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Odysseus Returns To Ithaca
Odysseus wakes up in Ithaca, but does not recognize it
He believes he has been tricked
Athena comes to him and attempts to convince him that he is finally home
"And so, stranger, / the name of Ithaca is even known in Troy / a long way from Achaean land, they say." (Book 13, lines 299-301)
Odysseus realizes that he is truly home and is overjoyed -
Odysseus Finds Out About The Suitors
Athena tells Odysseus about the suitors that will kill him when he returns home
Odysseus thanks her for saving him by telling him
"Goddess, if you had not told me all this, / I would have shared the fate of Agamemnon, / son of Atreus, and died in my own home." (Book 13, lines 370-372)
He and Athena begin to plot against the suitors -
Odysseus Begins His Time As An Old Beggar
Athena tranforms Odysseus into an old beggar as a disguise
The two begin their plan to get rid of the suitors
Athena goes to fetch Odysseus's son as Odysseus goes to see a swineherd that can help him
"When the two of them / had made their plans, they parted, and Athena went / to Lacedaemon to bring back Odysseus' son." (Book 13, lines 540-542) -
Everyone Is Absolutely Convinced That Odysseus Is Dead
Odysseus makes it to the swineherd and eats with him in his hut
Eumaeus (the swineherd) tells Odysseus of the suitors and mourns the supposed loss of his master
Eumaeus refuses to believe that his master might still be alive
Eumaeus says that Odysseus's wife believes him dead as well
"Odysseus won't be coming back. Drink up. / Relax. Now, let's talk of something else. / The heart here in my chest gets full of grief, / when someone mentions my good master." (Book 14, lines 217-221) -
Eumaeus Is Somewhat Suspicious Of Odysseus
Eumaeus does not believe Odysseus's story about his life
This makes Eumaeus slightly less trusting of Odysseus, but he still entertains him and allows him in his home
Odysseus has now slightly alienated a friend, so he must regain his complete trust in some way
"But I don’t think it’s all just as you said, / and what you mentioned of Odysseus / does not convince me. Given who you are, / why must you tell such pointless falsehoods?" (Book 14, lines 470-473) -
Odysseus Gets Pneumonia (Made-Up)
Neither Eumaeus nor his friends give Odysseus a cloak to combat the cold
Odysseus is forced to sleep in the cold rain and wind
He wakes up in the morning with a terrible cough and sore chest
"Yo, guys, / fetch me thine NyQuil!" (Book 14, lines 663-664)
After being slapped for saying "thine" (because only jerks say "thine"), he was given Tylenol
He recovered, but he carried extra NyQuil with him at all times from there on out.
