The Odyssey question and answer booklet: Book 9

1. Refer back to book 8, where is Odysseus while he relates this?
The land of the Phaeacians (Scherie)
2. How does he feel about his home, Ithaca?
He misses it
3. Which two females have detained him on his way home?
Calypso and Circe
4. What mistake did Odysseus' "fools of men" make at Ismarus?
They refused to escape when Odysseus told them to and consequently six of the men died.
5. What happens to those who eat the lotus-fruit?
They forgot everything. "Those who ate the honeyed fruit of the plant lost any wish to come back and bring its news"
6. How does Homer deal with this situation?
"I had to use force to bring them back to the hollow ships" "once on board i tied them up and dragged them under the benches"
7. Quote the phrase that describes the Cyclops:
"a fierce lawless people" "who never lift a hand to plant or plow but just leave everything to the immortal gods"
8. What is Odysseus' plan?
He picks the twelve best men to go with him to try and find the Cyclops.
9. What do they find in Polyphemus' cave?
Baskets filled with cheeses and folds filled with lambs and kids (penned). Well made vessels and pails and bows used for milking whey.
10. What do the men beg Odysseus to do?
To kill the cyclops
11. Why wouldn't he do this?
They wouldn't be able to escape the cave because the boulder over the door is so big.
12. How does Homer indicate the size of the stone which closes the cave?
"it was a mighty slab, twenty-two-or-more wheeled wagons could not shift such a massive stone"
13. What is unusual in the Cyclops asking his questions as soon as he notices them?
"are you cruising the main on chance"
14. What information does Odysseus carefully omit when introducing himself?
He tells Polyphemus that his name is "Nobody" and that he is an Achaean on his way home from Troy
15. Why does Polyphemus reject the pleas of a supplicant?
"we cyclopes care nothing for Zeus" "I would never spare you or your men for fear of offending Zeus' emity unless I felt like it"
16. What barbarous act does he commit before sleeping?
"He jumped up and reaching put towards my men seized a couple and dashed their heads against the floor" "he tore them to pieces to make his meal"
17. What does he have for breakfast?
More of Odysseus' men
18. What gift does Odysseus give Polyphemus?
Some wine
19. What gift does Polyphemus offer Odysseus?
That he will eat Odysseus last
20. What does Odysseus say his name is?
Nobody
21. Give one horrid detail of what happens whilst Polyphemus sleeps?
"seizing the olive pole, they drove its sharpened end into the cyclopes' eye"
22. Give one horrid detail of the blinding episode?
"The scorching heat singed his lids and brow all round while his eyeball blazed and the very roots crackled in flames"
23.

The Odyssey question and answer booklet: Book 8

1. What's the name of the bard at Alcinous' palace?
Demodocus
2. What is the subject of the bard's first song?
The famous deeds of the heroes- the quarrel  of Odysseus and Achilles son Peleus.
3. How does this song affect Odysseus and why do you think this is so?
He drew the purple cloak over his head and began to cry- he didn't want the Phaeacians to see him crying.
4. What is the subject of the bard's second song?
Ares and Aphrodite- Aphrodite had an affair on Hephaestus with Ares, Hephaestus cunningly caught them.
5. What gifts does Odysseus receive from each of the 13 princes?
The princes gave him fresh cloaks, tunics and a talent of sterling gold. Eurylaus gave him a sword of bronze which has a silver hut and a newly carved ivory handle.
6. Why does Eurylaus have to make a special gift?
Because he undermined Odysseus and offended him
7. What is the subject of the bard's third song?
The stratagem of the trojan horse.
8. At what point exactly does Alcinous learn the identity of his guest?
When he sees Odysseus crying during the songs.
9. What is special about Phaeacian ships and what is the prophecy associated with them?
Poseidon said that some day the gods would wreck one of their fine ships on the misty sea as she came home from a journey- thats what the old king used to say.

The Odyssey question and answer booklet: Book 7

1. How does Athene protect Odysseus as he approaches the city?
She puts a magical mist around him to protect him from other peoples questions.
2. What special gifts have the gods given to the Phaeacians?

• Poseidon
• He favours the Phaeacians 
• Hephaestus
• "on either side stood gold and silver to watch over the palace"
• Athene
• "Athene has given them outstanding arts and beautiful skill"
• The West Wind
• "there is never a time the West Winds breath is not assisting here the bud"

3. Compare Odysseus' supplication of Arete with his supplication of Nausicaa in book 6 and account for the differences

Odysseus threw himself at Arete's knees whereas he was more civilised with Nausicaa. 

4. What help does Alcinous propose to give Odysseus? 

Alcinous proposes to give Odysseus a ship and crew to get him home under safety from the Phaeacians.

5. Which of Arete's questions does Odysseus answer and which does he not answer? 

"Who are you? Where do you come from? and who gave you these clothes?" He only tells her that he has just come from Ogygia. 

6. Read Odysseus' account of his recent adventures: what does he change? 

He doesn't tell the Phaeacians that Ino gave him protection 

The Odyssey questions and answers: Book 6

1. What does she look like?
beautiful and young
2. Show how well she knows and gets round her father.
She says she needs to wash clothes so he looks presentable for his meetings and so her unmarried brothers will find good wives.
3. How does she show courage?
She doesn't run away from Odysseus- however Athene was the one who gave Nausicaa the courage to not run away from the naked Odysseus.
4. What do we learn about the Phaeacians and their special status?
Scherie (where the Phaeacians live) is at the edge of the world and the Phaeacians come into contact with no other people. the Phaeacians are "godlike" and are favoured by Poseidon.
5. How does she show her good sense?
She makes Odysseus walk behind her to avoid gossip. She tells him the directions to Athene's woods and then ask somebody from the village where the palace is. She says that she wont take Odysseus there herself as the girls in the village like to gossip and will assume that Odysseus and her are together, she doesnt want to be in the center of attention.
6. How does she show Odysseus hospitality?
She gives him clothes and she invites him to her home.
7. References to marriage:

• "her future husband no doubt"
• "she was too shy to mention to her father the subject of marriage and all of its promises" 

8. How does Odysseus show his tact and good sense? 

He considers throwing his arms around Nausicaa's knees or keep his distance but he decided it would be better to keep his distance. He covers himself when he emerges from the bush towards Nausicaa. 

The Odyssey question and answer booklet: Book 5

1. How is Odysseus introduced?
He is sat on the beach crying because he misses his home in Ithaca.
2. Why does Calypso agree to Odysseus' release?
Calypso is just a nymph and so she cannot go against the gods as that would be impious.
3. Calypso accuses the gods of hypocrisy. What reason does she give?
Because they can marry mortals yet she cannot keep and marry Odysseus on her island.
4. Read the domestic scene when Odysseus and Calypso are having dinner together. What is significant here?
The last supper- it is like the biblical story where they sit down and have their last meal together.
5. What do we learn about Odysseus' qualities and strengths in the raft building scene?
he is good at building- he is a handy man. A Greek audience would find this interesting as they were manual labourers and so they would understand how difficult it  is to build one. It adds to Odysseus' godlike qualities.
6. is this episode interesting to a modern audience? Why/ why not?
It isn't interesting to a monder audience as we rely on machines and not all of us are crafty and so we dont understand why Odysseus does it in the order he does. To the Greeks it was an art but to use its just another job.
7. What parts is played in this book by Poseidon?
He sends Odysseus a massive wave which will destroy his raft.
8. What advice is given to Odysseus by the sea goddess Leucothoe?
She tells him to take her veil and wrap it around his waist as it will protect him.
9. What help is given by Athene?
She sends him a good wind, and she gives him extra strength so he can hold onto the rock.

The Odyssey question and answer booklet: Book 4

1. What do we discover about Menelaus and Helens' stay in Egypt?

• They were stranded there 

•  They were offered good xenia

2. Who is Eidothee? Why does she help Menelaus?
She is the daughter of the Old Man of the Sea, she decieved her father by helping Menelaus.
3. What does the episode featuring the Old Man of the Sea (Proteus) ass to the poem?
It makes the story exciting, vivid and mysterious.
4. What does Proteus tell Menelaus about Odysseus?
"there is a third who, though still alive, is a prisoner somewhere in the vastness of the seas"
5. How do the suitors learn that Telemachus has gone to Sparta?
The man who lends Telemachus the ship, Noeman, asks the suitors if they know when Telemachus will return with his ship as he needs it soon.
6. What does the suitor, Antinous plan to do?
Ambush Telemachus.
7. How is suspense created at the end of book 4?
It leaves it on a cliff hanger.
Dramatic irony- we know the suitors plans to murder Telemachus but Telemachus doesnt know that he is in danger.

The Odyssey question and answer booklet: Book 3

1. How does Nestor show xenia to Telemachus?

• He prepared a banquet 
• Shared his stories with Telemachus
• Doesn't ask Telemachus' name 
• Has good manors
• Made drink offerings to the gods

2. How do they recognize that "Mentor" is in fact Athene?

She flew away in the form of a vulture

3. Who travels in the chariot with Telemachus and where do they go? 

Pesistratus (Nestors son), and they go to Sparta

4. Evidence that Nestor has a god opinion of Telemachus? (kleos)

• "Ah, my friend"
• "What a tall and splendid young man you have become"
• "I cannot help but look at you in awe: you talk exactly as he did, and I should have sworn a man could resemble him in speed"
• "The future generations will sing your praises"

