Telemachy Summaries
The Father's Fate
Book 1: Telemachus Becomes a Man
Telemachus is flustered because rude suitors are are trying to make love with his mother. He knows that he needs to stop this. Telemachus becomes aware of what he must do; he must tell the suitors that they must wait a year to wed his mom. He is visited by Zeus and must carry out the plans given by Athena. He prepares to leave, to find word of his father. He is leaving to go to Pylos where he thinks Odysseus may be.
Book 2: Telemachus Drifts to Pylos
Telemachus calls an assembly of the Acheans. He complains of the suitors who have rudely caused evil in his home. He is told to send his mother away or have her married to a man. He decides to go on a journey to Pylos in order the find the fate of his father. He is taunted by the suitors, but he doesn’t tell his mother or the suitors that he is leaving. Athena accompanies Telemachus as Mentor on the trip to Pylos.
Book 3: A Talk with Nestor
Telemachus rolls up to Pylos where he witnesses a bull sacrifice by Nestor. Telemachus and Athena meet the King of Pylos, Nestor, and he offers them food and drink as part of the feast. Athena, Telemachus, and Nestor get to talking about Nestor’s relation to Odysseus and their struggles and hardships in the Trojan War. Telemachus then proceeds to inform Nestor about the suitors and their disturbance in his home. Nestor refers Telemachus to his son, Menelaus, in Lacedaemon, for more information about Odysseus during the Trojan War. Before departing to Lacedaemon, Athena and Telemachus stay the night in King Nestor’s Palace and make a sacrifice for Athena in the morning.
Book 4: Telemachus Sets out for his Father
Menelaus tells about the wealth during the feast, where Helen, Menelaus, and Peisistratus talk about Telemachus’s resemblance. Helen found a way to drug the wine, though. Everyone there reminisces about Odysseus, until Menelaus asks what Telemachus is there for. Telemachus then asks how Odysseus died, but finds out that he may not have actually died. When Antinous finds out that Telemachus has already left, he plans to ambush Odysseus. When Penelope finds out that Telemachus is gone, she prays to Athena. The story ends with the suitors having the mindset to kill Telemachus.