Alkinoos calls an assembly (gathered ultimately by Athene) to send off Odysseus. Feasting, followed by singing by the blind poet Demodokos, who tells the story of the sack of Ilion. Odysseus weeps uncontrollably, but hides it (except from Alkinoos). Call for contests, so that Odysseus may return home with stories of the strength and skill of the Phaiakians. Footrace, wrestling, long jump, discus, boxing. Alkinoos's son Laodamas invites Odysseus to try his hand, but he declines. Euryalos mocks him for it, claiming he likely has no skill at contests. Angered, Odysseus explains to the young man that talents are all distributed unequally. Then takes the heaviest discus, and wins. Athene brags on him. Odysseus brags on himself for his abilities in all contests-- wrestling to archery.
More entertainment, as Demodokos tells a story of the gods. "Hephaistos, married to Aphrodite, learns of her affair with Ares. Hephaistos sets a trap whereby the two are ensnared when they next go to bed together. The gods gather and laugh mercilessly at their predicament. But Apollo: 'Nudge, nudge. Ain't so bad, being tied down in bed with Aphrodite, eh?' Hermes: 'You got that right.' Hephaistos seeks and gets repayment for Aphrodite's betrayal." Odysseus impressed with the story.
Looking for some other skill Odysseus might tell of upon his return, Alkinoos's two sons Laodamas and Halios dance. It involves throwing a ball back and forth as well. Odysseus impressed.
More feasting. Euryalos apologizes. Gift giving from all the lords and from Arete. Farewell from Nausikaa. More storytelling from Demodokos. Odysseus requests story of the Trojan Horse, and Demodokos obliges. Once again Odysseus is driven to tears, and once again Alkinoos takes note. Finally, Alkinoos says Odysseus may go with the good wishes of all the Phaiakians. But first asks him his name, and his adventures at sea before arriving on their island. And how come he is so affected by stories from Ilion?
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Quite a bit of self-flattery by Homer in this book, I think. Demodokos is clearly modelled on himself, down to the blindness. And of course he regales the audience with the story of the Iliad. Whether this points to a unitary author between these works, I have no idea.
I was surprised to see that Odysseus hasn't actually revealed who he is to the Phaiakians as of yet. But thinking back, I guess the royal family has so far been impressed just with his stature and god-like visage. And they have merely shown the hospitality that one must show for a stranger lost at sea, at least one who has displayed the manners and good sense that Odysseus has so far.
Once again, this sets up a far more interesting structure for the overall narrative. Odysseus now has the chance to explain his adventures prior to landing on Kalypso's island. The back-and-forth jumps through time have been really well done. (Duh, it's Homer.)
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