The Odyssey question and answer booklet: Book 2

1. Write down the first line in the book, what does it mean?
"As soon as Dawn appeared fresh and rosy fingered"- Dawn is the sun god and when she rises the day begins.
2. How does Athene help Telemachus prepare for the assembly?
"Athene endowed him with such supernatural grace that all eyes were turned on him in admiration"- she gave him some confidence so that he could speak in public.
3. How do the elders show Telemachus respect as he arrives?
"The elders made way for him as he took his fathers seat"- they are respectful towards Telemachus which juxtaposes how the suitors act towards Telemachus.
4. What reason does Telemachus give for calling an assembly?
To get rid of the suitors so that Odysseus can return the same way he left Ithaca.
5. Who is Icarius?
The father of Penelope.
6. How does Antinous react to Telemachus' accusations?
He is angry at Telemachus because he is putting all of the blame on the suitors.
7. What deception did Penelope use to avoid having to choose a new husband?
She is weaving a shroud for Laertes (despite him not being dead yet) and she tells the suitors that when she has finished weaving it she will marry one of them. During the day Penelope weaves the shroud but during the knit she unpicks what she has done in the day and so the shroud would take so much longer. This went on for three years before the Suitors were told what she was doing by a untrustworthy maid.
8. How does Antinous criticize Penelope?
He calls her an "incomparable schemer"
9. How does he flatter her?
"She ma be winning a great name for herself"
10. What sign does Zeus send in response to Telemachus' threat against the suitors?
"Zeus the thunderer urged two eagles into flight from the mountain top" which gave looks of "foreboding death"
11. How is it interpreted?
That Odysseus is going to return. Halitherses was the one who interpreted it.
12. What prophecy about Odysseus is made?
That Odysseus would return home after twenty years and after much suffering.
13. What is Telemachus planning to do now?
Go to Pylos to see if he could hear any news on Odysseus. If he finds out that his father is dead then he will return home and marry his mother off to one of the suitors.
14. Who is Mentor?
He was an old friend of Odysseus who has been entrusted with looking after Odysseus' land for Odysseus whilst he was at the Trojan war.
15. How does he describe the suitors?
"black hearted"
16. Why, according to Athene, will Telemachus be successful?
"by no means lacking in Odysseus' resourcefulness" "you will be no fool or coward in the future"
17. Athene calls herself Odysseus'......?
"resourcefulness"
18. What signs indicate that Telemachus feels more confident after Athene's visit?
He heard her voice
19. Who is Eurycleia?
Odysseus and Telemachus' nurse. She is the daughter of Ops, Peisoners son, and was brought by Laertes.
20. What does the crew do as soon as the ship has gathered speed?
"They took out the mixing bowls, filled them to the brim with wine and poured libations to the immortal gods"

The Odyssey question and answer booklet: Book 1

1. What is missing from the proem?
Odysseus
2. What do we find out about Odysseus?
He is trapped on an island with a nymph when he couldn't save his men.
3. Why is Poseidon angry?
Odysseus blinded his son, Polyphemus the cyclops.
4. What types of gods does Homer present?
Judging, criticizing and powerful, they are like a family.
5. How do the gods match your expectations?
They meet them- you expect the gods to be powerful and stronger than humans.
6. What kind of mortality system does Zeus invoke?
Mortals choose to do bad things (hubris mostly) and so they gods inflict punishments on mortals- even if the god does not want to punish- they restore order and make the mortals stay in line where they belong.
7. Why is Athene so concerned with Telemachus?
Every god has a favourite mortal. Odysseus is Telemachus' because he is like her- they have the same personality traits.
8. What is happening in Ithaca when Athene goes to goes disguised to Ithaca to see Telemachus?
There are 108 suitors who are at the palace wanting Penelope's hand in marriage.
9. Why start in Ithaca, not with Odysseus?
To give background information and to add tension.
10. Hospitality is a key theme, what is expected of a host and what is expected of a guest?

• Host: 
• Provides clothes
• Provides the best possible food and drink
• Give the guest a really good gift
• Polite towards the guest
• Does not ask the guests name 
• Does not tell the guest when to leave
• Guest: 
• Tells the stories of their travels 
• Shows the host they other gifts which they have received
• Tells the host their name when they feel suitable

Xenia and kleos in the Odyssey:

Xenia- hospitality
Kleos- a Greek earns kleos by carrying out great deeds. Kelos is what people have heard about you.

Xenia in the Odyssey:

• Xenia towards Telemachus-
• Nestor-
• Nestor allows Telemachus to stay with him for a night. 
• Nestor invited Telemachus to join him and his sons at the banquet. 
• Nestor makes drink offerings to Athene. 
• After Nestor offers the xenia to Telemachus he asks him who his friends are and where he comes from.
• Nestor then tell Telemachus a story about the Trojan war.
• Nestor then allowed Telemachus to stay overnight in his palace. 
• Nestor then give Telemachus a chariot and his son, Pesistratus who is to accompany him to Spata, to Menelaus and Helen's palace. 
• Menelaus and Helen-
• Menelaus' squire Eteoneous has bad xenia as he is against Telemachus and Pesistratus coming into the palace and refuses to tie the horses up. 
• Menelaus offers good xenia, he greets the guests and sits them down to have a meal with himself and Helen. 
• Menelaus begins to tell Telemachus about the Trojan war and how women cannot be trusted. 
• Menelaus tells Telemachus he looks just like Odysseus which is when Telemachus tells him he is truly the son of Odysseus. 
• After they have spoken more, Telemachus spends a night in the palace. In the morning Menelaus says he will put him up for twelve more days so he can then have glorious gifts off of him. 
• Menelaus gave Telemachus a mixing bowl of wrought which was handcrafted by Hephaestus. 
• Xenia towards Odysseus-
• Calypso-
• Calypso lets Odysseus go when the gods tell her that he needs to go. 
• She feeds Odysseus and lets him sleep with her. 
• She provides him with the materials to make his raft. 
• She sends him off with a favourable wind.
• The Phaeacians- 
• They listen to Odysseus' stories. 
• They let Odysseus stay in the palace 
• They feast with Odysseus. 
• They tell Odysseus about their stories and their bard Demodocus sings songs with his lyre. 
• They allow Odysseus to compete in the Phaeacian games. 
• Circe-
• Circe feasts with Odysseus and feeds him crew members every night which they stay. 
• Circe allows Odysseus to sleep with her. 
• Circe listens to Odysseus' stories which he tells her. 
• She lets him leave when he wants to. 
• Eumaeus- 
• Eumaeus lets the beggar Odysseus to stay with him even though he isnt dressed like one of the Ithacans which would be more acceptable.
• Eumaeus takes Odyssues to town to make sure he knows where he is going. 
• He does as Telemachus tells him to do, go to town  and talk to Penelope. 
• He allows Odysseus to stay with him even though Odysseus says that he can leave if he is too much hastle. 
• Eumaeus defends Odysseus when the cowheard Melanthius, attacks him. 

What is the greatest threat to Odysseus in the Odyssey? Essay plan

What threatens Odysseus' travels in the Odyssey?

• The Gods- 
• Poseidon- Poseidon hinders Odysseus' journey continuously since Odysseus blinded his son, Polyphemus. Poseidon send Odysseus storms, which wreck his ship and he punishes the Phaeacians after then help Odysseus by taking him back to Ithaca. 
• Athene- Athene doesn't pose such a great threat to him as she is helping him for most of the Odyssey, however when Odysseus starts to offend her she gets wound up which would result in threat as she is so powerful. 
• Zeus- Zeus poses a threat as he allows Poseidon to punish the Phaeacians, he punished Odysseus' men because they ate Hyperion's cattle and he warns men about their behaviour before he has to punish them for it. He doesn't pose a huge threat however as he doesn't intervene with Odysseus' travels much as he only grants other gods to help Odysseus. 
• Hermes- Hermes helps Odysseus, he is the messenger who goes to Caylpso to tell her to let Odysseus leave Ogygia because Zeus said so, then he also game Odysseus some Moly, which is the antidote to Circe's poison which turns men into pigs. 
• Monsters- 
• Cicones- they are Thracians living in Ismarus. They pose a threat to Odysseus as they started a battle, Odysseus killing six of his men from each of his ships. 
• Lotus-eaters- the lotus-eaters meant no harm to Odysseus or his crew members. They fed some of Odysseus' men who Odysseus had sent inland, and they ate they "honeyed fruit" which caused them to forget what they were supposed to be doing. None of Odysseus' men died, they were just dragged back to the ship where they continued their journey. 
• Polyphemus- Odysseus blinded Polyphemus and then stupidly told him his name and so Polyphemus set a curse on Odysseus. Poseidon then seeks revenge on Odysseus since Polyphemus is his son.
• Laestrygonians- Antiphates is the king of the Laestrygonians who pounces on one of Odysseus' men to eat him for dinner. Three of Odysseus' men dies which he sends to go and investigate the island. As soon as Odysseus sees all of the Laestrygonians heading towards his ships, he sets off immediately, leaving his three men behind.
• Sirens-  The Sirens are singers who bewitch men who pass them with their deallthy voices. Odysseus and his men row next to the Sirens and plug their ears with softened beeswax whilst Odysseus is tied to the mast of the ship so that he can hear the sirens voices but he wont be lured to his death by his temptation to go to them. 
• Scylla- Scylla is a six, scrawny necked creature who is opposite Charybdis. Scylla kills six of Odysseus strongest, ablest men when the rest of Odysseus' crew are busy paying attention to Charybdis. 
• Charybdis- Charybdis is a whirlpool opposite Scylla who is "like a cauldron on a blazing fire"
• Odysseus' crew- Odysseus' crew don't listen to Odyssseus when he tells them what to do. For instance when Odysseus tells them not to touch the bag of wind and they do it anyway out of their own curiosity. 
• Magic- Magic such as Circe turning Odysseus' men into pigs is threatening as only the gods can override the magic which threatens Odysseus.
• The Suitors- the Suitors threaten Odysseus as they threaten to take his wife and his home before he returns back to Ithaca. They could take away his kingdom which means so much to him. 
• Eurycleia, Argus- they threaten him because they could recognize who he was and let his guard down which would make him vulnerable because of the suitors. 
• Weather/ Sea- the gods control the weather and so Odysseus is threatened by the thought of losing his kleos by dying at sea, as then there would be no legacy for his family to carry about him. 
• Women- Circe and Calypso especially are threats to Odysseus as Odysseus is sexually desired to them. Odysseus has sex with both of the women, and both of them make it clear that they want him to stay with them rather than going home to Ithaca.
• ODYSSEUS- Odysseus is the most poignant threat to himself as he is the one who is the most adventurous and curious. 
• Crew- 
• Odysseus doesn't tell his crew members why they cant touch Hyperion's cattle and what the consequences would be if they did kill the cattle. 
• He also doesn't tell the men that the bag was full of wind, instead he stays up for as long as he can protecting the bag, making the crew members more and more suspicious and so when he eventually does fall asleep his crew members open the bag of wind which making his ship go all the way back to Aeolia. 
• Odysseus doesn't tell his men about Scylla in fear that they might stop rowing and huddle underneath the boards instead. 
• His sense of adventure-
• He doesnt need to stop at the Circones or the Lotus Eaters as he has only just left Troy and therefore will have plently of supplies and so there is no need to stop at Ismarus. 
• Even though Circe tells him not to arm himself to fight Scylla, Odysseus does anyway.
• It is his fault Polyphemus is blinded as he was the one who was greedy for hospitality and so went to Polyphemus' cave expecting to receive hospitality. 

