All the survivors of the Trojan War have returned home except Odysseus. He is currently being detained by Calypso, a sea nymph, who wishes to make Odysseus her husband. Odysseus has experienced many difficulties in returning home because Poseidon, god of the sea, is angry at him.
At a council, called by Zeus, all the gods have assembled. Athena petitions her father, Zeus, to help Odysseus return home. This is done in the absence of Poseidon who is away at a banquet. Athena requests that Hermes be sent to order Calypso to release Odysseus. Athena then disguises herself and goes to see Odysseus' son, Telemachus.
Odysseus' home is overrun with suitors seeking to marry his wife, Penelope. The suitors are constantly feasting and gorging themselves at the expense of Odysseus' household.
Athena tells Telemachus that his father is not dead, and he will return home. She encourages Telemachus to assert himself as a man, tell the suitors to leave, and recommends he seek out information about his father.
Telemachus calls an assembly of the men of Ithaca. It is the first assembly that has been called since Odysseus left. Telemachus announces that he will tolerate the suitors no longer, and states that if he were powerful enough he would punish them.
The suitors refuse to leave until Penelope selects one of them. Telemachus states that he will go seek news of Odysseus. If he discovers his father is dead, he will force Penelope to choose another husband.
With Athena's help, Telemachus assembles a crew, and after loading a ship with supplies, he sets sail to Pylos.
After arriving at Pylos, Telemachus explains to Nestor the reason for his journey. Nestor tells Telemachus of the last days of the Trojan war. He, also, tells him that he last saw Odysseus on his ship heading for home. Since he has no recent information, Nestor suggests Telemachus go speak with Menelaus in Sparta.
When Telemachus arrives in Sparta a wedding feast is going on for King Menelaus son and daughter, so he is unable to speak to Menelaus until the next day.
Menelaus is upset to hear of the conditions on Ithaca. He informs Telemachus that he heard Odysseus is alive but is being help captive by Calypso.
Meanwhile, in Ithaca the suitors have found out Telemachus has set sail. They plot to ambush him while he is at sea and kill him.
Athena, once again, asks the gods at assembly to help Odysseus. Zeus sends Hermes to deliver the message to Calypso that she must release Odysseus.
She helps Odysseus leave by providing him with a small boat.While Odysseus is at sea, Poseidon returns from Ethiopia. When he sees Odysseus he gets very angry and starts up a violent storm. Odysseus' boat is destroyed, and he is left clinging to a small piece of wreckage. With the help of Athena he is able to reach the island of Scheria, which is the home of the Phaeacians.
The Phaeacian king and Queen extend to Odysseus their hospitality. They provide assistance to help him on his journey home. While at a banquet, stories of Troy are told which bring great sadness to Odysseus.
While at the banquet, Odysseus reveals his identity. The king asks him to tell his story. This story of Odysseus' wanderings are told in flashback.
After leaving, Troy Odysseus' ships were caught in a storm. They landed in a strange place which was the home of the Lotus-Eaters. All the men who ate the Lotus were overcome by the narcotic plant.
The next place the ships landed was the land of the Cyclops (one-eyed giants). Odysseus and his men explored the island and came upon a huge cave. This was the home of Polyphemus, who lived in the cave with his sheep.
When Polyphemus discovered the Greeks in his den, he ate two of them. The next day he ate two more for breakfast, then left with his sheep. He blocked the entrance to the cave with a huge boulder. Unable to move the stone blocking the entrance, Odysseus devised a plan of escape. While Polyphemus was asleep, Odysseus and his men pierced his eye with a large stick, blinding him. The next morning, when Polyphemus let his sheep out to graze, Odysseus and his men escaped by hiding under the sheep's bellies.
Odysseus, also, tricked Polyphemus into thinking his name was "Nobody."
While sailing away, Odysseus allows his pride to get in the way and he yells out his true identity to Polyphemus. By injuring Polyphemus, Odysseus incurred the wrath of Poseidon, Polyphemus' father.
The island of Aeolus king of the winds, is the next place Odysseus lands. In order to assist him on his journey, Aeolus gives Odysseus a bag containing all the bad winds which could blow his ship off course.
Odysseus' crew become jealous because they think the bag contains treasure. Ithaca is within sight when the men rip open the bag, letting all the winds escape. The resulting explosion of winds blows them far away.
After several days at sea, Odysseus lands on the island of Aeaea. Aeaea is the home of the goddess Circe. When Circe encounters some of Odysseus' men she turns them into pigs.
Assisted by Hermes, who tells him how to avoid Circe's spells, Odysseus sets out to rescue his men. Circe falls in love with Odysseus and he stays with her for a year.
When Odysseus decides to leave, Circe tells him he will not have a safe journey unless he goes to Hades to seek the counsel of the prophet, Tiresias.
Odysseus sails to the edge of the earth where he performs animal sacrifices. Dead souls, attracted by the smell of fresh blood, begin to rise out of Hades.
When Tiresias arrives, he warns Odysseus of the future dangers that await him. He tells Odysseus he will reach home, but his troubled journeys will not end until he earns Poseidon's forgiveness.
