Episode 5 (Books 17-20)

Book 17

• When morning came, Telemachos said that he was going to head back to his house to check on him mom. He told Eumaios to bring Odysseus into town to beg for his dinner. Odysseus is still in disguise, and agrees to go to town and beg, but he needs to go later in the day, because he is cold. 
• Then Telemachos went back to his palace. The first to greet him was Eurycleia then, his mother came down. She wept with relief and she asked him to tell her everything. Telemachos said that now was not the time and that she should pray to the gods that the day was for reckoning. For he was to go get his friend that was staying with Peitaios. So Telemachos went out to find his friend, and once he didm they both went back to the palace. It was then that they sat down, and enjoyed a meal. Then, Penelope asked about how the trip went and how he found out about Odysseus. Telemachos said that he went to King Nestor, and he had no news. He was lent a horse drawn carriage and was sent to go see king Menolaos. He was told there that Odysseus was stuck on an island with Calypso and was being held there by force. Then, Theoclymenos said that he didn't have all the truth and that Odysseus was to return home and kill all of the suitors.
• Meanwhile, Odysseus and the swineherd went into the town. While they were walking, they ran into a bunch of no good punks. They insulted him and the swineherd and then kicked him. Odysseus was about to lose it, but kept his cool and didn't hulk out. 
• When they got to the palace, they found Telemachos and sat down for dinner. Telemachos told Odysseus to go around and beg for food from each suitor. Athena told him to do the same thing to test and see who are the kind suitors and who is not. When he did this, some of the men wondered who this was, thats when Melanthios said that he was brought to this dinner by the swineherd and then Antinoos asked why he would bring a beggar to dinner when it isn't their problem. When he got to Antinoos, he wasn't given any food and was insulted. Odysseus insulted him back and then Antinoos hit him in the back with a stool. Even the other suitors were appalled by this. Penelopia herd of what had happened and she was furious. She sent for him because she wanted to know if he knew anything about her husband. The swineherd told her that he has lots of wonderful stories. Odysseus told her that he would come at sunset for he was scared of the ill treatment. Penelope said that was fair. The swineherd sat back down, ate a hearty meal, then went home to his pigs. 

Characters

• Eurycleia
• Mentor
• Antiphas
• Halitherses
• Melanthios o'Dolios
• Argos (the dog)
• Eurynome

Themes

• Pride/ Arrogance
• Loyalty
• Hospitality

Book 18

• A local beggar, Iros, came to Odysseus and challenged him to a fight. The suitors noticed this and urged the fight. Odysseus agreed to the fight and Athena had filled out if muscles. By this time, it was to late to back out of a fight, but Iros was shaking in his boots. Odysseus won easily and was met back in the hall where the other congratulated him. Amphinomos toasted Odysseus, and Odysseus thought he was a good man. He warned him the the owner of the ouse was to return and there would be blood shed. He warned him that he should leave now and go home. He didn't listen to Odysseus and Athena fated him to fall at the hands of Telemachos. 
• Athen put and idea in Penelopia;s head that she should show herself to the suitors. She had planned to do so, but first, Athena put her in a deep sleep and made her look beautiful. When she awoke, she went down to the suitors and told them that before Odysseus left, he told her that she was to find a new husband before her son had a full beard. She also said that the way to woo her was not to take all of her food and wine, but present her with gifts. The suitors each came with a gift in hopes that she would choose them for her husband. 
• Penelope went to her chamber, and the suitors celebrated. After it got dark, the men lit torches that the maids had to hold. Odysseus offered to hold the torched while they go to Penelope. One maid, Melantho, insulted him. Odysseus scared them off but threatening to tell Telemachos of her foul words. 
• Athena wanted to anger Odysseus further, so she had Eurymachos make a game out of him. Odysseus returned his insults with more insults so Eurymachos got super mad and threw a chair at Odysseus, who ducked behind Amphinomos. The stoll hit him instead of Odysseus causing an uproar. Telemachos calmed them down and everyone finished eating, and went away for the night. 

Characters.