The Odyssey- Book 14 (IN EUMAEUS' HUT)

• Odysseus followed a rough track leading to the woods, following the route which Athene gave him where at the end he would find the swineherd Eumaeus. 
• He found him sitting in the porch of his hut in the farmyard. 
• Around him there were twelve sites which Eumaeus had made himself to protect his masters pigs when he went to Troy. 
• There were three-hundred and sixty swines which were kept outside and guarded every night by four savage gods. 
• When he saw Eumaeus he was shaping a pair of sandals made out of leather to his feet. 
• They baying dogs caught sight of Odysseus and flew at him barking loudly. Odysseus had the sense to get down and drop his staff. 
• The swineherd dashed through the gate upon hearing the noise and shouted at the dogs sending them away. 
• Eumaeus then addressed Odysseus (unknowingly that it was Odysseus as he was disguised as a beggar) and asked him to go with him to his hut as when he is there he can have all of the bread and wine he could possibly want. Eumaeus then tell Odsseus that he is to tell him where he has come from and what his troubles have been. 
• Eumaeus the led the way to his hut and let Odysseus in. He sat Odysseus down on some brushwood which he covered in the shaggy skin of a wild goat serving as his own mattress. 
• Odysseus was grateful for Eumaeus' hospitality and spoke out to Zeus and the other gods "grant you your dearest wish for recieving me so kindly". 
• Eumaeus replies saying that it would not have been right for him to tunr away someone who is in need of his help. He then tells the beggar Odysseus that his master is misfortuned as "the gods have set their faces against his return". 
• Eumaues then starts to bitch about Helen, as she is the reason why  his master had to go away in the first place and "she has been the death of many a good man". 
• Eumaeus then stopped talking and selected two of the pigs, carried them in and slaughtered both of them. He then signed them, chopped them up and skewered them. Once he has roasted the meat he put it in front of Odysseus, sprinkled it with white barley meal and then mixed some mellow wind in a wooden bowl.
• Eumaeus then sat down opposite Odysseus and asked him to eat some of the pig which he has prepared for him. he then goes on to explain how the suitors eat most of the fattened pigs yet the gods done do anything to stop this from happening. 
• He goes on to tell Odysseus about how his "master" was "enormously rich" and no one was up to his standard. 
• Whilst Eumaeus was talking Odysseus ate all of his food and drunk the wine without making any comment as his brain was toying with the idea of what he would do to get revenge on the suitors. 
• Odysseus then asked Eumaeus who had brought him and who was the master which he was talking about (obviously fishing for compliments ) as he could give him news of the man. 
• Eumaeus tells Odysseus that many people have dresses up as beggars and said they ahve news on Odysseus when really they dont, they just want Penelope's hand in marriage.
• He goes on to tell Odysseus that his master is "dead and gone" and his death has brought nothing but grief for his friends and family, especially to Eumaeus as he will never find such a kind master again. "I still call him my beloved master". 
• Odysseus replies saying that "I will not merely state that Odysseus is coming back, I will swear to it" telling him that Odysseus will be home within the next month and will punish anyone who dishonours I his wife and his noble son. 
• Eumaeus replies saying that Odysseus wont be coming home again so they should just drink in peace and move the conversation on. Eumaeus then breaks the news to Odysseus that the suitors are planning to ambush Telemachus on his way home from Pylos. 
• Eumaues then asks Odysseus who he is and where he comes from and how he ended up in Ithaca. 
• Odysseus makes up the story that he is from Crete and is the son of a rich man. He says that he won a wife from a rich family who own a lot of land. He makes up that he fought at Troy and afterwards spent a month with his children and wife at home before he sailed to Egypt. He siad that when he got to Egypt they were having trouble themselves and so when he saw the Kings chariot and clasped before his knees, kissing them. The king pities Odysseus and soared his life. And shave Odysseus the seat beside him. Odysseus tells Eumaeus that he then spent several years in Egypt making a fortune and then one day managed to persuade the king to let him go on a voyage to Phoenicia. As they were passing Sound of Crete, Poseidon send them a storm and they ended up on the coast of Thesprotia which is where Odysseus' beggar character first heard of Odysseus. Odysseus told Eumaeus that Odysseus had gone to Dodona to learn the will of Zeus. Odysseus then said that his crew were extremely against him and stripped him of his cloak and his tunic in replacement of filthy new clothes and when they reached the island of Ithaca they tied him under the decks and left to have supper on the beach but Odysseus managed to free himself from the ropes and they escaped them. 
• Eumaeus then speaks saying that he feels sorry for him but why is there a need to tell such pointless lies? He goes on to explain that he is a hermit and never goes to the town except when Penelope invites him in. He says that he has lost all interest in questioning peoples news on Odysseus as one say a man from Aetolia told him that he has seen odysseus with Idomeneus in Crete repairing the damage which his fleet had suffered in Crete. He says that Odysseus would be back by autumn bringing back a fortune. 
• Odysseus then says that Eumaeus has a "suspicious nature" but that if Odysseus does return Eumaeus will give him a cloak and tunic to wear ans send him on his way to Dulchium. 
• However if Odysseus does not return he shall, tell his men to kill him to teach that the next beggar to not tell lies. 
• Eumaues says that he would not kill him as it is a crime against the gods. 
• The herdsmen then came up with their pigs and drive them into the sties for the night. Eumaues chopped some firewood with his sharp axe no to men dragged in a five year old hog. And held it by the hearth Eumaeus prayed to the gods of Odysseus' return before he struck the animal and slit its throat. 
• The chopped up the rest of the meat and roasted it thoroughly. 

The Odyssey- Book 13 (ODYSSEUS LANDS IN ITHACA)

• Odysseus' tale is finished. 
• Alcinous tells him that he is sure that Odysseus will return home without any further problems. 
• All of Odysseus' gifts are packed in a polished box and so at the moment they are to drink the sparkling wine and listen to the minstrels song.
• When Dawn appeared Alcinous went down to the ship and stowed away all of the gifts under the benches. 
• They then returned to Alcinous' palace, where they sacrificed an Ox to Zeus, feasted and listened to Demodocus sing the music of his lyre. 
• Whilst everyone else were enjoying the mew, Odysseus kept on longing to be on his way home. 
• Odysseus asks that the gods in heaven bless the Phaeacians as they have given him a way of getting home and offered him very good gifts. 
• In reply Alcinous tells Pontonous to get some wine so that they can make a wine offering to Zeus before they see off Odysseus. 
• As they headed down for the ship the young nobles took hold of Odysseus' baggage and stowed it in the "polished ship". Then they spread a rug and sheet on the deck for Odysseus himself so that he might enjoy some sleep. Odysseus then climbed on board and laid down. 
• Then the ship left Scherie and headed towards Ithaca. 
• The Phaeacians mounted the beach with the ship and lifted Odysseus who was still sleeping out of the ship on his rug. They then took out all of the treasures and then they set out for home. 
• Poseidon then turns around to Zeus and says that the immoral gods will lose respect for him now that the Phaeacians don't respect him. To which Zeus replies telling him that its not true that the other gods don't respect him. Poseidon says he respects Zeus but he wishes to destroy the Phaeacians ship and punishment for helping Odysseus return home and that he will fence the Phaeacians with high mountains., Zeus replies telling him that he can do what he wants but putting the mountains around Scherie is a bit over the top. 
• As the Phaeacains were waiting for the ship to return they saw that it had stopped as they were making it port. The Alcinous cries out saying that his fathers prophecies had come true that Poseidon would one day wreck one of their fine ships as it was returning from a journey and they encase the Phaeacian island with the mountains. 
• The Phaeacian people then gathered around the altar and interceded with Poseidon. 
• Odysseus has now woken up on his native land but after so long he fails to recognise it because Athene had thrown a magical mist over it to make Odysseus unrecognisable. 
• Odysseus then stands up and cried out "whos country have I come to this time"
• He then checked the gifts which Alcinous gave to him (the fine tripods, the cauldron, his gold and woven fabrics) and not a single item was missing. 
• Athene now appeared disguised as a young shepard. Odysseus asks her where he is and who lives here to which Athene replies saying that he is in Ithaca to which Odysseus replies with excitement. 
• Odysseus lies to Athene about who he is and where he comes from so that the suitors don't find out. 
• Athene smiled at him and her appearance changed to a tall, beautiful woman. She tells him that he was an "obstinate, cunning and irrepressible intriguer"she tells him he isnt willing to drop the lying tales which he loves to tell even in his own country, she tells him that he didnt recognise the goddess who was helping him all along then she starts ti tell him what she has done to him. 
• Odysseus replies saying that "it is hard for a man to recognise you at sight" he then goes on to see Penelope or Telemachus whereas other people would run off to find their family. 
• Athene then goes on to tell him that she wasnt prepared to go against her uncle Poseidon. She then tells him that he is in the harbour of Phrocys. 
• Odysseus was so excited that he was home that he kissed the soil of his homeland. 
• Him and Athene then sat by the olive tree and started to scheme the downfall of the suitors. 
• Athene then tells him that the suitors are after Penelopes hand in marriage, offering her gifts abd refusing to leave her alone. 
• Odysseus says that he could come to the same fate as Agamemnon without the help of Athene, Athene then agrees to help Odysseus by disguising him beyond recognition. She tells him that he must first go to the swineherd as he is loyal whilst Athene goes to Sparta to summon Telemachus. 
• Athene then touched him with her wand and withered his skin and covered his body with old mans wrinkles and dimmed the brightness of his eyes. She then turned his clothes into rags and threw a hide of a nimble stag over his back. 
• Then they both parted. Odysseus headed to Eumaeus and Athene to Lacedaemaemon where Telemachus is. 

