This book's starting to pick up, isn't it? Basically, Telemachus sets out on this journey to ask Nestor and Menelaus if they knew anything about his father. Nestor tells Telemachus to talk to Menelaus because Ulysses (Odysseus) was on a completely different side of the journey home. Then there is this whole spiel about a big feast in Minerva (Athena)'s honor, and on page nineteen it describes in immaculate detail a cow being chopped up (paagraph four). So Telemachus and Co. (Nestor's son Pisistratus, although I just prefer to call him Telemachus' Co.) go to Menelaus' house a little ways away and Menelaus describes what's going on. He tells Telemachus that basically he learned that Ulysses (Odysseus) is stuck on an island with the goddess Calypso, as he was told after capturing the sea-god Proteus.
Meanwhile, the suitors back in little ol' Ithaca are beginning to wonder where Telemachus went. A lightbulb suddenly flashes on in their brains as they realize that Telemachus is going to find his big scary father and bring him back to Ithaca to kick the suitors out. Antious (the lead suitor guy) is all, "Why don't we just sink Telemachus' ship and then we won't have to worry about being booted out!" and all the other suitors are all, "Yay, that'd be fun!" But of course, like every stuck up person, they don't even notice little Medon the servant listening in on their conversation. Medon warns Penelope about what the suitors are planning, and Penelope is shocked, because she never leaves her room and didn't even know that Telemachus left. Not the most observant, if you ask me. Penelope prays to Minerva (Athena) and all the suitors leave to go find Telemachus. Why Penelope doesn't poke some holes and their ships the night before, I do not know. Minerva (Athena) appears in Penelope's dream and assures her that Telemachus will return home safely.
As you can tell, I am a little bored with this right now. Basically all that they've done so far is talk about geneology and sail. Yay. I'm hoping that this will pick up and we'll focus on Ulysses (Odysseus) more instead of little Telemachus. As you can see with my helpful parentheses, I'm still a little confused about the Roman names.
I love how you put humor into this :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a detailed summary! Way to note that Homer can tend to (over)describe some minor details - it makes me think about the differences of our society today and in the past. I guess some things would be more important in history than they are now. You also ask good questions about Penelope's personality - how she is sometimes inattentive and frightened.
(Don't worry, the book's pace picks up a bit once Odysseus starts narrating.)