Symbols in The Odyssey

Throughout the Odyssey, birds represent Athena and her power, she repeatedly turns into a bird. In Book XXII, after Athena makes the suitors and bad servants go crazy, Odysseus and his three men are described as vultures, symbolizing the ferocity and mercilessness of Odysseus and his men in battle. The mad men are said to be "flying low under the clouds" using birds to show the fear of the victims. Birds also symbolize good and bad omens, like the eagles that are sent by Zeus in Book II. 

Odysseus' wound symbolizes truth and identity. He uses over and over again to show people that he really is who he says he is, people know him by this mark.

Hades obviously symbolizes death, more the unpleasantness of death, after all, it is the underworld. It symbolizes a place of despair and emptiness. The souls there are just "flitting shadows".

Book XX

Characters - Odysseus, the maids, Athena, Penelope, Zeus, Telemachos, Eurycleia, Eumaios, Melanthios, Philoitios, Amphinomos, Antinoos, Ctesippos, Agelaos Damastorides, Theoclymenos, Eurymachos, the rest of the suitors.

Summary - Odysseus tries to sleep, but can't because his mind is full of vengeance. Athena blesses him with sleep. Penelops wakes up and prays to Artemis. Odysseus gets an omen of death for the suitors from Zeus. Everyone gets to work preparing the house for the suitors' arrival. Odysseus is again taunted by Melanthios. Another herder, Philoitios, is kind to Odysseus and tells him that he doesn't like the suitors. Odysseus tells him that Odysseus will return. The suitors try to plan to kill Telemachos again. They go eat. Odysseus is treated well by Telemachos and Telemachos is bold towards the suitors. They all feast for the holiday. One of the suitors, Ctesippos, throws a hoof at Odysseus, which he dodges. Telemachos warns them not to be violent. Agelaos Damastorides argues with Telemachos about his mother's marriage. Theoclymenos tells the suitors that woe will befall them, but they just laugh and insult him, so he goes away. The suitors tease Telemachos about his guests. 

Importance - This book sets the stage for the battle to come between Odysseus and Telemachos and the suitors.

Themes - Hospitality, the suitors and Melanthios are inhospitable towards the guests. Loyalty, Philoitios is still loyal to Odysseus.

Book XIX

Characters - Odysseus, Athena, Telemachos, Eurycleia, Penelope, Melantho, Eurynome, Autolycos.

Summary - Telemachos and Odysseus begin their plan. Telemachos and Odysseus get rid of all the weapons. Melantho is rude to Odysseus again. Penelope asks Odysseus about himself. Penelope tells Odysseus about her troubles and he tells her the story of the beggar. Penelope weeps and asks Odysseus about Odysseus to make sure he is telling the truth about meeting him. He answers her questions correctly. Odysseus claims that he will return. Eurycleia is about to wash Odysseus' feet but he remembers the story of an old scar of his. Eurycleia recognizes him. Eurycleia agrees not to tell anyone. Penelops asks Odysseus to interpret her dream. She tells him her plan to hold a contest for the suitors. Penelope goes to sleep.

Importance - It shows the deep relationship between Penelope and Odysseus and Eurycleia finds out about the true identity of the beggar.

Themes - Loyalty, the loyalty between Odyssesu and Penelope and Odysseus and Eurycleia. Hospitaity, Penelope treats the beggar as an honored guest.

Book XVIII

Characters - Arnaios/Iros, Odysseus, Antinoos, Telemachos, Athena, Amphinomos, Penelope, Eurynome, Penelope's maids, Telemachos, Eurymachos, Melantho, the rest of the suitors.

Summary - The town beggar tries to drive Odysseus away. Antinoos encourages the fighting. The two beggars fight and Odysseus wins. Athena drives Penelope to show herself before the suitors. The suitors give Penelope numerous gifts. One of Penelope's nurses, Melantho, is rude to Odysseus. Odysseus stands up to Eurymachos' bullying and Eurymachos gets mad. Eurymachos throws a stool at Odysseus, but misses. The suitors leave.

Importance - It shows the conflict between Odysseus and the suitors.

Themes - Hospitality, the suitors, Iros, and Melantho are very inhospitable to Odysseus.