The Odyssey - Book 12 (SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS)

• Odysseus and his crew reached the island of Aeaea where they beached their ship. As soon as dawn appeared Odysseus sent a party off to Circe's house in order to fetch the dead body of Elphenor. 
• When they had burnt Elphenors corpse with his armour they built him a barrow, hauled up a stone for monument and planted his oar at the top of the mound. 
• Circe then became aware of their return to Aeaea and came down with her handmaids laden with bread, meat and sparkling wine. 
• She told Odysseus and his men to rest for the rest of the day on her island and then at daybreak tomorrow to sail. She says that she will give them the route they must take.
• For the rest of the day Odysseus and his men took Circe's advice and feasted and drank with their rich supply of meat and mellow wine. 
• Once Odysseus' men had retired to bed for the night Circe took Odysseus' hand and sat him down away from his comrades. 
• Circe told Odysseus that his next encounter would be with the sirens "who bewitch everybody who approaches them". She tells Odysseus that he needs to soften some beeswax and plug the crews ears with it. But if he wants to listen himself he is to get his crew to bind himself to the mast and if he wants to be released his crew is to tighten the ropes and add more knots. 
• Circe tells him that once he has passed the sirens he has two routes which he can take. The first route which Odysseus can take is one which will lead him to the Wandering Rocks where there is "no escape whatever". The second route which Odysseus and his crew can take is where the two rocks are. One of the rocks is sky high and is the home of Scylla "the creature with the dreadful bark". She is a "repulsive monster". She has twelve feet and six scrawny long necks. The other of the rocks is Charybdis who sucks the waters down. Circe tells Odysseus that he must go towards Circe as it is better for him to lose six of his men rather than all of his men. Circe says that the best option for Odysseus is flight rather than fight against Scylla. 
• Circe then tells Odysseus that he will next come across the island of Thrinacie where the sun gods cattle are. She tells him that if he leaves them untouched then he will return home but not without suffering whereas if he touches the cattle he will reach home late having lost all of his comrades. 
• Circe then came to an end and Odysseus went back to his ship and ordered his men to untie the hawsers. 
• The Circe sent them a friendly, favourable wind. 
• Odysseus told his men firstly about the sirens and what they must do in order to survive them. 
• Odysseus then took a large amount of wax, cut it up with his sword and warmed the pieces up with his fingers. He gave two pieces to all of his men for them to plug their ears. His men then bound them to the mast. 
• When the sirens came aware that Odysseus was approaching in his ship they broke into their high, clear song. 
• As they approached Odysseus ordered his men to set him free but they did as he instructed before and tightened his ropes as well as adding more knots. 
• "My men were terrified" 
• After Odysseus and his men had passed the sirens Odysseus gave his men a motivational speech saying how if they survived the cyclops they can survive this. 
• Odysseus didn't however mention the horror of Scylla fearing that his men might stop rowing in panic. 
• Odysseus didn't listen to Circe's advice and armed himself ready to fight off Scylla but he couldn't see her anywhere. 
• They started to sail up the straits with Scylla on one side and Charybdis on the other side. 
• Scylla snatched out of Odysseus' ship six of his best men who all called out to Odysseus in anguish. 
• Scylla ate the comrades in front of her own door and the men shrieked and stretched out their hands to Odysseus in order for his help. 
• When they finally left the rock, Scylla and Charybdis behind they soon reached the sun gods island where Hyperion kept the cattle. 
• Then the words of Tiresias, the Theban prophet and Circe came into mind. As they had all been so insistent on him not touching Hyperions cattle. 
• Odysseus then warned his crew about the island asking them to drive past it. However Eurylochus asked Odysseus to let them have the evening on lands as they have been through a lot and need to cook their supper. 
• Odysseus agrees but tells his men they are not to kill or harm any of the cattle in the island which Circe hasn't given them. He doesn't tell his men about what will happen if they do kill the cattle however. 
• the crew all promised and swore an oath that they wouldn't harm the cattle and they started to prepare their supper out of the food which Circe had provided. 
• As soon as Dawn appeared the men beached the ship in a hollow cave. 
• Odysseus reminded them again that they aren't to touch the cattle, especially as they have a lot of food on board the ship. 
• Eurylochus once Odysseus had gone, said to the crew that they are all really hungry and dying of starvation is no way to die so they should take some of the cattle and sacrifice them to the gods, and then once they reach their home in Ithaca again their first act will be to build Hyperion a massive temple and fill it with precious offerings. 
• His idea was taken well by the rest of Odysseus' crew and so they went in search of Hyperions cattle. 
• They then started their ceremony towards the gods using leaves off an oak tree as they had no white barley left. Once they had done their prayers they split the cows neck and flayed them then cut our slices from the thighs, wrapped them in folds of fat and laids raw meat above them.
• As Odysseus approached from sleeping in the ship he could smell the burn going roast and exclaimed in horror.
• Calypso later told Odysseus that Lampetie ran to Hyperion and told him that they had killed his cattle. 
• He tells Zeus that they need to repay him in full for the slaughter of his cows. 
• Zeus replies saying he will strike their ship with a blinding bolt which will smash it to pieces. 
• Back on Thrinacie the hides of the cattle start to crawl around. 
• For six days Odysseus' men feasted on the cattle and then they left the island. 
• As soon as they left the island a wind struck their ship, men were thrown overboard and the whole ship broke. Odysseus was swept back to Charybdis and Scylla where he clung to the fig tree "like a bat". 
• Luckily Scylla didn't catch sight of Odysseus. 
• He drifted for nine days but on the tenth day the gods washed him up on the island with Ogygia where Calypso looked after him for seven years. 
• He then stops his story as he has already told it to the Phaeacians. 

The Odyssey - Book 11 (THE BOOK OF THE DEAD)

• Odysseus' first task when they reached the ship was to put the mast and the sails onto the ship. 
• Then they picked up the sheep and goats and put them on board before they got on board themselves. 
• Circe sent them a favourable wind to set their ship back into the sea. 
• The ship reached the furthest part of the oceans where the Cimmerians live. 
• They beached the ship there and headed along the coast until they reached the place which Circe had described. 
• Perimeters and Eurylochus kept hold of the sacrificial victims whilst Odysseus poured libations to all of the dead - which a mixture of honey and milk then some sweet wine and water. 
• Odysseus then promised them that when he got back to Ithaca he would sacrifice a barren heifer in his palace and make Tiresias a seperate offering of a black sheep. 
• When Odysseus has finished making his prayers to the dead he took the sheep and cut their throats over the trench so that their blood poured in.
• Then the souls of the dead started pouring up Erebus. 
• The first spirit which came up was Elphenor which was Odysseus' own comrades as he had not been buried. Odysseus started to cry when he saw his friend. 
• Elphenor told Odysseus that "the malicious decree of some god and too much wine were my undoing", he went on to tell Odysseus how he had had too much to drink and fell asleep on the roof of a building and in his sleep rolled off the roof and broke his neck. 
• Elphenor then begged Odysseus to remember him, but his body with the arms which he possesses and raise a mound for him. 
• Odysseus promises that he will do everything as Elphenor had asked. 
• The next spirit Odysseus saw was Anticleia, his mother. Odysseus refused to let her aproach the blood before he had spoken to Tiresias. 
• Tiresias then came up which his "gold sceptre in his hand" and drank the dark blood. He then told Odysseus that "the earthshaker" is making it difficult for him to get home. He says that Odysseus and his friends will not reach Ithaca without suffering. He says that Odysseus will soon come across the island of Thrinacie where they will find the sun gods cattle, if Odysseus leaves the cattle alone then he will return home but not without suffering. Whereas, if he hurts the cattle his ship and crew will be destroyed and if he happens to escape the destruction and reach home he will find trouble him his home. 
• Odysseus then asks Tiresias how he can make his dead mother recognise him. Tiresias replies saying that his mother needs to have access to the blood in order for them to speak the truth. 
• Tiresias then left into the hall of Hades after giving Odysseus his prophecies. 
• Odysseus then waited for his mother to come and drink the blood. She instantly recognised him and gave a cry of relief. His mother asks him why he is in the hall of Hades to which he replied telling her that he has come to see Tiresias. He then asks what happened to her as she was alive when he left for Troy, he then asks of Telemachus and Penelope and if the kingdom is safe or if Penelope has remarried and another man is in charge of the kingdom. 
• His mother replied saying that Penelope is still living in his home but "her eyes are never free from tears as the slow nights and days pass sorrowfully by", and that Telemachus attends all of the public banquets and is a good leader whereas Laertes "he lies in his misery, with old age pressing hard upon him, and nursing his grief and hearing for you to come back" she goes on to explain that she died of heartache for Odysseus. She tells Odysseus to remember what he has learnt there so can tell Penelope one day. She then left. 
• Odysseus saw more spirits coming towards his blood and he withdrew his sword to prevent them from drinking the blood. 
• The first he saw was Tyro, the second was Antiope, then Epicaste (Jocaste), then Chloris, then Leda, then Iphimedeia, then Phaaedra and Procis and then Ariadne. 
• Odysseus then stops speaking to the Phaeacians and Alcinous said that Odysseus is able to go but should wait until tomorrow so that he can get all of Odysseys' gifts together. 
• Odysseus replied saying that he would be happy to spend a further year with him in his palace. 
• Alcinous says that he trusts Odysseus but he wants to know if he came across any heroic comrades in Hades. 
• Odysseus says that he saw Persephone drive off all of the women's ghosts and it was then that he was approached by Agamemnon who told him about how he was killed by his wifes lover. 
• he says how he then saw Achilles, Ajax and Antilochus. 
• He said how he then saw Tityus, Tantalus, Sisyphus and Heracles. The all of the spirits rose up and Odysseus got scared and so went back to his shop. 

