Odyssey Study Guide Contents
Book 2: Telemachus Calls the Assembly in Ithaca | Summary Book II | Notes | Major Characters | Quiz on Book II| Paintings Based on The Odyssey
What Happens in Book I|Book III
- Setting: Assembly, Ithaca
- Lead Character: Telemachus
- Plot: Telemachus asks for help against the suitors.
The next day (after the end of Book I of the Odyssey) Telemachus prepares to follow Mentor-Athena's advice. He calls the Achaeans to assembly. The aged Lord Aigyptos opens the meeting. Aigyptos wonders if Telemachus had word of his father or the men. Peisenor brings the speaker's staff to Telemachus who says that he has had no word, but needs to talk about the evil in his house. He complains that none have come to help, cries in anger, and drops the speaking staff. Antinous answers saying Telemachus wants to shame the suitors, of which group he is one, but the cause of the trouble is Penelope, Telemachus' mother who won't pick one of them. He tells Telemachus to send her away or make her marry a man of her father's choosing. Telemachus says he would be cursed if he sent his mother away against her will. Zeus sends a sign, a pair of eagles, which omen Halitherses read. He says Odysseus would soon return and doom the suitors. Eurymakhos (broad fighter) replies that Halitherses is foolish and should go away. He repeats Antinous' advice. Telemachus says he's through discussing it. What he wants is a ship and crew to go to (always sandy) Pylos and Sparta to find out his father's fate. If dead, he'll come home, perform funeral honors and give Penelope to another husband. Mentor, invested with authority given from Odysseus, stands up to speak next. He scolds the Ithacans for not standing up to the suitors. Leokritos replies that Mentor is stirring trouble and that Halitherses and Mentor should help Telemachus with his plans.Then the assembly breaks.
Telemachus goes to the shore and addresses the god who had appeared the day before (Athena in disguise). Athena-Mentor appears and gives him confidence, tells him he'll find the ship and sailors; meanwhile Telemachus is to go home, get provisions, which he does, but first Antinous confronts him telling him to enjoy the feast the way he used to do. Telemachus declines and says he'll bring death to the suitors if he can.
The suitors react tauntingly. One suggests he should die at sea, like his father. Telemachus enters the storeroom guarded by Eurykleia, his old nurse, who tries to dissuade him from going. Telemachus tells her the plan is from a god and she must gather the provisions and keep it secret from Penelope. Then Telemachus rejoins the suitors.
Meanwhile Athena, disguised as Telemachus, has gathered together men to man the ship. She then makes the suitors drowsy so she, as Mentor, can speak privately with Telemachus whom she tells to go to the ship on the beach. Telemachus follows her advice and tells the men gathered to pick up the provisions Eurykleia has put together. Then, with Mentor-Athena on board, they set off, raise the sails, and pour libations to the gods.
Book I Summary | Book III
Read a Public Domain translation of Odyssey Book II.