In order to return home, Odysseus and his men must pass the island of the Sirens. The Sirens lure susceptible men to their deaths with their irresistible song. Odysseus protects his men by filling their ears with wax. He wants to hear the song, so he has his men tie him to the mast. In this manner they pass by the Sirens safely.
The next two hazards to pass are so close together it is impossible to avoid them both. They are Scylla, a six headed monster, and Charybdis, a violent whirlpool. In order to avoid Charybdis, Odysseus is forced to sacrifice six of his men to Scylla.
After the encounter with Scylla, Odysseus and his crew land on the island of Helios, god of the sun. They had been warned not to eat any of Helios' sacred cattle, but the starving men give into temptation. This causes the gods to become angry. Zeus sends a storm and a thunderbolt which not only kills all the crew, but destroys the ship.
Odysseus, the only survivor, nearly drowns as he gets sucked into Charybdis. He falls into the hands of Calypso when he is washed up on her island.
This ends the part of the poem told in flashback.
Finally, Odysseus gets to go home. He leaves the land of the Phaeacians, transported in one of their ships. Because the Phaeacians have treated Odysseus with so much kindness, they incur the wrath of Poseidon.
When Odysseus arrives on the shores of Ithaca, he is meet by Athena. She suggests he disguise himself as a beggar so he can assess the situation at home.
In the disguise of a beggar, Odysseus leaves the beaches and travels into the hills. He arrives at the farm of one of his servants, Eumaeus. Eumaeus has remained loyal to Odysseus throughout his twenty year absence.
Returning from his trip to see Menelaus in Sparta, Telemachus, also, goes to Eumaeus' farm. When they are alone together, Odysseus identifies himself to Telemachus. Together they formulate a plan to get rid of the suitors.
Remaining in disguise, Odysseus will travel to the palace. He will keep his identity secret, even from Penelope, until the proper time to take vengeance arrives.
The next morning, Telemachus returns to the palace and tells his mother all the information he has gained about Odysseus. Penelope wants to believe that Odysseus may still be alive, but she has almost lost all hope.
Later that day, Odysseus and Eumaeus approach the palace. They meet Melanthius, another servant of Odysseus, on the way. Melanthius has been disloyal to Odysseus by catering to the whims of the suitors. He does not recognize Odysseus, who is still disguised as a beggar, and he insults and kicks him. Odysseus is scarcely able to hold his temper.
When Eumaeus and Odysseus enter the palace, the suitors are feasting at the banquet table. Telemachus offers food to the beggar (Odysseus), and gives him permission to beg. Antinous, the leader of the suitors, insults Odysseus and beats him with a footstool. Odysseus swears to himself that he will have revenge for this act of cruelty.
Penelope asks Eumaeus about the beggar (Odysseus). She requests he tell his story, and asks if he has any news of her husband. Odysseus agrees to speak with her later.
Irus, a beggar who is the favorite of the suitors, arrives at the palace after the banquet. Irus taunts and threatens Odysseus, who is still in disguise. Antinous decides to have the two beggars fight each other. When Odysseus takes off his shirt, his strong, muscled body frightens Irus. Although Odysseus tries not to hurt Irus, he breaks his jaw.
Penelope appears before the suitors. She rebukes them for the fight that just occurred, and for depleting her husband's estate.
Eurymachus, one of the suitors, has taken Melantho, Odysseus' servant, as his mistress. Odysseus censures Melantho for her disloyalty. A ruckus ensues between Eurymachus and Odysseus. Telemachus intervenes by telling everyone to go to bed. The suitors are all surprised, but they do as ordered.
After everyone has retired for the evening, Odysseus and Telemachus clear all the weapons from the hall and hide them.
Penelope comes down to the hall, and she and Odysseus talk. She tells him how much she has missed her husband, and how many tricks she has implemented in order to put the suitors off. Odysseus, deeply affected by her story, tells her about himself and claims to have known her husband. Penelope is deeply touched, and orders one of her maids to wash the old beggar's feet.
While Eurycleia, an old nurse, washes Odysseus' feet, she realizes that this is her master. She recognizes it is Odysseus because of an old scar on his leg. Odysseus orders her to keep his identity secret.
Penelope decides to hold a contest to see which suitor will become her husband. The one who is able to shoot an arrow through twelve axe handles will win her hand in marriage. This is a feat that previously only Odysseus could do. The beggar tells Penelope that this is a good idea.
Retiring to her room, Penelope is overcome with grief over the memory of Odysseus. She is unable to stop crying until Athena intervenes and brings her sleep.
Odysseus is unable to sleep as he plans the upcoming confrontation with the suitors. Athena appears before him, and promising her help, tells him he will be victorious.
Penelope prays to the gods for rescue, even if it means death, from marriage to another man.
When the morning arrives, Odysseus asks Zeus for a favorable sign. As the god's thunder rumbles, the suitors notice and become uneasy. Odysseus carefully observes the behavior of the servants in order to determine who has been loyal. He is able to determine that Philoetuis has been loyal.