• Iros

Themes

• Pride/ Arrogance
• Hospitality 
• Loyalty

Book 19

• Telemachos and Odysseus move all of the weapons to the storages room and tell people that they are moving them because they don't want them be to further ruined by the smoke from the fire. Athena helps them carry out their plan by lighting up the room so they can see. Just as they were finishing up, the snooty maid from before came and insulted Odysseus further. Penelope over herd this and yelled at the maid because she told her that she wanted to question the stranger. She had a maid to and get a chair for the stranger, Odysseus, so she could question him about her husband. 
• The first question that she asked was who he was, what country is he from, and who is family was. He gave her lots of fine compliments and then he said that he didn't wish to talk about his family because it only brought him sorrow. She then explained to him the situation she was in and that she wasn't so lucky after all. Everyone was forcing her to marry someone and she didn't want to. She then again asked him who his family was. he was said was from the city of Crete where he was the youngest son. His name was Aithon. He said that he entertained Odysseus when he was on his why to Troy. He then told her stories to vivid that it made her cry for her husband. When she was finished crying, she gave him a test, she asked him what Odysseus was wear when he saw him. He told her the exact what he was wear and she wept again for he was spot on. She then told him that he was a honored guest in her house. Then, he  told her that he herd the Odysseus is alive and well and on his way home with treasured from his journey. Penelope was glad to hear this, but still believes in her heart that he is dead. 
• Penelope offers  him a bed to sleep in and for a maid to wash his feet. He says no to the bed but yes to the foot bath, when the nurse who washed his feet recognized a scar on his foot from when he was on a hunting trip. She hugged him and Athena distracted Penelope so his cover wouldn't be blown. She agreed to keep his secret.
• Penelope asked the stranger to interpret a dream that she had. He said the her dream meant that all of the suitors will die and not one will escape. She still didn't think she understood so she deiced to do a consent and which ever suitor won, they would win her hand in marrige. Then she went up to her chamber and waited until Athena cast a deep sleep on her. 

Characters

• Autolycos
• Eurtcleia

Theme

• Hospitality
• Loyalty
• Pride/ Arrogance

Book 20

• ·      That night, Odysseus had a hard time getting to sleep. Athena came to him in his sleep and told him he had nothing to worry about sense he was in his own house with is wife and son. Odysseus asked Athena how he was supposed to fight off al of the suitors. Athena said he had nothing to worry about and she will be at his side the while time.
• ·      Penelope, also having trouble sleeping that night, awoke from her sleep from the sorrow of losing her husband and the thought of having to remarry.  She prayed to Artemis to shoot her with an arrow. Odysseus awoke from her distress and prayed to Zeus.
• ·      The maids were now busy working on the house to make it tidy and clean. Telemachos went to his nurse and asked if she knew what the stranger had done. She said that they made him a bed and he went to sleep. Then he went to find Odysseus. Him ad Odysseus and the swineherd met. Then a man by the name of Philoitos. He was a man who still had faith that Odysseus would return.
• ·      As they all talked about Odysseus’s return, the suitors talked about how they were going to kill Telemachos. They decided that they would eat their breakfast. Everyone sat and the maids poured the wine and served up food. Telemachos sat Odysseus down with a plate of food and said that if anyone was rude to him in anyway that there would be a quarrel.  The men thought this was a bold stamen but decided that they would obey.
• ·      Athena wanted to provoke Odysseus further, so a man by the name of Ctesippos threw a crow’s foot at him. Telemachos threatened to kill him with his spear. Nothing was said until Agelaos says that they will leave the beggar alone, but they are going to stay there until Penelope picks s husband and that he wishes the Telemachos doesn’t delay it. He said he wished his mom would pick a suitor, and they all laughed. Then, Athena mess all of their plates and faces with blood.  Theoclymenos sees this and leaves at once. For he feels that they are all to dye. Then Penelope came down and had a abd night, like always.

Characters

• ·      Philoitos
• ·      Ctesippos
• ·      Agelaos

Themes

• ·      Pride/ Arrogance
• ·      Hospitality
• ·      Loyalty