The Odyssey

The Odyssey Summary | Book 1 Summary

Seeking inspiration from the Muse, the narrator begins to tell the tale of Odysseus, who was trapped on his way home after the Trojan War. While all the other soldiers have returned home, Odysseus is being held on the island of Ogygia by the goddess, Calypso. While being held captive, his home is being invaded by suitors looking to marry the supposedly widowed Penelope, Odysseus's wife. They hope to marry her, take over Odysseus's fortune, and reign as King of Ithaca. Meanwhile, Odysseus's son, Telemachus, is frustrated with the suitors, and is coming to the conclusion that his father will not be returning home to take care of the situation.

While the suitors are eating Odysseus out of house and home, the Gods discuss what to do with the situation. Athena reminds Zeus of how Odysseus has honored him throughout the years, and so Zeus agrees to let Athena help Telemachus. She arrives disguised as a soldier and encourages Telemachus to tell the suitors that they are no longer welcome. She also encourages him to travel to Pylos to find out if there is any news of his father.

Later, Telemachus and the suitors are listening to the harpist play a song describing the plight of the Greek men returning from Troy. Penelope comes down from her chamber and asks him to sing something else. Telemachus, however, tells her that many others suffered losses after Troy and to return to her room. Shocked, she returns upstairs and cries herself to sleep. Meanwhile, Telemachus tells the men that he will be calling an assembly of the men in Ithaca so that they will be ordered to leave his home. Many of the suitors take issue with Telemachus's comments, especially Antinous and Eurymachus, and they ask about the visitor from earlier that afternoon. Though he believes he spoke to a goddess, Telemachus tells the men that it was an old friend of Odysseus.