The Odyssey - Book 10 (CIRCE)

• They went by the "floating island of Aeolia" which is the home of Aeolus. 
• Aeolus is the favourite of the immortal gods. 
• Aeolus shares his house with his family of twelve, six daughters and six grown up sons- he has gives his sons to his daughters in marriage. 
• For a month Aeolus entertained and questioned Odysseus on everything and he answered everything exactly as it was. 
• Aeolus gave Odysseus a leather bad, which was made from the flayed skin of a full grown ox. Inside the bag was imprisoned the energies of all the winds. 
• Zeus had put Aeolus in charge of the winds. 
• He then called up a breeze from the west to blow my ships and their crews across the sea. 
• For nine days and nights they sailed on. On the tenth day they were in sight of Ithaca. 
• Odysseus was utterly exhausted from driving the ship himself without a break. 
• The crew started to discuss what was in the bag which Aeolus had given them- they thought that it was gold or silver. 
• the crew undid the bag of winds and all of the winds rushed out, therefore pushing them away from their native land. 
• When Odysseus awoke he was debating on whether to jump over the ship and drown or whether to carry on. 
• The winds pushed the ship all the was back to Aeolus. 
• The men disembarked the ship and started having things to eat and drink, and Odysseus told his messenger to accompany him to the palace of Aeolus. 
• they saw Aeolus at dinner with his wife and family. 
• When Aeolus noticed them he asked what had happened, why Odysseus had come back when he had given them the power to reach home. 
• Odysseus replied saying that his "untrustworthy crew" had opened the bag of wind when he was asleep. 
• Aeolus replied telling him to get off the island instantly as there is no one more damnable than Odysseus. "It is not right for me to entertain and equip a man detested by the blessed gods". 
• Odysseus and his men left the island in deep distress. 
• "It was our own stupidity that had deprived us of the winds". 
• For six days and nights the men sailed on. On the seventh day they came to Telepylus (in the Laestrygonian land). 
• "Here we found an excellent harbour, closed in on all sides by an unbroken ring of precipitous cliffs, with two jutting headlands facing each other at the mouth so as to leave only a narrow channel in between". 
• Odysseus brought his ship to rest upon the harbour. He then climbed the headland to get a view from the top. 
• There were no cultivated fields in sight but he did see a wisp of smoke rising from the countryside. 
• Odysseus therefore sent a party of his men to find out what sort of people inhabited the land. 
• The men found a well used track which had been used for carrying timber down the mountains to the town. 
• The men came across Antiphates daughters, a strong girl, drawing water outside the town. She had come to the spring "Artacie" which the people of the town draw their water out of. 
• The girl pointed to her father's, (Antiphates) high roofed dwelling. 
• When they arrived they found Antiphates wife- "a woman of mountainous proportions". 
• Antiphates' wife called her husband who automatically showed his murderous intentions by pouncing on one of his men trying to eat him.
• The other two men ran back to the ship as fast as they could. 
• Antiphates raised a huge cry through the town which brought loads of Laestrygonians running from every direction. 
• They started a massacre throwing rocks at Odysseus' men and carrying the dead men off to make a meal. 
• Odysseus jumped on the ship and told his men to start rowing if they wanted to save their lives. 
• Once again they continues travelling with heavy hearts grieving for the loss of their men but rejoicing at their own escape. 
• They came to the island of Aeaea, "the home of the beautiful Circe, a formidable goddess, with a mortal woman's voice". 
• They brought the ship into the shelter and as some god guided them into it. 
• They lay on the beach for two days and two nights. 
• On the third day Odysseus took his spear from the ship and went to see whether he could find any signs of cultivation. 
• He climbed a rocky height and saw smoke rising from the distance of Circes house. 
• Odysseus then thought to return to the ships, give his men some food and drink and send out an exploration team. 
• When Odysseus had almost reached his ship he came across a stag, Odysseus killed it with his bronze spear and dragged it back to the ship.
• Odysseus' men then washed their hands and prepared a meal. 
• Odysseus then addressed his comrades saying that they are completely loser and so the sooner they think of a plan the better. 
• In the end Odysseus divided his crew into the two different parties with a leader for each. The two party members were Odysseus himself and Eurylochus. 
• Eurylochus went with his twenty two men. 
• They came across Circes house, built of polished stone. Prowling around her palace were mountain wolves and lions which Circe had bewitched with her magic drugs. 
• The men could hear Circe singing with her beautiful voice as she weaved with a dazzling fabric which a goddess made. 
• Eurylochus told the men that they must approach Circe and question her on whether she is a goddess or a mortal. 
• They called out and Circe came to the door and invited them in. The whole party followed her inside the apart from Eurylochus who stayed outside, suspicious. 
• Circe rushed the rest of the men inside and sat them all on chairs whilst she prepared them a mixture of cheese, barley-meal and yellow honey flavoured wine as well as a noxious drug to make them lose all memory of their native land. 
• Once they had finished their bowls they turned into pigs however their minds were just as human as before. 
• They were penned and Circe threw in some pig food. 
• Eurylochus came back to the ship to report what had happened but when he arrived was so horrified he couldn't say a word. After being bombarded by so many questions he finally was able to tell the rest of the crew what had happened. 
• As soon as Odysseus heard the story he threw on his sword and asked Eurylochus to take him back to the palace of Circe. 
• Odysseus ended up going by himself and as he was just starting to walk he came across Hermes. 
• hermes asked him where he is off to and about how Circe uses her black magic to create a drug which will turn people into animals. Hermes then picks up a drug of real virtue and gives it to Odysseus telling him that if he takes it then Circe's drug will have no effect on him. Then when Circe sees this she will invite him into bed with her and if he is to refuse then he will never get his crew back. 
• The drug which Hermes gave to Odysseus to protect him is called Moly and it is dangerous for mortal men to pick it up. 
• Odysseus stood outside Circes home and called out to her, she came to the doors and opened them and invited him inside. 
• Odysseus followed her inside and sat whilst she prepared brew in a golden cup for him. 
• As soon as Odysseus was handed the golden bowl he ate it all so quickly and nothing changed. 
• Odysseus snatched his sword and rushed at Circe but all of a sudden she clasped his knees, slipped below his blade and burst into tears. 
• She asked him to who he was and where he came from, she then asked him to bed with her. 
• Odysseus replied to her asking her why she is asking him to be gentle with her when she has turned half of his crew into pigs. He says he will sleep with her as long as she promises there is nothing else in store for him. 
• Odysseus sat in a cauldron and Circe washed him. She rubbed him with olive oil. 
• They then sat and ate a meal together. 
• Circe tells Odysseus to go down to the ships and stow his items in a cave and then come back with the rest of the crew members. 
• her. 
• Odysseus goes and tells him men to drag the ships further on shore and then tells his men to follow him up to Circes house in order for them to have more supplies which will last them forever. 
• Eurylochus was against Odysseus' idea and asked if they were looking for trouble. 
• As the months went by Odysseus' men always questioned Odysseus on why he is so possessed to stay with Circe rather than escape to his ancestral home. 
• He then went on to bed with Circe again but this time he asked her to keep her promise and let him go.
• Circe tells him that he does not have to stay unwillingly but first he will have to journey through the hall of Hades and dread Persephone. 
• Odysseus after hearing this news sat on the bed and wept but when he had finished he began to question Circe again. 
• Circe tells Odysseus that he will come to a wild coast and Persephones grove. he will need to beach his boat there and go into Hades Kingdom of decay. She tells him that he needs to sacrifice a ewe holding its head towards Erebus. 
• Odysseus then complained that they had lost Elphenor when he was drunk at Circes home and fell asleep on the roof causing him to fall off in the morning. 
• When Odysseus told his men where they were heading they were heartbroken and wept and tore their hair. 
• Circe had tethered a black ewe to the ship without the men seeing. 

The Odyssey - Book 9 (THE CYCLOPS)

