Books 5-8 Summary

Books 5-8:
         Zeus finally releases Odysseus from Calyspo, Hermes island, while this is happening Athena plans to aid Telemachos from the suitors who plan to kill him. On the island, Odysseus basically cries and is sorrowful because he misses home and his wife, he is then informed that he may leave but is still suspicious of Hermes. Calyspo then helps build a raft for him to travel on for a few days, he then leaves and a huge storm erupts but Athena calms the seas.
At night, Athena,while dreaming visits the Phaiacian princess Nausicaa and asks her to wash her clothes. In the morning Nausicaa goes to the river to clean her clothes, Odysseus just waking up washed on shore, heard some girls and he then meets Nausicaa. Nausicaa is very hospitable, and provides clothes and food. Nausicaa, Odysseuss and some maids, she warns him that if people see him with her they will gossip about her future husband. She then has him meet her mother, if she likes him then she will help him get home. Odysseus prays to Athena for hospitality from the Phaiacians.
After Odysseus waits for Nausicca to go to her father's house he meets Athena in the form of the girl. He asks her for directions to the palace, and she leads him there but no one can see them because they are surrounded in mist. He enters the palace and finds the king and queen, he embraces Arete at her knees and asks for her help in bringing him home.  Alcinoos tells Odysseus that he is going to make a sacrifice in the morning, and discuss how he is going to send Odysseus back home. He asks Odysseus if he is a god, but Odysseus reassures him he is not. Alcinoos vows to get Odysseus home.
In the morning Athena calls the people of the town to look at a stranger and everyone looks at Odysseus because she cast a godly light on him. Alcinoos asks the people to provide a ship for the stranger following a festival. various games are played and Odysseus joins in when Prince Loadamas asks. Odysseus is reluctant but throws a discus farther than anyone else. He then get confidence asfter his throw and challenges anyone in any games, Alcinoos suggests a dance performance. Demodocos sings about Ares and Aphrodite. Odysseus watches the listens to the song, and performance by Alcinoos' sons. Odysseus receives many gifts and on Alcinoos orders maids to bath him. After, Princess Nausicaa asks him to remember her and he says he owes his life to her. At the dinner Odysseus asks Demodocos to sing about the wooden horse they used to invade Troy. Odysseus begins to weep and Alcinoos is the only one who notices and asks for his story.

Theme: Hospitality
We see this theme when Calyspo helps Odysseus build the raft, when princess Nausicaa offers him a bath and food and also when she takes him to her parents, Arete and Alcinoos want to help Odysseus get home and also when they offer him feasts, gifts and a place to stay before he goes home.

Mentioned  Characters:
Zeus
Odysseus
Alcinoos
Hermes
Arete
Athena
Princess Nausicaa
Calyspo
Ares
Aphrodite
Telemachos
Demodocos