachos. Theoclymenos was running away from Argos, where he
killed a family member and asks for passage aboard Telemachos’s ship. He agrees
and they set off.
6. Odysseus tells the swineherd and company that he is going into town to
beg and tell Penelopia of his news. He might also seek employment and/or
hospiltaily from the wretched suitors. Eumaios responds that is not a good idea
because the men’s servants aren’t like him at all. Eumaios also says Telemachos
will help Odysseus on his way when he returns.
7. Odysseus asks about his father and mother. Eumaios tells him his mother
died of grieving Odysseus and his father, Laertes, wants to die from the sorrow
of loosing wife and son, but is still alive. Eumaios tells his life story to
Odysseus: born rich (son of King of Syrie), a lady and Phoincians came to his
town and kidnapped him while his mother was distracted by a beautiful necklace,
the tricky lady died, they traveled to Ithaca, and finally Laertes bought him.
8. Telemachos arrives in Ithaca and tells the men to meet him in the city
while he goes on foot. He tells Theoclymenos to go to Eurymachos for shelter,
who Telemachos considers the best of the wretched suitors.
9. Telemachos goes to the swineherd’s abode.
-List
of Important/New Characters By Familial Relations:
-Theoclymenos
-List
of Themes:
-Hospitality:
Tel. to Theo
-Loyalty:Eum.
To Pigs/Ody
-Book
16
1. Odysseus hears the dogs not barking put feet pattering and the
swineherd goes to see who it is. When he discovers it is none other than
Telemachos, Eumaios rejoices and praises his return. He asks after his mother
and his home.
2. After they feast, Eumaios explains that Odysseus came to seek a place
to stay with Telemachos (the master of the house) but the swineherd didn’t want
to send him into the house full of violent, rude, and dipcable suitors.
Telemachos says he’ll do what he can for the stranger, but is worried about
bringing him to the house where the wretched pretenders stay. Odysseus answers that
he is sorry for Telemachos, but he himself would stand and fight the fools, no
matter the cost. Telemachos sends Eumaios to inform his mother and secretly
tell his grandfather of his home-coming.
3. Odysseus reveals himself in his true form to his son and they plot how
they are going to kill the suitors. Odysseus will come to his house in disguise
and when the time is right, they will kill the men.
4. Meanwhile in Ithaca true, Telemachos’s ship and crew had arrived. A
crier was sent to Penelopia to announce her son back. He told everyone present,
servants, suitors, and mistress alike. The swineherd arrived at the same time,
but took Penelopia aside to tell her in private what Telemachos’s message said.
5. This caused much consternation among the suitors. They decide to try
and kill him when he is coming from the country to the town and his home. Then
Amphinomos suggests consulting the gods on this matter, which they all agreed
to.
6. Penelopia finally becomes so angry with hearing the newest plot, that
she confronts the ragamuffins. She especially corners Antinoos, calling him
unwise and a pretender. Eurymachos says to Penelopia that he would never harm
Odysseus, that includes harming Telemachos. Yet all the while he plans murder
for Odysseus’s son.
7.Eumaios reported back to Teleachos.
-List
of Important/New Characters By Familial Relations:
-No
new ones
-List of Themes:
-Loyalty;
Eu to Udy, Pen to Ody
-Wit;
Athena turning Odysseus
-Jealousy Spawns Evil; Eurymachos to Pen
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