The suitors return for lunch. One of them insults Odysseus and throws a bone at him. Telemachus is outraged at their behavior, and proceeds to berate them. A soothsayer warns the suitors of their impending doom, but they ignore him. The suitors continue with their gorging and feasting, while Telemachus awaits his father's signal.
Penelope informs the suitors of her plans for the contest. The suitors must use Odysseus' great bow. Whoever can both string the bow and shoot an arrow through twelve axes, will be Penelope's next husband. The suitors accept the challenge. While the suitors are making their preparations, Odysseus takes Eumaeus and Philoetius aside, and after identifying himself, enlists their aid in his plan.
None of the suitors is able to string Odysseus' great bow. When Antinous suggests the contest be continued the next day, Odysseus asks for a chance to try the bow. The suitors refuse his request, but Penelope intervenes. Telemachus orders his mother to leave the hall, and he hands the bow to Odysseus. Eumaeus and Philoetius secretly lock the doors to the hall.
Odysseus takes the bow and easily strings it. He effortlessly shoots an arrow through the twelve axes. While the suitors sit in surprise, Telemachus arms himself with a sword and goes to his father's side.
Odysseus kills Antinous with the next arrow. The suitors think the beggar has gone crazy until Odysseus identifies himself. In horror, Eurymachus tries to blame the dead Antinous for the actions of the suitors. Odysseus answers him by killing him with the next arrow. Pandemonium breaks out as the suitors attempt to defend themselves. Odysseus; however; eliminates them one by one.
Telemachus brings out arms for Odysseus, Eumaeus, Philoetius, and himself. These four fight bravely together until all the suitors are killed.
Odysseus calls to Euryclea, and has her identify all of the maids who were disloyal to him. Twelve maids are targeted, and Odysseus makes them clean out the carnage in the hall After they complete their chores, the maids are taken outside and hanged. Melanthius is killed and mutilated for his treacherous behavior. The hall is then fumigated by the burning of brimstone.
Eurycleia rushes up to Penelope's bed chamber to inform her that the suitors are dead, and Odysseus has returned. Penelope, not believing this story, goes down to the hall to see what has occurred. Penelope doesn't recognize Odysseus because he is still dressed as a beggar and is covered in blood.
Penelope tests Odysseus by telling him his bed has been moved. He is outraged because the bed is made from an olive tree that grows through the center of the palace, and cannot be moved. This is a secret only the two of them share so his knowledge assures Penelope that this is indeed Odysseus. The two share a loving reunion. Athena delays the sunrise so the two lovers can have more time together.
The next day, Odysseus goes to visit his father, Laertes.
In Hades all the dead souls of Odysseus' former comrades in Troy are surprised when Hermes arrives leading the souls of the dead suitors. They are impressed by Odysseus' valor and his wife's loyalty.
When Odysseus arrives at his father's farm, Laertes is overcome with joy. Meanwhile the people of Ithaca have learned of Odysseus' return and the slaughter that took place. At an assembly, the relatives of the slain suitors seek retribution. Arming themselves, they follow Odysseus to Laertes' farm.
Athena wants to help Odysseus, so she asks Zeus for permission. Zeus, feeling Odysseus was justified in his actions, agrees to let Athena intervene.
When the armed relatives arrive at Laertes' farm, a fight breaks out. A thunderbolt from Zeus gets everyone's attention and Athena orders that peace be restored.
Odysseus returns to reign as king of Ithaca.
There are three main themes which unify the plot of Homer's ODYSSEY. The first theme is the"Wanderings of Odysseus. " This motif encompasses the majority of the epic poem. In books I-IX, Odysseus sets sail with his warriors from Troy to Ithaca, his kingdom.
On his journey home, Odysseus encounters many difficulties. He looses a portion of his crew at his first stop, a storm then drives the crew to the land of the horrid Lotus-eaters. He then reaches the land of the Cyclops where he looses more of his crew.
In books X-XII Odysseus comes across the land of Aeolus and later the realm of Circe.
In books XII-XIV Odysseus encounters the dangerous Sirens and later the treacherous Scylla and the terrifying Charybdis. Odysseus concludes his travels alone on the territory of the Phaecians where he is kindly taken in by the king.
The second theme in Homer's ODYSSEY is the "Quest of Telemachus." This motif occupies most of books I-IV and portion of other books as well. In the beginning of the epic, Telemachus is shown as a young man who is very much overwhelmed by the suitors of his mother, Penelope . In books II-IV, Telemachus goes on a journey in search of information on his father. He is taken in by King Menelaus and Helen. During the final portion of the epic, Telemachus grows up and finally takes revenge on his mother's suitors.
This leads up to the final theme of Homer's ODYSSEY, "Odysseus' return and vengeance." In books XIV-XXIV, Odysseus returns home. He cunningly conceals his identity by disguising himself as an old beggar. Odysseus soon reveals himself to Telemachus and they take on the suitors. The father and son team take care of all the suitors and even hang those servants who were disloyal during the time of Odysseus' absence. These servants hang shamefully outside as a sign of the master's return and vengeance. And thus concludes the epic's thematic structure.
