Book 3
This book (like several others, and some scenes within books) starts with a sunrise. Usually it's described as having rosy fingertips or something like that. Telemachus goes to visit Nestor, who tells him about the war and returning and has a big feast for him (contrasting the greedy suitors who take advantage of Telemachus and Penelope.) We get the first (I think) appearance of a repeating line "Spare me no part for kindness' sake," as Telemachus asks for news. I think the contrast with the feast is the main point of this chapter, which is relatively short. Beyond that it's just Nestor sending Telemachus to Menelaus.
Book 4
This book has an even stronger contrast with the suitors:
You were no idiot before, Eteoneus,
But here you are talking like a child of ten.
Could we have made it home again-- and Zeus
give us no more hard roving!-- if other men
had never fed us, given us lodging?
You tell 'em, Menelaus. He tells Telemachus more about the war and journey, and Menelaus tells him that his hand and feet are like his father's. As someone with huge feet that he got from his dad, I can relate.
Helen talks about how Odysseus snuck into Troy, and that she recognized him, but didn't give him away. At one point, Menelaus tells about meeting some nereids who use sealskins as (very smelly) disguises. Kind of like a selkie. Always interesting to see parallels in mythology like that. He fought Proteus, who revealed that Odysseus is still alive! We find out he's been trapped with Kalypso for some time, partially explaining the ten years he's been missing.
Back on Ithaca, the suitors find out what Telemachus is doing, and make plans to trap and kill him.
If the first two books set up Telemachus and his quest, these two fill us in on the Trojan war background, and show how terrible the suitors are. Next week: Odysseus finally shows up!
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