Book Seventeen: Stranger at the Gates

At the beginning of book 17, Telemachus "forces" Odysseus to go into town, and the "beggar" agrees. He says that he does not want to be a drain on the farm, and he will go later. Telemachus then departs and finally comes into the palace. Penelope and Eurycleia cry with relief about his safe return. Everyone bathes, and Piraeus meets with Telemachus. When asked, Telemachus decides that he would rather have his gifts stay with his friends of Piraeus if Telemachus were to be killed than have the suitors split it up when they carve up his estate. Penelope asks about what happened on Telemachus' voyage and he tells that Nestor had no information but Menelaus told him that Odysseus was on an island with Calypso. Afterwards, Theocylmenus decides its time for him to talk about a bird sign that predicted that Odysseus was already home in Ithaca. I would have been irritated by him as Odysseus is trying to keep his presence a secret from all but Telemachus. Meanwhile, the swineherd and Odysseus start to walk to the town against Eumaeus' wishes. While on their way, Melanthius, the goat herd, insulted the "beggar" and kicked Odysseus. All three of them go to Odysseus' palace, and Eumaeus and Odysseus decide that Eumaeus will go in first and Odysseus will follow. Odysseus was extremely upset when he saw his dog on a dung heap, as it had not been cared for by everyone. After receiving and eating bread from Telemachus, Odysseus begs for scraps of bread from the suitors to separate the innocent from the guilty. Menlanthius recognized the beggar and announced that the swineherd was the "dirt" that led him into the palace. Antinous got angry at Eumaeus and complained about bringing people in to beg off of "their" plates. Telemachus tells everyone to give bread, but Antinous refused and threw a stool at Odysseus. Penelope finds out about the violence, and tells Eumaeus to bring Odysseus to her. Eumaeus talks about how the beggar has been many places and claims to know about Odysseus' location. When asked, Odysseus agrees but on the condition that they wait until sundown so the suitors do not see and hurt him.

Book 16: Father and Son

Telemachus finally reaches Ithaca, and goes to Eumaeus' shack. I loved how Eumaeus cried and was described as loving Telemachus as if Telemachus were his son. Eumaeus then left to tell Penelope about Telemachus' arrival and location. Athena changed Odysseus back into himself, and the two of them celebrated Odysseus' return. Father and son plan to have Telemachus hide all the weapons, except for those that Odysseus and Telemachus will use to kill the suitors. Meanwhile, the suitors return from their ambush, and decide to plan to kill Telemachus. Amphinomus decides that only if Zeus agrees will the suitors attempt to murder Telemachus. Penelope hears about their plans and tells them to not lay a hand on him, which Eurymachus agrees to. However, the suitors continue to plot afterwards. At the end, Eumaeus comes back to see Odysseus (once again old) and Telemachus.

Book Fifteen: The Prince Set Sail for Home

The Odyssey finally returns to Telemachus, who was at Menelaus's palace, worrying about his father. Athena comes over to Telemachus and urges him to go home since the suitors want to ambush him, but the earth will swallow some of them. Athena also points out that Penelope is being urged to marry Eurymachus. After reaching home, Telemachus is to visit the swineherd first, and send the swineherd to tell Penelope that he has returned. Telemachus wants to leave right away in the middle of the night, yet Pisistratus insists upon waiting for the morning and receiving Menelaus' gifts. Telemachus was given a mixing bowl, a robe for his future bride, and a two-handled cup. The gift giving exhibits the generosity of a host, and also the theme of hospitality throughout the book. While leaving, an eagle plucks up a goose, which is a sign that Odysseus will return and take revenge on the suitors. Telemachus goes onto his ship right away without seeing Nestor, and Theoclymenus asks to be taken aboard their ship. Theoclymenus is apparently a fugitive for killing a man with many brothers who are trying to kill him. Telemachus is a good host and allows Theoclymenus to tag along, and promises to care for him once they reach the palace. The seer Theoclymenus ends up staying with one of Telemachus' men as Telemachus is worried about the situation at the palace. Hospitality is displayed many times in this chapter, especially when Odysseus tests Eumaeus by suggesting that he (Odysseus) leaves and works for the suitors. Eumaeus disagrees, and Odysseus is allowed to stay. Eumaeus tells the tale of how he ended up in Ithaca with him being taken by a serving woman who escaped with some traders, and was sold to Laertes.

