The odyssey Book Fourteen

BOOK FOURTEEN The disguised Odysseus arrives at Eumaeus’ hut. Calling off his dogs, which nearly attack the stranger, the kindly swineherd brings Odysseus in and offers him food and wine. The old herdsman could not be more welcoming, offering the stranger food and shelter. Although, he possesses very little, he is generous with what he has. We learn that some of his pigs were taken by the suitors to feast on. The swineherd tells Odysseus about the wickedness of the suitors. The suitors freely eat and drink from the king’s stocks and supplies.

BOOK FOURTEEN Odysseus asks Eumaeus to tell him about his master, (note the irony here as Odysseus is himself the master). The swineherd is convinced that his master is dead, never to return. Odysseus assures him that the king will return and restore himself once again to his own home. Then Odysseus tells the swineherd his own tale of his arrival at Ithaca. This is another made-up story! He begins by recounting his adventures.

BOOK FOURTEEN Odysseus tells the swineherd that he was the illegitimate son of a Cretan king. He married a rich lady but went off to war. As a result of this fighting he became wealthy (from war spoils) and returned home. When he returned from Troy, he settled with his wife and family for a short time but then travelled to Egypt. When he was in Egypt his men plundered the surrounding farms. They were defeated by the Egyptians who gathered their forces against them and enslaved his sailors. He was granted a pardon, after supplicating to the Egyptian king. He remained in the country for seven years.

BOOK FOURTEEN He fell in with a Phoenician rogue who took him away but the ship was wrecked on the journey. Odysseus survived and was washed up at Thesprotia. In that kingdom he was told of Odysseus’ imminent return to Ithaca. He was brought by boat to Ithaca before the return of Odysseus but the crew transporting him, robbed him of all his possessions. This is why he ended up at Ithaca dressed in rags.

BOOK FOURTEEN The stranger (Odysseus) then relates a story about Troy. When he was on an expedition with Menelaus and Odysseus, he foolishly forgot to bring a cloak to protect him from the cold weather. While they were on watch duty he informed Odysseus he had no cloak. Odysseus thought for a moment and announced to the crew that he had a dream informing him that he had taken his men too far away from the ships. A messenger was sent to Agamemnon for reinforcements. The messenger threw off his cloak as he sprinted to Agamemnon to deliver the message. This is how Odysseus used his wit to get the cloak for him.

BOOK FOURTEEN Eumaeus gets the message and says to the stranger he will get Telemachos to give him clothes when he arrives back from Sparta – he has no extra garments to give his guests at the present time. The swine herd then gets ready to lock up for the night.

BOOK FOURTEEN: IMPORTANT POINTS Note how Odysseus’ disguise gives him time to prepare his revenge and to find out what is happening at the palace. Note the generosity of the swineherd: he is pious, loyal to Odysseus, follows Xenia, i.e. proper treatment of strangers. This contrasts sharply to the reckless behaviour of the suitors. Again the suitors who are very much in the wrong are being set up for a big downfall. Note how Odysseus, spins quite an ingenious story, one of the many tales he conjures up in the next couple of books.

BOOK FOURTEEN QUESTIONS 1. What details does Eumaeus give Odyssesus?