The Odyssey Book 18 Summary

A real beggar by the name of Iros, who regularly begs at Odysseus’s hall, sees the newcomer and rudely demands that he get out. Clearly, this town isn’t big enough for two beggars.
Odysseus tries to reason with the man, but he is staunch. This launches us into another back-and-forth round of insults.
Antinoös, seeing these two going at each other, spurs them on, since everyone loves a good fight. He promises a prize of fat blood pudding to the winner.
Telemachos assures beggar Odysseus that the crowd will watch his back (meaning they won’t let some jerk hit him with a footstool). The crowd cheers, proving that if there’s one thing Greeks can agree on, it’s that old beggars shouldn’t be hit unawares from behind.
Iros is all, "You’re going down!" and Odysseus is all, "Oh really? Well look at…THIS!" and then he rips off his shirt and everyone goes "Ooooh!"
Antinoös, noting Iros’s fear, threatens to have him beaten and castrated if the new beggar wins against him.
Odysseus decides to be merciful and strike Iros only once, which he does, in the jaw. Unfortunately for Iros, this one punch is enough to break his jaw. Blood proceeds to do what it always does in the Odyssey, namely, spew everywhere.
Everyone is massively entertained by the fight and they all cheer the beggar Odysseus on.
Amphinomos, who we’ve already seen is a not-so-bad suitor, gets some advice from the beggar, who urges the suitor to go home before Odysseus returns and punishes everyone by exacting some revenge.
Amphinomos is convinced, but Athene will not allow him to leave – she wants all the suitors to die.
Moving on to less vindictive activities, Athene puts Penelope to sleep for a few minutes during which she showers her in ambrosia and makes her even lovelier than she already is.
The goddess inspires Penelope to show herself to the suitors and get them all hot and bothered over her. The Queen makes her appearance with the excuse of berating Telemachos for allowing such poor treatment of the beggar.
Indeed, Penelope proceeds to have a model moment in front of all the suitors, who appreciate it wholeheartedly.
Penelope is oblivious to her influence on the men and scolds Telemachos for allowing such abuse (she’s referring to the beggar) in her household.
Telemachos replies that it was not what it seemed.
Eurymachos interrupts and compliments Penelope on her beauty. Though she plays modest at first, Penelope finally ends up flirting a bit with the suitors; she complains that they haven’t courted her correctly, as not one of them has presented her with any gifts.
Unfortunately, not one of the suitors responds with the clearly invited line, "I’ve got a gift for you, come here and I’ll show it to you."
While the suitors comically search each of their troves to find a suitable gift for the Queen, Odysseus watches, highly amused.
When Penelope leaves, her servants carrying the shining gifts she has just received, Odysseus decides to test the loyalty of her maids.
At night, the maids are assigned to keep the torches burning in the hallway so that the suitors – getting drunk in the hall – can see what they’re smacking into before they smack into it.
Beggar Odysseus tells the servants he’ll take care of the torches tonight and sends them up to go care for Penelope.
The women giggle at him. One girl, Melantho, calls him crazy or drunk for sticking around with the drunk and rowdy suitors.
Beggar Odysseus threatens to tell Telemachos about their rude behavior, so the girls scatter in fear.
The suitors, seeing the beggar tending the torches, begin teasing him again. Odysseus answers in kind, boasting that he could defeat any of them in battle.
This infuriates Eurymachos, and he lobs a footstool at the beggar. Very original. It misses, however, and hits a wine steward, spilling all the wine.
Amphinomos restores the peace by turning their attention to the banquet and away from the fighting. They all go back to eating.
And getting drunk.

Book 19

Book 17