1. The Odyssey
Book Eight

2. Book Eight
King Alcinos holds an assembly of his people in the palace. He orders a ship to be prepared and selects oarsmen to bring Odysseus home. The king then invites his nobles back to the palace where a banquet is held in honour of their guest. The bard Demodocus is summoned.
While they are dining, the bard begins to sing about the quarrel between Odysseus and Achilles at Troy. The stranger (Odysseus) weeps, trying his best not to be seen, by covering his face with his cloak. Noticing how distressed Odysseus is, King Alcinous orders the assembly to go outside for games.

3. Book Eight
The king decides to move outdoors and games are held. Many of the Phaeacian young men display their skill at running, jumping, wrestling etc. Odysseus is asked to take part in the games choosing what ever sport he likes. He declines at first, saying that he is more concerned with getting home. However, he is goaded on by the insulting comments of Eurylaus.
Odysseus picks up a discus and hurls it into the distance stunning the Phaeacian audience. Odysseus then challenges the Phaeacian men to any sport “I’m ready to meet and match all comers”. None of the men speak or rise to his challenge.

4. Book Eight
Finally, the king sensibly calls the assembly away from the athletics back to music and dancing. The bard sings a tale about the adultery of Ares and Aphrodite.
The Phaeacian nobility then present Odysseus with gifts. Queen Arete also gives him a gift of a coffer, to put his robes and gifts into. Odysseus fastens this chest with a special knot.
He is bathed and is given fresh clothes. He then joins the royal company for a feast.

5. Book Eight
Odysseus accidently meets Nausicaa and thanks her for saving his life. She asks him to remember her.
The hero rejoins the banquet and asks the bard Demodocus to sing him the tale of the Trojan War.
The bard begins to sing of the horse being brought into Troy, with Odysseus and his men packed inside, and how they stole out of it at night time to ravage the city. Odysseus begins to weep when he hears this tale. He cannot control his emotions and streams of tears run down his cheeks.

6. Book Eight
King Alcinous asks the bard to cease his song, he then invites Odysseus to tell him and his company who he is and where he has come from.
The book ends with another appeal to Odysseus to tell the king and his company who he is, what has happened to him and where he must return to.

7. Book Eight: Important Points
Note how Odysseus demonstrates his heroic side especially in the games. He is more than what he appears to be.
Note also the importance of the role of the bard. It is through music and poetry that the heroic comes to life. It is through the music that the deeds of the heroes becomes known, remembered and immortalised.
Note how we witness a rare moment when Odysseus shows emotion, loneliness, and home-sickness. A touching human side to the great warrior.
Note that the Phaecaians, in keeping with what we know already, love music and dancing, are seafaring, are generous to strangers etc.
Note how Athene continues to assist Odysseus, whose identity is still concealed.

8. Book Eight: Important Points
In this section, books 6-8, Odysseus demonstrates great epic qualities: he is astute, thoughtful, tactful, courteous, physically strong, and emotionally loyal to fallen comrades and his homeland. Odysseus draws on those interior strengths, inner qualities that make him a timeless hero for any and every age.

9. Book Eight Questions Why does Odysseus break down for the second time?
What impression are you forming of Odysseus in this book?
What impression are you forming of the Phaecians in this book?