The basic form of narrative in the odyssey is very strongly oriented towards imagery. This 77page guide for the odyssey by homer includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 24 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. She will not marry a suitor until the shroud is done. Penelope held out hope of her husbands return and wanted to remain faithful. About the odyssey the odyssey summary character list glossary themes quotes and analysis books 1 4 books 58 books 912 books 16 books 1720 books 2124 symbols, allegory and motifs metaphors and similes irony imagery the fractal structure of epics literary elements related links essay questions quiz 1 quiz 2 quiz 3 quiz 4 citations. He insults odysseus thebeggar when they meet on the grounds, and antinous decides to pit them against each other so that the suitors can enjoy the.
But they now know from one of penelope s maids that by night penelope undoes that days weaving, indefinitely. She is a complicated woman with a wry sense of destiny who weaves her. The trojan war is over, but odysseus still has not made his way home. Summary and analysis book 1 athena inspires the prince summary homer opens the odyssey with an invocation to the muse of epic poetry and asks for her guidance in telling the story of a man who has experienced many twists and turns of fate and has suffered many hardships. The suitors refuse to leave the house of odysseus, but they give ready approval to the. Penelope promised to choose a husband once she finished weaving a shroud for laertes, but in order to postpone the day of decision, she wove the shroud by day and unwove it at night. Book 1 the first book informs the reader of the imprisonment of odysseus on calypsos island, ogygia, in the tenth year after the trojan war. Summary and analysis book 1 athena inspires the prince. But from the start we are given to understand that she possesses other hidden. This lesson will begin with a brief recap of book 16 of the odyssey.
The narrator calls upon the muse to help him tell the story of odysseus. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the odyssey and what it means. He claims rightly, by the way that she has misguided the suitors for nearly four years, leading on each man with hints and promises but choosing no one. Books 24 tell how odysseus returns to ithaca and is finally reunited with his wife, penelope, and his son. What is a summary of book 1 of the odyssey answers. The odyssey ends as odysseus wins a contest to prove his identity, slaughters the.
He meets up with the fugitive theoklymenos in town and brings him home, where they. The odyssey books 79 summary the odyssey summary the odyssey quotes the odyssey. Meanwhile, a mob of suitors is devouring his estate in ithaca and courting his wife, penelope, in hopes of taking over his kingdom. He tells penelope that, essentially, odysseus had a long ordeal but is alive and freely. Up on mount olympos, where the gods all hang out, the goddess athene asks her father, zeus, the king of the gods, to have mercy on odysseus and force kalpyso to release him. Odysseus and his crew have seen many strange lands and have suffered many trials. An outline the first four books of the odyssey largely focus on telemachus, the son of odysseus. Nov 23, 2015 summary and analysis of book 1 of homers odyssey themes.
Today, the word odyssey means an epic journey like that of odysseus, whose tenyear struggle to return. Similarly, some commentators claim that her decision to marry whomever wins the archery contest of book 21 results from her awareness that only her husband. Penelope provides a rare example of a strong mortal woman in greek literature, as ancient writers usually. In book 1 of the odyssey, the narrator begins by asking the muse to help him tell the story of odysseus, the only greek hero who has not returned home, or died on the way, after war in troy. Odysseuss tale begins with the gods having a meeting, talking about the death of aegisthus, when athena says that aegisthus earned his punishment, but odysseus did not. At the manor, penelope tearfully embraces her son and asks what news he learned. Odysseus wife penelope is getting swarmed by a horde of unwanted suitors. The odyssey study guide contains a biography of homer, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The odyssey opens with the poet asking the muse of epic poetry, calliope, to inspire him in the telling of this story. When telemachus arrives at the farm, eumaeus asks him to take care of the stranger.
Penelope cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test. The odyssey is homers epic of odysseus 10year struggle to return home after the trojan war. Homer begins by asking the muse, the goddess of poetry and music, to sing to him about odysseus and his travels. Odysseus is the husband of queen penelope and the father of prince telemachus. Featured content includes commentary on major characters, 25. Odysseus reveals his true identity to his son, and they work out a plan to defeat the suitors. He reminds her that odysseus isnt the only greek to not return from troy and that, if she doesnt like the music in. Although unassuming, penelope has a cunning that indicates she is a good mate for her wily husband. The odyssey at a glance cliffsnotes study guides book. While he is intent on returning home to his faithful wife, penelope, and his adult son he has barely seen, telemachus, odysseus also willingly beds down with not one but two beautiful goddesses during his travels and expresses little remorse for his. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. On mount olympus, zeus sends hermes to rescue odysseus from calypso. Suitors of penelope odyssey works archive of our own.
Telemachus sets up the axes and then tries his own hand at the bow, but fails in his attempt to string it. Consider a representative example, from when odysseus praises alcinous bard. His maturation, especially during his trip to pylos and sparta in books 3 and 4. Books 1 2 the odyssey is an epic journey, but the word journey must be broadly understood. A rude beggar named arnaeus irus for short wanders into the palace. Find a summary of this and each chapter of the odyssey. After the trojan war, all of the greek men that had lived through the war had returned home to their wives and families except for odysseus.
