Basic outline of the Odyssey

The Odyssey is a poem about the return of the Odysseus from Troy, where he fought in the Trojan War, to
his palace in Ithaca, where he is reunited with his son Telemachus, his wife Penelope and his father Laertes.
Odysseus journey is troubled by the god of the sea, Poseidon, because Odysseus blinded Poseidons son
Polyphemus, but is favoured by the goddess Athena. The Odyssey is divided into 24 books written in verse.
1-4 (also known as Telemachy in antiquity): story of Telemachus, who lives in Ithaca.
1. Invocation and summary; the goddess Athena urges Telemachus to search for his father; the suitors
feast in Telemachus palace
2. Assembly in Ithaca; Telemachus requests the suitors to leave and secretly departs with Athena.
3. Telemachus arrives in Pylos, is received by Nestor and then leaves for Sparta.
4. In Sparta, Telemachus is received by Menelaus and Helen and learns that his father is on Calypsos
island. Meanwhile, the suitors in Ithaca learn of Telemachus departure and get ready to ambush
him.
5-8: Odysseus travel to and arrival in Phaeacia.
5. Council of the gods. Hermes urges Calypso to let Odysseus go. The god Poseidon wrecks Odysseus
raft; Odysseus swims to Scheria.
6. Odysseus meets Nausicaa, the daughter of the Phaeacian King Alcinous and is received as a guest.
7. Odysseus is received in Alcinous palace.
8. Odysseus is invited to reveal his identity and tell his story.
9-12: Odysseus narrates his wanderings before arriving in Phaeacia.
9. Odysseus wonderings: the Cicones, the Lotus Eaters, the Cyclops and Polyphemus.
10. Odysseus wonderings: Aeolus, the Laestrygonians, Circe
11. Odysseus wonderings: travel to the underworld; return to Circe
12. Odysseus wonderings: Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis, the cattle of Helios, Calypso.
13-16: Odysseus arrives in Ithaca in disguise as an old beggar. He is reunited with his son
Telemachus.
13. Odysseus returns to Ithaca; Athena comes to advise him.
14. Odysseus is received by his swineherd Eumaeus; Odysseus gives Eumaeus a false story of his life.
15. Urged by Athena, Telemachus leaves Sparta and reaches Ithaca.
16. Telemachus visits Eumaeus. Odysseus reveals himself to his son. Penelope and the suitors learn of
Telemachus return.
17-20: Odysseus is in his palace in Ithaca, still in disguise, and prepares to attack the suitors.
17. Telemachus returns to his palace. In disguise as an old beggar, Odysseus reaches his palace and begs
from the suitors.
18. Odysseus fights with Iros; Penelope appears briefly; the suitors finally leave the palace.
19. Odysseus and Penelope; Odysseus is almost betrayed by his scar; plan for the test of the bow.
20. Gathering in the palace.
21-24: Odysseus reveals his own identity, kills the suitors, is reunited with his wife Penelope and his
father Laertes.
21. Test of the bow; Odysseus success.
22. Suitors are killed
23. Reunion of Odysseus with Penelope; Odysseus goes to Laertes farm.
24. Reunion of Odysseus with Laertes; burial of the suitors; final combat between the suitors relatives
and Odysseus; pace is imposed by Athena.