• In answer to Alcinous Odysseus began his tale. 
• He says how amazing the bard is and how he feels there is nothing more delightful than when the festive mood runs through the banqueters whist the tables are laid with food and drink. 
• "This, to my way of thinking, is perfection"
• He goes on to say to Alcinous how his tale is woeful.
• He begins by telling Alcinous that his is "Odysseus, Laetres son. The whole world talks o my stratagems, and my fame has reached the heavens". 
• he tells Alcinous that his home is Ithaca- he then explains Ithaca- "our landmark is mount Neriton with its quivering leaves. Other islands are clustered around it, Dulichium and Same and wooded Zacynthus. But Ithaca is the rarest out to sea, lies slanting out to the west, whereas the others face dawn and the rising sun"
• He explains how he was held captive in Ogygia by Calypso "because she yearned for me to be her husband and with the sane Circe"
• He explains how Circe the "Aeaean witch" kept him in her place.
• He begins his story from when he and his men were trying to escape from Troy after the Trojan war, he talks about how he sacked Troy and destroyed it's menfolk. he then goes on to blame his men for their late take off as they were distracted bu wine and plenty of livestock- "they kept on drinking and butchering sheep and shambling crooked-horned cattle by the shore". Meanwhile and Cicones who were "both more numerous and better men, trained in fighting from the chariot as well as on foot as well" overtook Odysseus and his men. 
• The Cicones and Odysseus' men fought well in battle on the ships. In the morning Odysseus' men were still holding their ground, but by nightfall the Cicones "broke the Achaean ranks" and killed six of Odysseus' men. 
• They then sailed away from Ismarus £grieving for the loss of out dear companions though rejoicing our own escape" 
• Zeus then sent a terrible gale which caused their ships to "plunge in the wind" and turn the sails into "shreds and tatters" 
• They rested on land for two days and two nights "with exhaustion and anxiety knawing at our hearts" 
• When they sat back on the water initially the wind blew them straight and he would have ended up back at Ithaca is it had not been for the North Wind and current combined which sent them drifing past Cythera. 
• On the tenth day of their journey across the sea they reached the land of the Lotus Eaters (a race which eats the rare Lotus fruit) 
• they parked their ship and his men ate mew by the ships. 
• Odysseus sent three of his men to look around the island to see if they could find another human somewhere. 
• Once they left it was not long before they came across the Lotus-Eaters. 
• the Lotus-Eaters had no intention of killing the comrades but they gave them some lotus fruit to eat. 
• "Those who ate the honeyed fruit of the plant lost any wish to come back and bring us news" 
• Odysseus has to use force to bring them back to his ships and his men wept on the way. Once they were on board Odysseus tied them up and dragged them under benches. 
• Odysseus then commanded the comrades to drive the ships full speed ahead as he didn't want to risk any other members of his crew eating the Lotus fruit. 
• They sialed onwards and came to the land of the Cyclopes "a fierce, lawless people who never lift a hand to plant or plough but just leave everything to the immortal gods" "the cyclopes have no assemblies for the making of laws, nor any established legal codes, but live in hollow caverns in the mountain heights, where each man is lawgiver to his own children and women, and nobody has the slightest interest in what his neighbours decide" 
• Next to the Cyclopes island is Goat Island. 
• The Cyclopes island is not a poor country as it is able to yield a crop in any given season. 
• The island has a safe harbour in which there is no need for an anchor in moorings as all the crew needs to do is beach the ship and wait for the right wind to blow. At the head of the harbour there is a stream of fresh water running out of a cave. 
• They landed their ships in this harbour through a murky night which the gods must have guided them through. 
• As soon as they had landed their ships they jumped upon the shore and fell asleep. 
• When they woke up they were delighted with what they saw on the island and set out to explore it. 
• They seperated into 3 different groups and began to shoot the goats. When all of the goats they had shot were shared out nine were allotted to each of the twelve ships but to Odysseus they made an allottment for ten. 
• For the whole day they sat down to rich supplies of meat and mellow wine. 
• they looked out across the land where they could see fired of the Cicones and hear their voices and the bleating of their sheep and goats. 
• They then all went and lay down the sleep on the sea shore. 
• When Dawn appeared Odysseus assembled his men and told them to stay where they are for the time being whilst he goes in his ship to find out whether the men are aggressive savages with no sense of wrong or hospitable and god fearing people. 
• They climbed on board of his ship and told his men to follow him. (From his group) 
• As they came closer to the land they could make out a cave which the entrance to was overhung by laurels., Here there were large flocks of sheep and goats penned at night. 
• It was the den of a giant. 
• At this point Odysseus told him men to stay on guard by the ship, but before he went Odysseus picked his twelve best men to go with him. He took with him some goatskin and some dark mellow wine. he filled the goatskin with wine and took some food in a bag with him as he had a vision that he would come face to face with a "barbarous being of colossal strength and ferocity". 
• it didn't take long for them to reach the cave and when they did the owner wasn't in. When they entered the entrance of the cave they saw baskets laden with cheeses and pens which kept lambs and kids in separate sections.
• His men begged him to let them take away some the cheeses and drive the lambs out of their pens and back to the ship but Odysseus was not to be persuaded.
• "When he did appear my men were not going to find him a very likeable character"
• Odysseus and his men lit a fire to make offerings to the gods they helped themselves to the cheeses and ate. Once they has eaten they sat down to await his arrival. 
• When he came, he was carrying a large pile of wood and with a crash he threw them down. 
• He then closed the entrance to the cave with a "mighty slab" which could have been the size of "twenty two four wheeled wagons" 
• he then began to milk his ewes and goats collecting whey and storing it in the wicker cheese baskets. After he had finished milking he noticed Odysseus and his men in his cave. 
• He began in uproar asking the men who they are and where they have come from. 
• Odysseus says that the booming of the Cyclops' voice fills all of the men with panic but Odysseus manages to tell Polyphemus (the Cyclops) that they are on their way back from Troy but that on their way home they have taken the wrong route and have ended up in his cave. "We find ourselves here as suppliants to your knees, in the hope that you may give us hospitality"
• Polyphemus replies saying that he cares nothing for the gods as he is much stronger as they are. He then asks where Odysseus moored his ship, whether is was along the coast or nearby. 
• Odysseus tells Alcinous that Polyphemus' words didn't get the better of him as he had more knowledge than the Cyclopes. 
• The Cyclops made no reply but instead reached out towards the men and lifter two up. He banged their heads against the floor and their brains ran onto the ground he tore the men limb from limb and then he eats them. He washed down the human flesh with unwatered milk. 
• As Polphemus slept Odysseus and his men waited for the next day. 
• As soon as Dawn appeared the Cyclops re-lit the fire and milked the ewes and goats. After doing this he snatched up two more of Odysseus' men adn began to prepare his breakfast. When he has eaten he took away the door stone and let his flocks out. He replaced the stone in front of the entrance so Odysseus and his men couldn't escape and then went off towards the mountains with his flock. 
• When the Cyclops had gone, Odysseus cut off some of the wood which the Cyclops had brought in the day before and tore off a length. He told his men to smoothen it down, when his men had done this Odysseus sharpened it to a point. Odysseus then hardened it in the fire. He then told four of his men to help push it into the Cyclops' eye whilst he slept. 
• Polyphemus then returned in the evening with his flocks and hearded them back into the cave. 
• He then milked the ewes and goats and once again snatched two of the men and prepared his supper. 
• Once Polkyphemus had finished eating the men, Odysseus offered him some wine in order for him to "wash down the human flesh". Odysseus tells the Cyclops that he has brought the wine as a offering for the hope that he would pity the men and hep them get home. 
• Polyphemus took the wine and drank it all, when he had finished he asked Odysseus for another helping of it and so Odysseus gave him some more. he filled the bowl up three more times of the Cyclops. 
• When the Cyclops was quite drunk Odysseus introduced himself as "Nobody", Polyphemus tells Odysseus that he will eat "Nobody" last as his gift. 
• Polyphemus then toppled over and fell face upwards on the floor. In his drunken stupor he vomited a mixture of wine and the flesh of men. 
• When Odysseus told his men they took the stake out of the fire and drove it into Polyphemus' eye. 
• They twisted it around until his eye burned up a bright colour "his eyeball blazed and the very root raked in the flame" 
• Polyphemus gave a shriek which echoed around the caves. 
• The other Cyclopes gathered around his cave and asked him what was wrong. 
• Polyphemus cried out in response saying "O my friends, it's Nobody's treachery, not violence, that is doing my death" 
• In response the other Cyclopes said that he must be sick and all he can do is pray to his dad Poseidon 
• Odysseus laughed to himself about his cunning name. 
• the Cyclops pushed the rock away from the mouth of the cave. 
• He then sat in the doorway trying to catch the men with his hands. 
• His men quickly strapped themselves to the bottom of the rams. 
• As soon as Dawn appeared the rams and sheep ran out past the unsuspecting Polyphemus with Odysseus' men strapped to the bottom of them. 
• the Cyclops passed his hands along the tops of the animals as they ran past his feet and the men went unnoticed. 
• the big ram was the last to leave the entrance and Polyphemus held him in his hands and asked him why he was the last of the flock to leave as he never usually lacks behind the rest. He comes to the conclusion that the ram must be grieved about his eye. 
• When the ram managed to escape through the entrance through the entrance Odysseus installed himself and his men and they headed back to the ship. 
• When they reached the ship the other men were pleased with their escape and hurried to get the goats and sheep on board of their ship. 
• As the boat took of Odysseus shouted at Polyphemus saying that his crimes are bound to catch up with him. 
• Odysseus' words angered Polyphemus, who then threw a rock at the ship. The rock landed just in front of the ship and as it landed in the water it made a wave which nearly washed them back onto the beach. 
• Odysseus' crew then took to the oars again this time rowing faster than before. Odysseus was about to shout again but his men shouted at him trying to restrain him from calling out again. 
• Odysseus didn't listen to his crew and called out the Cyclops again saying that he is the "sacker of cities" 
• the Cyclops replied saying "Alas the prophecies have come back to me now! We had a prophet living with us once, a great mighty man, Eurymus' son Telemus" "all that has now happened he foretold, when he warned me that a man called Odysseus would rob me of my sight., But I always expected some big handsome man of tremendous strength to come along. And now a penny, feeble goof for nothing fuddled me with wine and then puts out my eye! But come here, Odysseus so that I can give you some friendly gifts and prevail on the great earthshaker Poseidon, to see you safely home. For I am his some and he is proud to call himself my father" 
• After this Polyphemus lifted up his hands and prayed to Poseidon saying that if he is truly his son, grant that Odysseus may never reach his home in Ithaca. But if he is destined to see his friends again to come once more to his house late and wretched in plight having lost all his comrades in a foreign ship and let him find trouble at his house. 
• After he had finished praying to Poseidon, Polyphemus picked up a bigger boulder and once again hurled it at Odysseus' ship. this time the rock narrowly missed the rudder and the wave the boulder created was so big that it carried them towards the other shore and so they reached the island where the rest of their ships were waiting for them. 
• Once they reached the other ships they unloaded the Cyclops' sheep and divided them equally between all of the ships, but of course Odysseus had the big ram. 
• On the beach they made sacrifice for Zeus but he took no notice of their sacrifice and already had made plans to destroy their ships. 
• Until sundown Odysseus and his men feasted on the beach on their meat and mellow wine. 
• When Dawn appeared Odysseus woke his men and ordered them to go on board and get ready to leave. 
• They left the island and sailed on with heavy hearts "grieving for the dear friends we had lost but glad to escape our own death" 

The Odyssey - Book 8 (THE PHAEACIAN GAMES)