Many were the men whose cities he saw and whose mind he learned, aye, and many the woes he suffered in his heart upon the sea, seeking to win his own life and the return of. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Homer, odyssey book 2 theoi classical texts library. The odyssey discussion questions book 1 what do you think is the symbolic meaning of the greek gods and goddesses. Odysseus thebeggar interjects to say that it upsets him to hear about. Though she has not seen odysseus in twenty years, and despite pressure the suitors place on her to remarry, penelope never loses faith in her husband. Penelope click the character infographic to download. Odysseus is a prisoner of a goddessfairy named calypso, who wants odysseus to be her husband. Book 1 introduces some of the multitudes of characters, many interwoven plots, and significant themes encountered during odysseuss return home. She felt hatred towards everyone and everything, and fell into a deep state of dark, sadness.
Tell me, muse, of that man of many resources, who wandered far and wide, after sacking the holy citadel of troy. In the twentysecond book of homers odyssey, odysseus begins his battle with the suitors. Book 20 penelope and odysseus both have trouble sleeping that night. The odyssey book 1 summary book one, athena inspires the prince, starts out with someone asking a muse to tell the story of odysseus. When the assembly gathers the next day, wise old aegyptius points out that the group has not met in session since king odysseus left for the trojan war some 20 years before.
When penelope becomes upset at the bards song, telemachus chooses not to console her but rather to. Years after the end of the trojan war, the greek hero odysseus still hasnt come home to ithaka. As the steward of ithaca, penelope dominates those portions of the odyssey not focused on odysseus adventures. The epic hero of the odyssey, odysseus is a fascinating character full of contradictions. Summary and analysis book 19 penelope and her guest. Book two penelope has been weaving a burial shroud for laertes during the day but unraveling it at night. He asks them how they can stand by and allow his mothers hospitality to be abused. His son, telemachus, an infant when odysseus left but now a. They believed odysseus must have died, and they wanted a new king of ithaca. In book 22 of the odyssey, who is saved from death and why. Antinous complains of it at the assembly in book 2. Of all the women in the odyssey, she alone has had the same experiences as the men. Homer opens the odyssey with an invocation to the muse of epic poetry and asks for her guidance in telling the story of a man who has experienced many twists and turns of fate and has suffered many hardships.
One of the suitors, antinous, plans to assassinate the young prince, eliminating the. The epic focuses, of course, on odysseus s nostos return home or homeward voyage, a journey whose details a greek audience would already know because of their rich oral mythic tradition. While odysseus battles mystical creatures and faces the wrath of the gods, his wife penelope and his son telemachus stave off suitors vying for penelope s hand and ithacas throne long enough for odysseus to return. This lesson will summarize book 1 of homers ancient epic poem the odyssey and take a look at some important quotes. Penelope gets odysseus s bow out of the storeroom and announces that she will marry the suitor who can string it and then shoot an arrow through a line of twelve axes. Odysseus instructs telemachus to gather the weapons and hide them where they will not be readily available to the suitors the next day. What does it suggest about human behavior and the tragic fate of human individuals. Odysseus, the reader is told, is the only greek survivor of the trojan war who. Homer lets us know right away that odysseus is being held as a willing sex captive on the island of the goddess kalypso. Jun, 2017 odysseus wife, penelope, stands as one of ancient literatures most prominent female characters. The odyssey is an ancient epic poem by homer that tells the story of odysseuss tenyear struggle to return home to ithaca after fighting in the trojan war in odysseuss. Telemachus so that one of them could finally marry penelope.
It will then go on to include a summary of book 17. Telemachus gladly offers to give the stranger clothes and a sword. It also describes the insolence of the young nobles in ithaca led by antinous and eurymachus who, in the absence of odysseus, live off his wealth and woo his wife, penelope. In the palace hall he meets theoclymenus and piraeus. He tells piraeus not to bring his gifts from menelaus to the palace. She has even resorted to trickery, claims antinous. Use sparknotes and no longer weep, ace every single test you take. The odyssey books 1 3 summary the odyssey by homer books 1 3 summary and analysis. Penelope character analysis in the odyssey litcharts. In the beginning of the story, penelope s most prominent qualities are passivity, loyalty, and patience along with beauty and skill at the loom the ageold feminine virtues. From a general summary to chapter summaries to explanations of famous quotes. Homer, odyssey book 1 theoi classical texts library. Books 512 describe the adventures the hero encounters on his way home.
