1. Book Sixteen
THE ODYSSEY

2. BOOK SIXTEEN
When Telemachus meets Eumaeus, he is warmly welcomed, embraced and given hospitality. They then discuss the stranger (Odysseus) and wonder what to do with him, whether to send him away or keep him in the hut.
Telemachus tells Eumaeus he will give the stranger food and clothes and send him on his way. He will not bring him down to the palace because the suitors are behaving brutally there.
Odysseus finds out from Telemachus that the suitors are not only looking for Penelope’s hand in marriage, but they are eating him out of house and home. Telemachus is too young to be able to deal with them.

3. BOOK SIXTEEN
The swineherd is sent into the town to tell Penelope of her son’s return. Eumaeus tells Telemachus he will also inform the distressed Laertes of his homecoming.
Telemachus tells Eumaeus to relate the news to his mother first of all and then to have her dispatch a servant to Laertes afterwards. The cautious Telemachus wants information about his return kept secret.
Athena arrives – Telemachus cannot see her but Odysseus can. She tells Odysseus to reveal himself and his plans to his son. She will be at hand to help them, “I am eager for the fight”.

4. BOOK SIXTEEN
With a wave of her wand Odysseus is transformed –his youthful vigour is returned. At first Telemachus thinks he is a god but Odysseus assures him he is his father. The two embrace and weep. Odysseus tells his son that with the god’s help he plans to kill the suitors who occupy his home.
Odysseus then contrives a plan. He tells his son that he will go down to the palace disguised as a beggar. He will go down to the palace as a beggar and Telemachus is to ignore any insults the suitors may throw at him.

5. BOOK SIXTEEN
Telemachus is also told to remove most of the weapons from the great hall and hide them in a store room.
He is to tell the suitors that he is removing the weapons for their own safety in case during the heat of a quarrel they would use these against each other.
Telemachus is told to leave just enough weapons and shields for the two of them: note the cunning of Odysseus here. .

6. BOOK SIXTEEN
Telemachus is also told to keep his father’s homecoming an absolute secret.
Odysseus also proposes going around to the farms to sound out who is loyal to him. Telemachus advises him against this. He asks his father to postpone this idea and instead to find out which women at the palace have been loyal.

7. BOOK SIXTEEN
The suitors learn of Telemachus’ safe return and are bitterly disappointed that their plot has failed.
Antinous declares to the suitors that they must still kill the prince; they can then divide his estate among themselves, while his mother and her new husband rule the palace.
One of the suitors advises them not to kill the prince until they get some sign from Zeus that it is o.k. to do this.

8. BOOK SIXTEEN
Penelope arrives among the suitors and rebukes Antinous for plotting the death of her son. However, another suitor Eurymachus convinces her that her son is safe; that no attempt on his life was made.
The book finishes off with the return of Eumaeus from the palace and the re-disguising of Odysseus.

9. BOOK SIXTEEN: IMPORTANT POINTS
Note how all the threads of the story come together: Odysseus is reunited with Telemachus on Ithaca where we are up to date with what is happening to Penelope and the suitors. The two plots of the epic come together: the return of both the father and son.
Note Odysseus and Telemachus’ reunion. The pair strike up an immediate father-son bond.
Note also how in this book preparations begin to get revenge on the suitors. Odysseus is in no doubt that his son is of age to rise to the challenge and help him in this task.

10. BOOK SIXTEEN: IMPORTANT POINTS
Note Odysseus’ ingenious plan to hide the weapons from the suitors. Father and son must work together. This plan is, as you would expect, cleverly thought out. Odysseus is leaving nothing to chance and clearly places the responsibility on his son to see the job done.
Note how the generosity of Eumeaus towards Odysseus and Telemachus contrasts with the sneaky scheming of the suitors – the theme of hospitality is shown here in a positive and negative light.

11. 1. Describe the plan Odysseus and Telemachus formulate in this book.
questions
1. Describe the plan Odysseus and Telemachus formulate in this book.