Homer's Odyssey: A Summary and Literary Analysis of Books 1-4

This essay summarizes the initial four books of Homer's Odyssey. It begins with Homer's invocation of the muse and Odysseus's detainment on Ogygia with Calypso. Penelope is besieged by suitors, and Athena convinces Zeus to free Odysseus, despite Poseidon's wrath. Athena, disguised as Mentes, advises Telemachus to protect his home and mother. Book 2 details Telemachus's assembly and his defiance against the suitors, followed by his journey to seek news of Odysseus. Guided by Athena (as Mentor), he visits Nestor in Pylos and Menelaus in Sparta, learning about Odysseus's bravery and his captivity on Ogygia. This summary captures the key events and character developments in the opening books of the epic.

Running head: English Literature
English Literature
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

Summary of book 1 of odyssey
‘The Odyssey’, the epic poem written by Homer opens by invoking the muse to inspire
him to tell the story of Odysseus. The epic begins with the narrative of the era after the Trojan
War ended, and to be very specific the story is about Illiad (Webster, 2014). As the story unveils,
Odysseus is on the island named Ogygia with goddess Calypso while other Greek heroes come
back home. Calypso fell in love with him and refuses him to let him go back to his family. In the
meantime, Penelope remains occupied in fighting with suitors who are trying to replace the
Odysseus after assuming him to be dead (Helms, 2014). After being convinced by Athena, Zeus
orders Poseidon to let Odysseus to go.
In addition, Poseidon, the god of sea tries to take revenge on Odysseus since he has
blinded Poseidon’s son (Harrison, 2013). With the unfolding of the narrative, the discordance of
Athens is seen in order to provide counseling to Telemachus, Odysseus’s son who fails
repetitively in order to regain his ownership over his home which has been hostage under the
suitors of Penelope (Williams, 2014). Under the disguise of the character named Mentes, Athens
goes to odysseues’s place, Ithaca and informs Telemechus that his father will soon return to his
home (Nietzsche, 2016). However, by the time he comes back to his family, Telemechus is
required to provide protection to his mother Penelope as well as his home from the suitors.
Summary of Book 2, 3, 4
The book 2 witnesses Telemechuses’s gathering of an assembly of Achaeans and plans to
drive out the suitors from his house. With the assistance of Athena’s divine power, Telemechus
threatens the suitors with all the divine vengeance and courage for their uncustomary behavior
(Bowie, 2014). After Telemechus reveals his hopes of punishing the suitors, an omen consisting

of two owl is sent by Zeus who prophesizes the demise of those suitors. After the guidance of
Athena, Telemechus goes to the sea with the hole of seeking information about his father
Odysseus.
Under the disguise of Mentor, Telemechus and Athena reach Pylos, the land of emperor
Nestor where a grand ceremony is witnessed by them (Williams, 2014). Athena teaches
Telemechus to question regarding the whereabouts of Telemechus sternly. Telemechus thus was
advised by Nector to Visit the place of the brother of Agamemnon who lives in Sparta
(Nietzsche, 2016). As Telemechus has a very little experience about speaking in public, Mentor
keeps on encouraging him to approach Nestor (Bowie, 2014). Telemechus then gives a vivid
recount of the fall of Troy and the wrangle between Agamemnon and Menelaus.
Upon their reach to Sparta, Telemechus and the son of Pisistratus received warm
hospitality the king of Sparta and his queen as well (Helms, 2014). Telemechus was told about
the bravery of the Odysseus by them. When Menelaus learns about the suitors, he informs
Telemechus about Odysseus being trapped in the island Ogygia by Calypso.

Reference
Bowie, A. M. (Ed.). (2014). Homer: Odyssey books xiii and xiv. Cambridge University Press.
Harrison, J. E. (2013). Myths of the Odyssey in Art and Literature. BoD–Books on Demand.
Helms, M. W. (2014). Ulysses' sail: an ethnographic odyssey of power, knowledge, and
geographical distance. Princeton University Press.
Nietzsche, F. (2016). Homer and classical philology. Xist Publishing.
Webster, T. B. L. (2014). From Mycenae to Homer: a study in early Greek literature and art.
Routledge.
Williams, C. D. (2014). Pope, Homer, and Manliness: Some Aspects of Eighteenth Century
Classical Learning. Routledge.