The Odyssey
Books 1 and 2
Quotes from the book
"But now the suitors trooped in with all their swagger
and took their seats on low and high-backed chairs" -(Homer 7)
This shows that they all believe that Odysseus is dead and they all wanted to marry Penelope so they could take over Ithaca. This is important because it shows how they reacted to Odysseus not coming home.
"But one man alone …
his heart set on his wife and his return—Calypso,
the bewitching nymph, the lustrous goddess, held him back,
deep in her arching caverns, craving him for a husband." -(Homer 3)
This shows the reason why Odysseus hasn't returned home from the war, he is being held captive by Calypso.
“Go home and babble your omens to your children—
save them from some catastrophe coming soon.
I’m a better hand than you at reading portents.
Flocks of birds go fluttering under the sun’s rays,
not all are fraught with meaning. Odysseus?
He’s dead now, far from home....."- (Homer 24)
This quote shows how bad some people want Odysseus to be dead so they can rule Ithaca and be successful.
Book 1 Summary
Odysseus sailing home
The Odyssey
Map showing places from The Odyssey
Book 2 Summary
Important Characters
Penelope- She is married to Odysseus and is the mother of Telemachus. She is a very loyal wife and she keeps stalling the suitors because she still thinks that Odysseus is alive.
Telemachus- He is the son of Odysseus and Penelope. He is the one who is going to set sail to try and find the whereabouts of his father. He is going because Athena came and talked to him and told him to go find his dad.
Athena- She is the godess of wisdom and she wants to get Odysseus off of Calypso's island. She came to talk to Telemachus, so he could go find where Odysseus is.
Antinous/ the suitors- They all are people who want to take over Ithaca. They came to Ithaca to win over Penelope so they can marry her and get to get control of Ithaca.
Calypso- She is a nymph godess who captured Odysseus, because she wants Odysseus to be her husband so she is keeping him captive on her island.