Texts In Translation

Book 1: The Boy and the Goddess

• Focuses on the relationship between the Gods and the mortals and also discloses their plan for Odysseus’s return home.

• “This is absurd, that mortals blame the gods! They said we cause their suffering, but they themselves increase it by folly.”
• “How could I forget Odysseus? He is more sensible than other humans, and makes more sacrifices to the gods.”
• Athena introduces herself as another man to Telemachus, in order to let him start his journey to save his father.
• Athena’s advice is father-like and it helps Telemachus figure out how he will become a man without his father and grow to be resourceful and intelligent like Odysseus.

Book 2: A Dangerous Journey

• Shows how Telemachus has been deprived of his inheritance, and how he plans to set sail to Pylos. Telemachus exclaims that he will seek revenge on the suitors.

• “I do not own a ship or have a crew- because of you!”
• “Kill our cows and pigs, and good fat goats. They feast and drink red wine, not caring if they waste it all.”
• “I will try to bring down doom on your heads here at home or when I go to Pylos.”
• Although the mother is depicted by Telemachus to appear hopeless and vulnerable, her trick to keep on weaving the cloth, although deceitful, was rather intelligent and ingenious.

Book 3: An Old King Remembers

• Follows Telemachus’s journey at his stop in Pylos where he stays as a guest in a palace belonging to Nestor, lord of horses.

• Athena was there as a Mentor, in order to help guide Telemachus and give him the courage to find out about his father himself, and to become more known to others on different islands.
• Irony is used as well, as Nestor explains that he wishes that Athena would come and help Telemachus the same way she helped his father, help him to get rid of the suitors and make them afraid of him.
• The tradition carried out by Nestor and his sons play an important role in showing how one would bless another and give honour to a deity.
  • “King Nestor gave the gold; the craftsman poured it on the horns, to make a lovely offering to please the goddess.”
  • “A water bowl adorned with flowers, and in the other hand, a box of grain.”
  • The sacrifice of a cow

Book 4: What the Sea God Said

• Telemachus visits Menelaus to find more about his father, Odysseus

• Menelaus tells Telemachus about his journey back from Troy, and how he captured the old sea god in Egypt.
• In Ithaca, Penelope finds out about Telemachus’s journey, whilst the suitors plan to kill him when he returns.

Book 5: From the Goddess to the Storm

• Zeus sends Hermes to free Odysseus from Calypso, and sends Athena to protect Telemachus.

• Odysseus begins his journey home on a raft, but then gets ambushed by a storm which wrecks his raft forcing him to swim Phaeacia.
• The white Goddess, Ino, helps him and gives him guidance to reach to the island.
• Odysseus manages to reach and find rest with the help of Athena.

Book 6: A Princess and Her Laundry

• Odysseus introduces himself to the Phaeacian princess, Nausicaa, and flatters her in order to convince her to help him find clothes and shelter until he continues his journey back to Ithaca.

• Odysseus walks behind her in order to avoid criticism and questioning from the people.
• He waits in Athena’s sanctuary outside of the town

Book 7: A Magical Kingdom

• Odysseus walks through town with the help of Athena, disguised as a little girl. He meets with the king and queen, Alcinous and Arete.

• Odysseus is offered food and wine, and a place to stay the night but still does not disclose who he is or where he wants to go.

Book 8: The Songs of a Poet

• The kings provides Odysseus with food, a ship and a crew  to help him on his way.

• Demodocus, a blind poet, sings about a conflict between Odysseus and Achilles, in which results with Odysseus crying and covering his face to prevent others from seeing his reaction to the song.
• The King’s youngest son invites Odysseus to watch and participate in the sports activities.
• Odysseus throws a discus further than any other and is congratulated by Athena in disguise.
• The poet sings another song about the affair of Aphrodite and Ares.
• The King questions Odysseus about who he really is.

Book 23: The Olive Tree Bed

• This book tells the story of the Olive Tree bed and how the story of it is only known between Odysseus, Penelope, and one slave.

• Odysseus tells this story to Penelope in order to convince her that he truly is Odysseus.
• Although I understand Penelope’s initial scepticism, I find it frustrating that it takes a while for her to properly reunite with Odysseus even after being near him.
• Homer’s idea of using the story of the Olive Tree bed as the reason why Penelope believes Odysseus can also be questioned.
  • The bed and the room it is in was built around the trunk of the tree, and therefore cannot be moved as it is rooted in its location.
  • The trunk is the very foundation of the bed and the house it is in.
  • This can be symbolic of the relationship between Penelope and Odysseus, and the idea that their original love was founded where this bed was built, and that it acts as a constant in their marriage.