• As soon as they woke up Alcinous took Odysseus to the place by the ships where the phaeacians hold their assemblies. 
• "They sat down side by side on polished seats of marble"
• Meanwhile Athene went through town disguised as a herald from Alcinous and gave messages to the towns citizens. 
• She told the citizens to follow her to the assembly where the stranger to their city is, she adds that he looks "like an immortal god"
• Her words acted as "inspiration and encouragement" to the Phaeacians. 
• As she said the citizens went to the assembly place and filled up the seats "many eyes were fixed in admiration on Laertes keen-witted son". 
• Athene gave Odysseus divine beauty and made him taller and broader. 
• When they had all assembled Alcinous addressed them saying he does not know Odysseus' name or where he is from but they are to make immediate arrangements for his return to his homelands as he has come begging for help. He asks a crew of 52 to step forward to take him home and the rest of the people to entertain Odysseus back at his (Alcinous') palace. 
• When Alcinous has finished his speech he told the princes to follow him. 
• Alcinous set his squire out to find a minstrel to sing and entertain Odysseus whilst 52 men were chosen as the crew and headed towards the ship. 
• The 52 men set up the ship so it was ready for sail. 
• After all the men inside the palace had a feast the Muse set the bard to sing the famous deeds of the heroes "The Quarrell of Odysseus and Achilles son Pelus". 
• As the minstrel sang Odysseus began to cry so he pulled the purple cloak over his head so the people around him wouldn't see him crying. 
• Whenever the minstrel stopped singing for a moment Odysseus pulled down his cloak, wiped away his tears and made libations to the gods. 
• Nobody realised he was crying apart from Alcinous. 
• Alcinous stands and tells the captains and counsellors that now they have eaten together and listened to the lyre together they will now go outside and try various sports together as he doesn't want Odysseus going home without telling his friends about their wrestling, jumping and running skills. 
• "There is no one who can beat us"
• they were followed out by a mass crowd of people. 
• "There was no lack of fine young men to compete"
• Acroneos
• Ocyalus
• Elatreus
• Nauteus
• Prymneus
• Anchilalus
• Eretmeus
• Ponteus
• Thoon
• Anabesineos
• Eurylaus 
• Amphialus
• Clytoneus 
• The first event was a race. Clytoneus was the quickest. 
• The second event was wrestling, Euryalus won it. 
• Amphialus won the jump. 
• Elatreus was the best at throwing discus. 
• Laodamas (Alcinous' son) was the best at boxing. 
• After they had finished their games Laodamas says he would like to challenge Odysseus as he looks like he has a sports physique. 
• Laodamas then took to the center and told Odysseus that he would like the sports. 
• Odysseus asks Laodamas why he is trying to provoke him asking him for a challenge himself. he makes the excuse up that he only wants to go home. That is all. 
• Euryalus insulted him saying that he is more of a skipped of a merchant crew rather than a games man. 
• Odysseus replies saying that he is no sports man but he will rely on his childhood strength and the skills which he has acquired whilst on his travels and therefore he will join in with their games after all (basically to prove Euryalus wrong). 
• With this he stood up, removed his cloak and picked up the biggest discus- the ones which the Phaeacians never used as it was too heavy. 
• "With one swing he launched it from his mighty hand, and the stone hummed on its course"
• Athene was in the crowd pretending to be one of them, she spoke out saying "the others are all in a bunch, but yours stands right out in the front" "none of the Phaeacians will make as good a throw let alone better"
• Odysseus was happy with her words and then said he would throw them further if any Phaeacian beat him. 
• Alcinous replies to his complaints saying that they don't resent what he says and he is naturally good at throwing discus. But when he is home with Penelope and banqueting, he wants Odysseus to talk about how Zeus has given the Phaeacians certain skills which they have acquired from their fathers.
• The squire went and fetched the lyre for Demodocus and handed it to him. 
• Then the dancing area was created wide enough for Demodocus' performance. 
• As Demodocus played the lyre, boys danced around him, filling Odysseus with admiration. 
•  The bard started singing about Ares and Aphrodite:
• The song is about how Aphrodite is having an affair with Ares in her husbands (Hephaestus) palace. 
• One day the Sun saw the affair taking place and wold Hephaestus who went straight forward to make evil plans against them. He set up a trap on his bed which hung like a spiders web. When he had set up the trap he went to Lemnos. Ares had been watching and saw Hephaestus leaving the house, he then sneaks in with a passionate desire for Aphrodite. Ares told Aphrodite he wanted to go to bed with her immediately. As soon as they got into bed together the netting fell onto them so they couldn't move a limb. There was no escpae for them. The Sun gave Hephaestus the word that they has been caught and so Hephaestus made his way home in anguish. When he saw them trapped under the netting he cried out in anger to the gods. He called Zeus basically bitching about Aphrodite being unfaithful, he calls Aphrodite a "brazen bitch" who is the "slave of her passions". Hermes, Poseidon and Apollo cam up to Hephaestus and laughed at Aphrodite and Ares. They gods said that it may have taken time but Ares will finally pay for his adultery. As Hephaestus undid the netting which covered them, Ares fled to Thrace and Aphrodite to Phapos (in Cyprus). 
• That was the song the minstrel sang to Odysseus. 
• After this Alcinous ordered Halius and Laodamas to dance by themselves as no one else could compete with them. 
• Odysseus turns to Alcinous and says he marvels at the dancers. 
• Alcinous says that Euryalus needs to apologise for what he said to Odysseus and gives him a personal apology as well. 
• Euryalus gave a bronze sword as a gift to Odysseus. 
• he laid the sword in Odysseus' hands and said "I salute you" he apologised if he offended Odysseus and wishes that he gods will grant his successful return home. 
• Odysseus carried all of his gifts back to Alcinous' palaces where Alcinous' sons took them and placed them at their mothers feet.
• Arete told her maid to put a large 3-legged cauldron on the fire and heat up some water. She them brought out a chest filled with the clothing gifts which the people of Phaeacia had made for Odysseus.
• the housekeeper invited Odysseus for a bath. they oiled and bathed Odysseus- it was the first time he had bathed in ages as he didn't have on on Ogygia with Calypso either.  
• After he had had his bath he dressed in a fine tunic and joined the men for wine. 
• Nausicaa was stood by one of the pillars that supported the roof and wished him luck. She also wished that he remembered her when he is back in his own country. 
• Odysseus replies saying he too prays he gets home quickly, but he also wishes the rest of her days in divinity as it was her who gave him back his life. 
• Odysseus went and sat down next to Alcinous waiting for the food to be served to them. 
• Odysseus tells Demodocus to stop playing the tuneful lyre and the bard to stop singing so they can all be merry again. 
• Alcinous asks him where he has actually travelled and where his home is. Who his friends are and who he is. 

The Odyssey - Book 7 (THE PALACE OF ALCINOUS)

• Odysseus prayed in Athene's grove as Nausicaa traveled to the city. 
• When Nausicaa entered the palace her brothers "looking like immortals" unharnessed the mules from her cart and carried the clothes indoors for her. 
• She went to her own apartment where Eurymedusa (her waiting woman) had lit a fire for her. 
• Eurymedusa had been brought by a ship from Aperaea and was selected as a prize for Alcinous.
• Eurymedusa nursed Nausicaa at home and lit fires/ prepared her meals for her. 
• Odysseus then began to head towards the town. 
• Athene "enveloped him in a thick mist" so a "high-headed" Phaeacian would insult him by asking who he was. 
• As Odysseus was about to enter the town Athene, in the disguise of a young girl carrying a pitcher, stopped infront of him. 
• Odysseus asked Athene if she knew the way to the Alcionous' house as he is a stranger in Phaeacia. 
• Athene replied saying she'll show him as it is close to her fathers house. She told him that he is to follow her but not say a word and ask no questions as the people in Phaeacia has little affection for strangers and "they do not welcome visitors with open arms"
• Athene quickly led the way and Odysseus quickly followed behind. 
• "The Phaeacians, those famous seamen failed to observe him as he passed them by on his way through the town" because Athene shed a magic mist around "her favourite" in concern for his safety. 
• As they walked Odysseus was admiring the settings- "harbours with their trim ships" "meeting place of the sea lords" "long and lofty walls surmounted by palisades" "presenting a wonderful sight". 
• When they reached the palace Athene told him that he will find princes whom are favourites of Zeus feasting. She told him to go straight in as there will be no worries. As it is "the bold man who always succeeds in his in his enterprises even if he comes from far away" 
• She goes on to tell him that Nausithous (the son of Poseidon and Periboea) became the king of the Phaeacians. Nausithous has two sons, Rhexenor and Alcionous. Apollo killed Rhexenor with his silver bow, not long after Rhexenor married- he did not have a son but he had a daughter; Arete. Alcionous married Arete. 
• She tells Odysseus that if he becomes friends with Arete then he can hope to see his friends again in Ithaca. 
• Athene then left Scherie and went to Marathon (Athens) and entered the palace of Erechtheus. 
• Odysseus approached Alcinous' palace "his heart was filled with varied emotions and he kept on stopping before he reached the bronze threshold"
• Alcinous' palace: "The interiors of the well built mansion was guarded by golden doors hung on posts of silver which were set in the bronze threshold". 
• Hephaestus has made the palace. 
• "Golden statues of youths, fixed on solid pedestals, held flaming torches in their hands to light the banqueters in the hall by night"
• There were woven tapestries on the walls as "the Phaeacians' extraordinary skill in handling ships at sea is matched by the dexterity of their womenfolk at the loom, for Athene has given them outstanding skill in beautiful crafts and fine intelligence"
• Outside the entrance to the courtyard there was four acres of pear and pomegranates, apples, "luxuriant olives" and sweet figs. In the same area there was a fruitful vineyard.
• Odysseus entered the palace where councellors and captains were pouring libations from their cups to Hermes. "It was their custom to pour the last cup to him before retiring to bed"
• Odysseus walked straight up the hall- still wrapped in the magic mist which Athene has wrapped around him until he reached Arete and Alcinous. 
• Odysseus threw his arms around Arete's knees and at the same time his magic mist went away and the sight of this mysterious man made the banqueters silent. "They stared at Odysseus in amazement while he made his petition". 
• Odysseus talks to Arete saying that he comes as a suppliant to her husband and that he wishes them happiness for life and that they are honoured by all. Then he asks if he can have an escort back to his own country as soon as possible as he has lived through many hardships far from his friends and home. 
• The silence was broken when the lord Echeneus (a Phaeacian elder "rich in the wisdom from his forefathers") made his counsel heard. He tells Alcinous that it is unlike his "royal ways" to let a stranger "sit in the ashes at the hearth" whilst he has guests around him waiting for his lead. He tells Alcinous that Odysseus should get up and sit on one of the silver chairs whilst the squires fetch more wine to make more libations to Zeus. And of the housekeeper should fetch Odysseus a meal . 
• Alcinous listened to Echeneus and fetched Odysseus out of the hearth and sat him on a "tall polished chair" from which he moved Laodamas (his favourite son) out of. 
• A maid came over to Odysseus and poured some water into a bowl for Odysseus to wash his hands with, and then pulled over a wooden table to put some bread and some delicacies on for Odysseus to eat. 
• Alcinous told his squire (Pontonous) to mix a bowl of wine and fill all of the cups of the company as they will be making drink offerings to Zeus. 
• When they had made their offerings Alcinous addresses the company, telling them that he wants a gathering of the elders to entertain Odysseus by sacrificing to the gods. 
• They will then take up the matter of how they will ensure Odysseus a safe and speedy journey back home under their escort. 
• He says they will keep him safe and guard him all the way home until he sets foot in Ithaca again, then it is up to Fate and Destiny. 
• Alcinous then suspects that Odysseus may be one of the immorals who has come down from heaven, he gets confused as they have never used disguise before, they have always shown the Phaeacians their true identities. 
• Odysseus quickly dismisses Alcinous' thoughts about him being an immortal in disguise. "I have neither the looks of stature of the immortal gods who live in heaven, but those of a human being". 
• Odysseus insists Alcinous leaves him to eat alone as he can not ignore his stomach like he can ignore his heart. He says he will be "contempt to breathe again" when he has reached his homeland of Ithaca where he will truly be at home. 
• All of the men applauded Odysseus' speech and agreed that he should be escorted home. 
• After they had all made their libations they retired to their homes leaving Odysseus sitting next to Arete and Alcinous whilst the maids cleared the dishes away. 
• Arete asked him lots of quesions first- "who are you? Where do you come from? And who gave you all of those clothes? Didnt you say you came here from wandering over the seas?"
• He tells Arete that he couldnt possibly tell her all of the problems which the gods have given him as there are so many (drama queen!) so he will only stick to her questions. He says "the awesome goddess with the braided hair" (Calypso) kept him on Ogygia, when Zeus struck his ship with a lightening bolt, killing all of his crew, and getting oDysseus to wash up on the Ogygia shore. 
• He explains how Calypso let him go due to Zeus and for 17 days he sailed smoothly across the dea, but on the 18th Poseidon made the winds go against him which stopped him travelling in the right direction, and made him fall off his raft. Then he explains how he swam the coastline and that is how he ended up on their island. 
• He then says how he slept under the bush covered in leaves as he was so exhausted from his journey, and then when he awoke he asked for the princess' help. He explains how Nausicaa gave him lots of bread and wine, bathed him in the river and provided him with the clothes which they see him standing in. 
• Alcinous tells Odysseus that on one hand Nausicaa's judgement was wrong as she should have brought him home with her maids. 
• Odysseus defend Nausicaa, telling Alcinous that she told him to follow her maids but he backed away as he was suspicious of the judgement which people would form of him and he didnt want Alcinous to become protective etc. 
• Alcinous replies "my friends, I am not one to take offence for no good reason"
• He continues to say that he would much rather a man like Odysseus stay and become his son-in-law married to his daughter. "I would give you a house and riches" if he was willing to stay- basically he is trying to convince Odysseus to marry Nausicaa. 
• "But none of us Phaeacians will detain you" 
• He then says that he will let Odysseus leave with one of his best ships and some of his best men tomorrow. 
• "Odysseus' patient heart was filled with happiness as he listened", he prayed to Zeus that Alcinous will accomplish all that he has promised and that his fame will never die. And that he will be able to return home to Ithaca. 
• Whilst Alcinous and Odysseus were talking Arete instructed one of her maids to make a bed up for Odysseus. As soon as they had finished making up Odysseus' bed they invited him to retire. 
• "The prospect of sleep seemed very sweet to him"
• "So the long suffering good Odysseus slept there in and echoing portico on a wooden bed. Alcinous lay down for the night in his room at the back of the lofty palace with his wife, who shared his bed"