Book Fourteen: The Loyal Swineherd

Odysseus went to his swineherd, disguised as a beggar and the swineherd welcomes Odysseus into his home. This exhibits that hospitality is not practiced solely by royalty. The swineherd talked about how his master left, and the suitors eat up his fortune. When Odysseus asks for the swineherd's master's name, the swineherd refuses since he does not want the "beggar" to tell lies to the queen for riches. It really shows how kind of a ruler Odysseus was that after twenty years, his employees still care for him and his family. Odysseus promises that Odysseus will return this month, yet the swineherd does not believe him. After Odysseus tells the swineherd a fabricated story about his troubles, the swineherd still insists that Odysseus will not be returning, and the details of his story are fine except for those about Odysseus. Odysseus tells the swineherd that if Odysseus returns, then the swineherd should give him clothes and send him off or otherwise kill him. The swineherd protests talking about the shame of being such a bad host as to kill his own guest. Odysseus tests the swineherd by asking for a cloak, which the swineherd provides.

Book Thirteen: Ithaca at Last

It was amazing how Odysseus spent so long in Phaeacia while doing nothing other than tell his story and prepare his ship. When he finally leaves, Odysseus sleeps the entire way to Ithaca. The crew dumps him on a beach with all of his gifts, which seems like something odd. Why wouldn't they wake him up when they arrived at Ithaca? It only made their job harder, and Odysseus was extremely disoriented and irritate at the beginning. Poseidon punished the Phaeacians as was prophesied. He stopped one of the ships, the one that took Odysseus and decided to put a mountain around the Phaeacian port. Alcinous realized what was going to happen, and told his people to sacrifice twelve bulls to Poseidon. Athena surrounded Odysseus with mist so he could not tell where he was, and Athena disguised herself as a shepherd boy. After revealing that the land was Ithaca and asking about Odysseus, Odysseus told a lie about how he ended up in Ithaca. Only afterwards did Athena become a woman and reveal herself. Odysseus and Athena hid the treasure and talked about how Athena will get Telemachus back from Sparta and Odysseus, disguised as an old beggar, will seek information from the swineherd. Athena decided to hide Ithaca in mist and talk to Odysseus as a shepherd boy, which does not seem to make much of a difference. It would have been easier to just tell Odysseus what to do rather than test him thus. Also, how blocking off Phaeacia would express how angry Poseidon was with Odysseus escapes me as no one would go by there often enough to hear the news, and Odysseus is not immediately impacted.

Book Twelve: The Cattle of the Sun

Odysseus and his crew return to Aeaea and hold a funeral for Elpenor. Circe warns Odysseus about the journey ahead, and they leave. Odysseus' crew puts beeswax in their ears when passing by the Sirens and their enchanting song, however, Odysseus chooses to listen while lashed to the mast. Afterwards, Odysseus chooses not to tell his men about Scylla and just tells them to row away from Charybdis. Six men are taken by Scylla, and the men reach the island where Helios kept his cattle. Eurylochus points out that they should stay there, and Odysseus agrees but on the condition that the men swear to not slaughter any of the cattle. After a month of waiting because the south wind blew nonstop, the men run out of supplies and eventually kill some of the cattle. Helios was told, and Zeus ended up killing the crew by hitting the ship with a lightning bolt. Odysseus drifts on a raft, and ends up on Calypso's island. It seemed odd how Odysseus would agree to staying on the island where Helios's herds were after hearing about the possible doom of his crew, even with the crew taking an oath. Also, the way that Odysseus withheld information to his crew about Scylla seemed self centered, even if it was in their best interest.

Book Eleven: The Kingdom of the Dead

Odysseus and his men sailed to the underworld, and summoned ghosts. Elpenor asked Odysseus to bury him, since he died from falling off the roof. Odysseus met with Tiresias, who told him to not slaughter the cattle of Helios if his entire crew wished to go home. If Odysseus were to escape, then he would be alone, late and broken. Tiresias told Odysseus that he will have to kill the suitors and sacrifice animals to Poseidon. Afterwards, Odysseus talked to his mother and mothers of famous greek heroes and kings. After talking to Alcinous about staying one more day, Odysseus launches into his story of meeting greek heroes and his deceased comrades. Odysseus found out about Aegisthus from Agamemnon, talked to Achilles about his son, and watched as people faced their eternal punishment before leaving the underworld. It was interesting to me how Agamemnon blamed Clytemnestra for  plotting to murder him, when it was the fault of both her an Aegisthus.