Books 1-4 Summaries by Erin Salona
Book ONE Athena Advises Telemachus Homer’s invocation to the Muses (9 daughters of Zeus worshipped for Inspiration to art and music) The reader learns: Poseidon has stranded Odysseus with Calypso, the nymph Poseidon is upset with Odysseus for poking the Cyclops’ eye out Athena begs Zeus to let Odysseus return to Ithaca Hermes is sent to free Odysseus from Calypso
Book ONE Athena comes to give advice to Telemachus & is disguised as Mentor, a male family friend. Suitors have overrun Odysseus’ home & want to marry his mother, Queen Penelope. Mentor/Athena tells Telemachus to find a boat & to sail to different places asking about his father She tells Telemachus that he should warn off the suitors or kill them upon his return.
Book ONE From Mentor, Telemachus decides that he should go to Pylos and Sparta to talk with both King Nestor and King Menelaus. If Telemachus learns that his father is alive, he should go home and put up with the suitors, knowing his father will be home soon.
Book ONE If Telemachus learns that his father is dead, he should prepare a proper burial for him. Also, he will have to ask Odysseus’ father Laertes choose a suitor for her to marry (due to arranged marriages) Telemachus is also informed by Mentor that he will have to kill the suitors who will not leave their home.
Book TWO Telemachus Confronts the Suitors Telemachus calls all of the Greek men together to discuss his problem with the suitors. During the assembly, Zeus sends two eagles– omens of death– to fly over the suitors. Halitherses, a prophet, interprets these eagles to mean Odysseus is coming home and will kill the disrespectful suitors.
Book TWO Antinous, the most arrogant suitor, blames Penelope for the problems because she seduces every suitor but will commit to none of them, says Antinous. Penelope has been tricking the suitors.
Book TWO Penelope has been weaving a burial shroud for Laertes during the day but unraveling it at night. She will not marry a suitor until the shroud is done. A maid tells a suitor of Penelope’s trick.
Book TWO Eurycleia, slave and Telemachus’s old nurse/ care-giver, helps him prepare for the trip. Telemachus begs the nurse not to tell his mother that he has left until some time has passed Mentor/ Athena finds a crew for Telemachus and they all sail away together.
Book THREE The Visit to Nestor Telemachus & ship arrive at Pylos, the land of King Nestor. They arrive during a festival in honor of Poseidon (who is Odysseus’s enemy) Nestor doesn’t know who Telemachus is and invites him to feast with them Nestor then asks Telemachus who he is Telemachus asks Nestor if he has seen Odysseus
Book THREE Nestor praises Telemachus Nestor says that he & Odysseus were friends Nestor says that Athena likely helped Odysseus Telemachus doubts Athena’s power Athena, disguised as Mentor, assures Telemachus that a god can save a mortal
Book FOUR The Visit to Menelaus and Helen Nestor sends Telemachus and Athena, still disguised as Mentor, to Sparta. In Sparta, King Menelaus & wife Helen, are back together and happy. Telemachus doesn’t tell them his identity. Menelaus reminisces about Odysseus & tells war stories; Telemachus cries Menelaus says no soldier worked harder than Odysseus & that he doesn’t know if he is alive or dead.
Book FOUR Telemachus cries for his father Menelaus figures out Telemachus’s identity Helen says aloud that Telemachus must be the son of Odysseus They tell Telemachus that they heard that Odysseus is alive & living with the nymph Calypso The suitors have planned to kill Telemachus when he returns home