The Odyssey Books 17-19 with Dr. Frank Grabowski

Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick and Dr. Frank Grabowski dive into Books 17–19 of Homer’s Odyssey, where the disguised king returns to Ithaca as a beggar. Check out our WRITTEN Q&A GUIDE TO THE ODYSSEY. Check out Dr. Grabowski's new Substack: The Porch and the Altar. The conversation explores iconic moments like Odysseus’s heartbreaking reunion with his loyal dog Argos, the tense first dialogue with Penelope that raises fascinating questions about what she truly knows or suspects, and the escalating violations of xenia by the suitors. Listeners will appreciate the rich analysis of loyalty as the ultimate standard, Odysseus’s hard-won maturation in temperance and piety, and striking contrasts between faithful servants like Eumaeus and disloyal figures like Melanthius. Homer emerges here as both poet and philosopher, using these scenes to probe justice, the nature of heroism, the city at peace, and the interplay of fate and human choice. With Athena guiding events and the tension building toward the suitors’ doom, Deacon and Dr. Grabowski illuminate how Odysseus’ trials have prepared him not just for revenge, but for restoring order. Whether you’re new to the epic or a longtime reader, this episode offers fresh insights that make the ancient story feel urgently relevant. Don’t miss it—subscribe and join the community as the Odyssey study continues toward its dramatic climax! **Chapters** 00:00 Introduction to the Odyssey Study 04:30 The Role of Penelope and Theoclymenus 07:14 Contrasting Characters: Eumaeus and Melanthius 10:28 Odysseus' Growth and Maturation 13:11 The Loyalty of Argos 16:26 The Test of Guest Friendship 19:10 The Fate of the Suitors 22:22 The Beggar Fight and Its Implications 24:43 Odysseus' Reflection on His Journey 27:21 The Irony of Antinous 30:45 Penelope's Anticipation and the Build-Up to Reunion 33:28 Odysseus' Moral Self-Awareness 36:37 Conclusion and Themes of Justice 42:10 The Philosopher Beggar and the Blindness of the Suitors 44:49 The Nature of Law and Lawlessness 47:33 Penelope's Cleverness and the Suitors' Downfall 52:09 Telemachus' Growth and the Stability of Society 57:19 The Reunion of Odysseus and Penelope 01:01:40 The Test of Loyalty and the Nature of Guest Friendship 01:06:23 The Subtlety of Odysseus and Penelope's Intuition 01:12:19 The Significance of Names and Identity 01:19:33 The Tension of Recognition and the Test of the Suitors **Keywords:** Odyssey Books 17-19, Homer Odyssey summary, Odysseus as beggar, reunion with Argos, Penelope and Odysseus dialogue, what Penelope knows, xenia guest friendship, loyalty in the Odyssey, Argos the dog, Melanthius goat herder, Eumaeus swineherd, Theoclymenus prophecy, suitors fate, Odysseus maturation, temperance and piety, Homer philosopher, city at peace, Athena disguise, beggar fight Book 18, bow of Odysseus, scar of Odysseus, Great Books Podcast, Ascend podcast Odyssey, Frank Grabowski Homer, classical education Odyssey, Western literature analysis.