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Books 17-20 - Coggle Diagram
Books 17-20
Book 20
Another herdsman, named Philoetius, came in and saw Odysseus. He wished that he was doing well and told Odysseus how he hoped Odysseus would come back.
As they were talking, the suitors were planning how to kill Telemachus again. But an eagle carrying a pigeon flew over their heads and Amphinomus suggested that they just focus on the banquet.
The next morning, Telemachus and Eumaeus individually check on Odysseus to make sure he's doing alright. After Eumaeus leaves, Melanthius comes in and insults Odysseus. He ignored this and bowed his head.
As everyone sat down, Telemachus told the suitors not to insult or hurt anyone. They unwillingly agreed until a new suitor named Ctesippus spoke up. He sarcastically told everyone how it was good that the beggar (Odysseus) got the same amount of food that everyone else did, then proceeded to throw an ox foot at him.
Odysseus lies awake thinking about how he's going to fight all the suitors. Athena reassures him and lets him fall asleep. Meanwhile on Penelope's side, she is still grieving and prays for the gods to end her misery. Odysseus hears her crying and asks Zeus for a good sign. Zeus sends thunder.
Odysseus ducked and Telemachus got mad. He told the suitor that if he had actually hit the beggar, he (Telemachus) would kill him and make his father plan his funeral.
The suitors mock him and laugh again. Theoclymenus says how none of them will escape their deaths, and he leaves. The suitors contineue to tease Telemachus about all his bold guests, but he ignores it.
Another suitor tries convincing Telemachus to let Penelope marry one of them and Telemachus refuses. Athena then makes the suitors break into laughter and it's Theoclymenus that tells them horrible things will happen to them and they are doomed for death.
Penelope sits back and watches all this shamelessness happen. She didn't know it, but they were all fated to death anyway.
Book 19
Odysseus sits down and they begin to talk. Penelope first asks where he's from and he refuses to answer because of the sorrow it'll bring. He then praises her. Penelope then describes what it's been like without him there.
Eventually, he ends up telling her that he once hosted Odysseus. She did not believe him and asked the beggar what Odysseus looked like and about his crew.
Telemachus goes to sleep and Odysseus says he's going to talk to Penelope. As Melantho insults Odysseus, Penelope hears her and scolds her.
After the suitors leave, Odysseus and Telemachus get the weapons together and hide them while Athena lights up the room. Telemachus then tells Eurycleia that they are taking the weapons so that they don't get damaged.
Odysseus told her exactly what he was wearing that day and about his crew, and she broke into tears. She was crying because it was the truth and the fact that she had packed his clothes before he left.
Penelope then tells one of the slaves to give him a footbath. He says that he'll only allow it if the slave is Eurycleia. Eurycleia grabs his foot after she sets up the tub and feels a scar. She immediately realizes that he's Odysseus and shouts it out in excitement. Luckily, Athena has Penelope's mind is preoccupied with another thought. Odysseus aggressively tells her to be quiet or else he won't spare her.
He then tells her that Odysseus has been at sea for a long time, but he heard that he's on his way home. Penelope said that she hopes it's true, but she doesn't fully believe it.
Then goes back to Penelope and she says how even though she's had a dream about Odysseus coming back, she still doubts it. Odysseus reassures her. Penelope then tells him that she's going to have a competition and marry the person who can shoot an arrow through twelve axes, just as Odysseus did. Then they both go to bed.
Book 18
Amphinomus, the suitor who is being nice to Odysseus, offers him food and drink. Odysseus tells him that he should leave before Odysseus comes back and causes bloodshed. Amphinomus thinks about this for a little bit but knew that he was not fated to live.
Athena gave Penelope the thought to go downstairs and talk to the suitors and give Telemachus advice. She slept and Athena made her seem more beautiful and goddess-like. She then got woken up by her slaves and headed downstairs. Once Penelope got there she scolded Telemachus to keep their reputation high.
Everyone is shocked when Odysseus takes off his rags and reveals a good amount of muscles for an old man. At this point, Irus is trembling and it's obvious that he doesn't want to fight anymore. Odysseus decides on hurting him only a little and beats him. The suitors then invite Odysseus to sit at the table with them.
Once she scolds Telemachus, he acknowledges her and apologizes. Eurymachus then wakes up and tells the queen how beautiful she is. Penelope refused to take the compliment and said how her beauty had disappeared when Odysseus left. Now that the time has come when her son has a beard, she must unwillingly marry someone else. The suitors then gave her gifts and she takes them up to her room.
A messenger and beggar named Irus saw that there was another beggar (Odysseus) in Odysseus' house, insults him, and challenges him to a fight. Antinous gets very excited about this and tells them that whoever wins can share the suitors' property.
Odysseus then tells the slaves that they should go and be with Penelope. Melantho, who sleeps with Eurymachus, insults Odysseus and threatens him. He then tells her that he will tell Telemachus what she just said and they get scared and scatter around the house.
Athena, trying to rile up Odysseus a bit more, makes Eurymachus insult him. Odysseus says a harsh truth back and Eurymachus tries throwing a stool at him. Odysseus ducks behind Amphinomus and the stool hits a slave boy who was pouring wine. Telemachus gets mad and tells the suitors to go home. Amphinomus backs up Telemachus and the suitors then all agree. His slave pours them libations for the gods and then they all go to bed.
Book 17
As the get to the main hall, Telemachus tells Eumaeus to tell Odysseus, still an old man, to beg the suitors for food. Athena encourages him. As he gets to Antinous, Antinous remembers who he is and refuses to help him. Antinous insults him many times and then Odysseus does it back once. Antinous gets mad and throws a stool at Odysseus. This enrages Telemachus, but he holds in his feelings.
Once Penelope hears about this and curses the suitors. She then requests to see the old man (Odysseus) and he refuses. He has Eumaeus tell her that he will talk to her later when there are no suitors around that could hurt him. She says he's a smart man and then Eumaeus goes back to his farm.
Odysseus and Eumaeus set out towards the palace. On the way, they meet Melanthius. He says harsh things to them and even kicks Odysseus, who is still disguised. Odysseus holds his temper in and they get to the palace. Odysseus sees his old dog who happily recognizes him, then death takes him over.
Telemachus leaves to go to the palace. Once he gets there, everyone happily greets him including Penelope. The suitors are being harmless to him but with bad intentions. Telemachus tells Penelope of the news he received about Odysseus, but doesn't reveal that he's already in Ithaca. Theoclymenus then speaks up and says that he thinks Odysseus is already in Ithaca and planning revenge.