The Odyssey Book I The Trojan war has
The Odyssey Book I
§ The Trojan war has ended § Homer asks the Muse (Calliope) to tell him about Odysseus
§ Odysseus longed for home and couldn’t wait to be with his wife § However, Odysseus’s companions offended Apollo by eating his sacred cattle § They died.
§ Odysseus ends up on the island of Ogygia after angering Poseidon § He is stuck with Calypso, daughter of Atlas, who wants to marry him § All Odysseus wants is to go home
§ The gods of Olympus are having a discussion about mortals blaming the gods, when Athena brings up Odysseus. § She asks why Zeus is angry with Odysseus and why he hasn’t been allowed to go home to Ithaca.
§ Zeus explains that he’s not mad, but poseidon is. § Odysseus blinded the cyclops Polyphemos, Poseidon’s son. § This obviously made Poseidon a bit sore at Odysseus.
Odysseus and Polyphemos
Poseidon’s Anger
§ The gods try to devise a plan to bring Odysseus back to Ithaca, with hopes that Poseidon will cool his jets § Athena suggests that they send Hermes to Ogygia to deal with Calypso while she goes to Ithaca to speak with Telemachos, Odysseus’ son.
Athena traveling to Ithaca
§ Athena disguises herself as the Taphian leader Mentes. § Telemachos greets her and offers food. § Suitors of Penelope, Odysseus’ wife, have been helping themselves to food, wine, and whatever else they desire, all while trying to win her over.
§ Once the suitors are full and drunk, they sing and dance. § This is Athena’s time to speak to Telemachos about why she is there.
§ She tells him that his father Odysseus is not dead, but held captive by savages on an island. § When Athena asks about the suitors, Telemachos says they are sucking his house dry and there is nothing he can do about it.
§ Athena suggests that Odysseus would do something and tells Telemachos to drive the suitors out, gather a crew, and set out in search of his father.
§ She tells him first to go to Pylos and speak with Nestor, then sparta to speak with Menelaos, the co-captain of the Greeks and husband of Helen. If Odysseus is dead, then he can dispose of the suitors however he chooses.
§ Athena says he can have glory like Orestes had when he avenged the death of his father, Agamemnon, by killing Aigisthos. § This gives Telemachos courage.
§ The singer, Phemios, begins to sing, but the song upsets Penelope, and she scolds him. § Feeling revived, Telemachos tells his mother to get a grip. Amazed by his authority, she goes back up to her room and weeps for Odysseus.
Telemachos and Penlope
§ Once the suitors are gone, he goes up to his room and ponders what Athena said to him.
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