Penelope comes downstairs with tears after hearing phemius the bards song about gods and heroes, but telemachus rebukes her and tells her to go to her room. We pick up ten years after the fall of troy in the trojan war the subject of the iliad. Telemachus excuses himself from eumaeus to see his mother, and instructs him to lead odysseus to town so he can beg. The odyssey books 46 summary the odyssey by homer books 46 summary and analysis. The olympian has given me sorrows beyond all others who were born and brought up together with me for first i lost a husband with. The odyssey books 1720 summary and analysis gradesaver. We accept donations year round, so if you havent donated yet, theres still time to add your support. Book 1 the narrator of the odyssey invokes the muse, asking for inspiration as he prepares to tell the story of odysseus. Odyssey sparknotes summary book 1 the narrator of the. Odysseus journey has been made difficult by poseidon, the seaking, whom odysseus offended. While odysseus is in captivity, the other gods discuss. The odyssey book 1 lyrics the gods in councilminervas visit to ithacathe challenge from telemachus to the suitors tell me, o muse, of that ingenious hero who travelled far and wide after. The odyssey books 1 3 quiz the odyssey books 46 summary the odyssey books 79 summary the odyssey summary the odyssey quotes the odyssey important characters the odyssey quiz literature literature summaries homer facts. All of the greek heroes except odysseus have returned home.
Her cares make her somewhat flighty and excitable, however. Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, goes to the palace, and is then. Homer titled his epic poem the odyssey after the greek hero odysseus. He commends the citizen who was bold enough to call for the meeting. I deceived them blind, seduced them with this scheme. When penelope tells her story to the beggar odysseus in disguise, she cannot help boasting a little. Antinous, one of the ringleaders of the suitors, puts the blame on penelope, for not choosing one of them as husband. A majority of the odyssey is told in third person from the perspective of the epic poet, what literary element does odysseus use when he tells his part of the story. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in the odyssey, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Book two inspired by athena, telemachus calls a council of all the men of ithaca. Readers hear of the captive and long absent odysseus, observe the council of the gods, and learn of the trouble that penelope and telemachus face back home in ithaca. His spheres include the sky and the weather, hospitality and the rights of guests and suppliants, the punishment of injustice, the sending of omens, and the governance of the universe, controlled to some extent by fate as well. The odyssey book 1 summary and analysis the rugged pyrrhus. In book 18 of the odyssey, irus the beggar walked into the palace and picked a fight with odysseus.
The odyssey books 14 summary and analysis gradesaver. Odysseus assures her that, though penelope is not as beautiful as calypso, he still wants to be with his wife. Character description of penelope from the book the odyssey. Droves of men courting odysseuss wife penelope have been feasting for years in odysseuss court, pestering penelope and depleting the resources of the estate. Chapter summary for homers the odyssey, book 2 summary. In order to cope, she wrote in a book for every day telemachus was gone. But say, yon jovial troops so gaily dressd, is this a bridal or a friendly feast. Meanwhile, back in ithaka, penelope s suitors plot to ambush and kill telemachos when he returns home. Athena takes this opportunity to alter odysseus appearance once more, turning him into a strapping image of his former self. The story begins ten years after the end of the trojan war, the subject of the iliad. When one of her maids betrayed her secret to the suitors.
Odysseus worries that he and telemachus will never be able to conquer so many suitors, but athena reassures him that through the gods all things are possible. Oh, and sea god poseidon is ticked off at odysseus, and sees no reason to let him. Polyphemus one of the cyclopes uncivilized oneeyed giants whose. Penelope never does that, all the women are upstairs with the maids.
Telemachus instead tells her to make a sacrifice to the gods to help them with their revenge. Theres nothing better than when deep joy holds sway throughout the realm and banqueters up and down the palace sit in ranks, enthralled to hear the bard, and before them all, the tables heaped with bread and meats, and drawing wine. About his shoulder he slung his sharp sword, and beneath his shining feet bound his fair sandals, and went forth from his chamber like a god to look upon. The first four describe the difficulties faced by telemachus, the son of odysseus. About the odyssey book 1 this text is taken from the translation by samuel butler, first published in 1900. Eumaeus is sent to tell penelope of her sons safe return. Melantho, the disrespectful servant girl who sleeps with eurymachus, confronts the beggarodysseus once more. Or from their deed i rightlier may divine, unseemly flown with insolence and wine. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Odysseus and telemachus advance their plan to kill the suitors, while. Some critics dismiss penelope as a paragon of marital fidelity a serious and industrious character, a devoted wife and mother, but one who lacks the fascination and zest for life that some of homers immortal women display. Telemachus leaves odysseus at eumaeuss hut and heads to his palace, where he receives a tearful welcome from penelope and the nurse eurycleia. The suitors warm and grease the bow to make it supple. We will begin this lesson with a brief summary of book 18 of homers the odyssey, then continue with a summary of book 19.
1060 1489 863 1226 451 1613 1440 102 1149 708 1526 676 1108 128 677 1393 942 82 1223 154 831 816 444 848 1061 1099 359 130 906 552 1069 298 1097 295 1267 980 1415 1131 837 782 3 176