Book XVII

Characters - Telemachos, Odysseus, Eumaios, Eurycleia, Penelope, Peiraios, Theoclymenos, Medon, Melanthios o' Dolios, Phemios, Argos, Athena, Melanthios, Antinoos, Eurynome, the rest of the suitors.

Summary - Telemachos goes home. Peiraios hands Theoclymenos back to Telemachos. Telemachos tells his mother of his travels. Theoclymenos makes a prediction about Odysseus. Odysseus and Eumaios go to town where they are taunted by a goatherder, Melanthios. Odysseus' dog, Argos, dies after seeing Odysseus return. Odysseus eats at his own house and then begs for bread from the suitors. Odysseus begs from Antinoos, but Antinoos is rude to him and punches him. Odysseus starts plotting his vengeance. Penelope asks to speak with the Odysseus. Eumaios goes back to his pigs.

Importance - Odysseus finally returns to his house. He also meets the suitors.

Themes - Hospitality, Eumaios feeds and helps out Odysseus and the suitors give Odysseus bread.

The Odyssey - Books V-VIII

Books 5 - 8 are about how Odysseus left Calypso's island and traveled many weary days and nights on sea, landing on Scheria, the island of the Phaiacians. They tell of his relaxing yet sorrowful time there, spent celebrating and playing the local games.

They tell Odysseus' story.

They back up the themes of hospitality and loyalty. Hospitality because they show the kindness of the Phaiacians to a complete stranger and loyalty because they show Odysseus' loyalty to his home and family and the loyalty of Athena to make sure he reaches his home safely.

These books are important because Odysseus finally leaves Calypso's island, beginning his journey home, and provide a setting for Odysseus to tell his story.

The Odyssey - Book III

Summary: Telemachos, Athena, and the crew reach the shore of Pylos. Athena tells Telemachos that he has to be the one to speak to Nestor regardless of how shy he is. They find Nestor and his sons preparing a feast. Mentor (Athena) and Telemachos are welcomed. they begin the feast with the proper ceremonies of praying to the gods. Athena prays to Poseidon for safe travel and thanks the Pylians and Nestor. They all eat. Nestor asks about his guests and Telemachos tells him his business. He asks Nestor to tell him all he knows about Odysseus. Nestor begins to tell Telemachos about the Trojan war and how many men were slain. He says that Odysseus was a grand man and was amazing, they never argued about anything. He says that a lot of people died and how Menelaos and Agamemnon split the men because of their differing opinions. Nestor and Odysseus went with Menelaos, but Odysseus went back to Agamemnon so Nestor lost track of him then. Soon Nestor got back to Pylos without news of anyone else. He talks about the men that lived and died. He talks about the murder of Agamemnon and then Telemachos says he wishes the gods would give him power to get vengeance on the suitors. Then Nestor asks about his situation with the suitors and how much Athena loved Odysseus and if only Athena would show love to Telemachos things would get better. Telemachos says he doesn't think that will happen, but Athena says it's easy for the gods to bring Odysseus home but that death is something even the gods cant stop. Telemachos says that his dad will never come back and asks Nestor more about Agamemnon's death. Nestor tells him all about it. After Menelaos and Nestor set out from Troy, Menelaos went to Egypt and prince Orestes killed Aigisthos. Menelaos returned home. Nestor tells Telemachos not to stray to far from his house or the suitors will take everything, and that he should go see Menelaos if he wants more info about his father. Nestor gives him all his services to go see Menelaos. Then the sun sets. Then Athena says they should make sacrifices to Poseidon and they do. Athena and Telemachos want to go back to their ship but Nestor is hospitable and makes Telemachos stay. Athena takes the shape of the bird and flies away. Everyone is amazed and makes lots more sacrifices. They all go to bed. In the morning they make another sacrifice to Athena. Telemachos is bathed by the daughter of Nestor. Meanwhile, peeps prepare food. They get everything ready to go see Menelaos and Telemachos leaves with one of Nestor's sons. They travel all day then rest. Soon it's light out again and then they travel all day.

King Nestor of Pylos was an Argonaut in his early warrior days and helped to fight the centaurs. He fought on the side of the Achaeans in the Trojan War. He was believed to be about 110 when the war started but was still revered for his bravery and speaking abilities. He had about nine children.