The Odyssey - Book 6 (NAUSICAA)

• As Odysseus slept under the bush, Athene came to the country of the Phaeacians. 
• The Phaeacians used to live in Hypereie as neighbours to the Cyclopes. Until one day Nausithous took them and settled them in Scherie. 
• There Nausithous put up temples for the gods, built houses and divided up the land for cultivation. However he met his fate in "Hades Halls" and now the "divinely inspired" Alcinous ruled them. 
• "To his palace the right-eyed Athene made her way, intent on plans for the great-hearted Odysseus' return"
• Alcinous had a daughter called Nausicaa who was as "tall and beautiful as a goddess" 
• Nausicaa was asleep in her "richly decorated room" with her two maids who were sleeping at either side of her door-posts. 
• "The polished doors were closed but Athene swept through like a breath of air to the girls bed" 
• Athene took the form of the daguhter of a ships captain named Dymas "a girl of Nausicaa's own age and one of her closest friends"
• Athene said to Nausicaa "How did your mother come to have such a lazy daughter as you?" as there were clothes all over her floor- "lying around neglected". Athene then goes on to tell her that she will soon be married and will need beautiful clothes in order to gain a good reputation with people. 
• "Every nobleman in Phaeacia, where you yourself were born and bred, wants you for his wife". 
• Athene tells Nausicaa to ask her father for a wagon with a couple of horses in the morning to take her to the city's wash-pool so she can clean her sashes, robes and bright rubs.
• After she has finished talk, Athene went back to Olympus "where people say the gods have made thir everlasting home"
• When she woke up Nausicaa was amazed by her dream and went through the palace to tell her mother and father about it.
• She found both of her parents in the house, her mother was "spinning yarn dyed with sea-purple" and she met her father on his way to join the distinguished princes at a conference. 
• She then asked her father if she could take the fine clothes to the river and wash them- as he will need to wear clean clothes in the future for other conferences and there are 5 of his sons in the house "3 active bachelors" who will also need clean clothes to take to the dances with them. 
• Alcinous told Nausicaa that it was fine to go, he told his servants to get her a "fine high-sided wagon with a hood to it". 
• Whilst the servants were fetching the wagon and the mules and preparing them, Nausicaa fetched all of the clothes and linen which she was going to wash. 
• Nausicaa's mother also packed some appetizers and delicacies to go with them.
• As Nausicaa got into the wagon her mum handed her some olive oil in a flask so Nausicaa and her ladies could rub themselves in it after bathing.
• "Nausicaa took the whip and the gleaming reins, and flicked the mules to make them start"
• Nauciaa's ladies came with her so that she was not alone. 
• "They reached the lovely river with its never-failing pools, in which there was enough clear water always bubbling up and swirling by to clean the dirtiest clothes"
• They unharnessed the mules and let them eat the sweet grass. 
• they then took all of the clothes from the wagon and began to tread them down quickly in the washing pools. 
• They spread the clothes along the sea shore when they were rinsed until they had no dirt left on them. 
• After they have bathed and rubbed themselves with the olive oil, they ate their meal by the riverside as they waited for the sun to dry the clothes. 
• When they had all finished their food they took off their headgear and began to play with a ball, while Nausicaa sung and kept time for their game. 
• As Nausicaa and her ladies folded the clothes and set out for home Athene arranged for Odysseus to wake up and see Nausicaa "who was to serve as his escort to the Phaeacian city"
• When Nausicaa threw the ball back to one of her maids, they missed it and it fell into the current of the river, as all of the ladies let out a shriek it awoke Odysseus. 
• Odysseus sat up and wondered what was going on around him, and what kind of people are around him. 
• he them emerged from the bush naked, "then he advanced on them like a mountain lion who sallies out, defying wind and rain in the pride of his power, with fire in his eyes to hunt down the oxen or sheep or pursue the wild deer" 
• "Grimy with salt he was a gruesome sight, and the girls went scuttling off in every direction along the jutting spits of sand" 
• Nausicaa was the only one to stand her ground as Athene put courage in her heart which "took the fear from her limbs". 
• As she stood still "Odysseus considered whether he should throw his arms round the beautiful girls knees and beg for her help, or to just keep his distance and beg her with all courtesy to give him clothing and direct him to the city"
• Odysseus decided it would be best to keep his distance and then so started speaking with kind words in order to persuade Nausicaa to help him. He explains that he was at sea for 19 days, escaping Ogygia when the gods decided to land him on another unfamiliar island on his way home. 
• Nausicaa tells Odysseus that she will take him to the city and tell him who they are etc. She tells him she is the daughter of Alcinous who is the source of the Phaeacian people. 
• Nausicaa then turns around to her ladies and tell them not to flee at the sight of a man, "there is no man on earth, nor ever will be, who would dare set hostile feet on Phaeacian soil. We are at the edge of the world and come in contact with no other people"
• She goes on to tell her maids that Odysseus is an unfortunate wanderer who has accidentally ended up there and that they have nothing to worry about. 
• The girls all stood together comfortign each other, until they had the guts to take Odysseus to a sheltered place where he could sit down as Nausicaa had ordered. On the ground beside where he sat lay a tunic and a cloak for him to wear- they also gave him some olive oil and told him to wash in the river before he got dressed. 
• Odysseus stood in the water and washed off the salt which encrusted his back and broad shoulders, he scrubbed his head as well to get rid of the scurf left by the sea. 
• After he had thoroughly washed and rubbed himself with olive oil he put on the clothes which the maids had lay out for him. 
• Athene helped Odysseus out by making him look more attractive - changing his silver into gold 
• When Odysseus sat back down by the sea shore he was "radiant with grace and beauty"
• "Nausicaa gazed at him in admiration" and said to her maids that him arriving to Phaeacia was not opposed to the gods at all, and in fact he now looks like one of the gods in heaven. "I wish I could have a man like him for my husband" she then tells her maids to get something for him to eat and drink.
• Her maids at once carried out her orders and fetched food and drink for Odysseus, who ate it quickly as it was a long time since he ate properly.
• After folding the clothing up and putting it into her wagon, Nausicaa stowed her wagon and called back to Odysseus telling him to follow her wagon with her maids and she will direct him to her fathers house. 
• Nausicaa tells Odysseus how she does not want any gossip spread about her, and how she does not want a bad name for herself and so she gives him directions on when to stop following her. She says he needs to go by the wood of Athene and wait for Nausicaa to drive off, then when he thinks she has probably reached the palace he is to head into the city and ask for directions to the palace. She said it is an easy palace to recognise "any little child could show it to you" as the palace is built differently to the rest of the buildings. 
• She tells him to walk through the courtyard and through the great hall until he reaches her mother who will be sat spinning yarn by her fathers throne. He is to clasp her mothers knees and if she is sympathetic towards him he can expect to see his friends again.
• "When she has finished, Nausicaa used her shiny whip on the mules, and they soon left the flowing river behind them"
• Once they reached the sacred place of Athene, Odysseus sat down and prayed to Athene. He prayed that the Phaeacians would receive his with greatness and kindness"
• Athene heard his prayers but refrained from appearing before him