Rhapsody I:

The gods have decided to help Odysseus out of his prison, Athene wants to help him and sends his son (born of Penelope), Telemachus, in search for him.

Telemachus has become a man and he has understood that his mother's suitors are draining him of all his father's riches by having banquets in his Ithaca palace every night, eating the heads of his cattle one after the other and drinking his wine.

Athene, changing shapes and bodies, convinces him to sail accross the sea to learn more about the whereabouts of Odysseus, if he is still alive.

Rhapsody II:

The day after, Telemachus gathers the men of his city and explains to them that he cannot stand Penelope's suitors anymore, and that they need to change their habits. They answer that they will keep draining him of his riches as long as his mother will refuse a new husband.

As for Penelope, she told them she would choose one when she would be done knitting her tapestry. It is a trick not to marry anybody, for at night, she goes undercover and unknits what she has done during the day, thus compelling the suitors to wait longer. That's why her suitors behave so ill-manneredly with her son.

Telemachus announces them his decision to go and fetch for his father, or at least to make sure about his being dead or alive. Whereupon he threatens to kill  the suitors on his return.

With the help of Athene, a ship is made ready for him, he orders for supplies. The ship leaves at night and sails towards... Pylos.

Rhapsody III:

When in Pylos, Telemachus meets Nestor, a legendary horses tamer who fought by Odysseus's side. His people are preparing a hecatomb, sacrificing many robust bulls, in honour of Poseidon, for him to answer their prayers.

Nestor invites his hosts to share his meal and accepts to tell Telemachus about his father, the battles they fought together against Troy, and the adventures he lived sailing across the sea.

Unfortunately, he is not of great help, but he advises Telemachus to pay a visit to Menelaos, for he might be able to tell him more. On the following day, Nestor offers food and rich clothes to his host and lends him powerful horses and a chariot to drive to Menelaos's dwellings, which he will reach in two days.

Rhapsody IV:

When they get to Menelaos's, the latter is celbrating his children's weddings and having a banquet. He invites them and accepts to tell them about his own adventures, and particularly about the episod when he and his crew were kept prisoners on the island of the Old Man of the Sea. With the help of the latter's daughter, he managed to trick him by taking the shape of a seal.  The Old Man gave him advice about how to leave the island and told him predictions about his friends and himself.

Thus, Telemachus learns that his father has been the prisoner of a nymph named Kalypso, who is desperately in love with Odysseus and will not let him go back to his homeland.

In the meantime, Penelope and her suitors discover that Telemachus has gone to achieve what he had promised them to. The malicious suitors decide to set up an ambush for the ambitious Telemachus.

On learning that intrigue, Penelope grows inconsolable until she falls asleep and dreams. Athene comes to her and let her know that Telemachus will come back safe and will have the opportunity to avenge himself against his enemies.

Rhapsody V:

In the land where the gods dwell, Zeus sends Hermes to order Kalypso to release Odysseus and to tell him how to manage his long journey across the sea on a mere wooden raft. She has no choice but to yield to Zeus's will: she shows Odysseus how to build a raft and prepares the supplies he will need.

After a few days of hard work, Odysseus is finally ready to sail away. Before he goes, he listens carefully to Kalypso's advice.

For 18 days, he sails on a clement sea. But then, irascible Poseidon turns the end of his journey into terrible ordeals, which he manages to pass through for the only sake of the gods. Tired and injured, he finally lands on a beach where he finds shelter to fall asleep and rest.

Rhapsody VI:

On the following morning, Athene wakes Nausikaa up with a dream that will persuade her to go to the river to wash the clothes of her family.

After a day of washing and bathing, her and her maids start playing. Their happy screams wake naked Odysseus up and he decides to ask for help. Nausikaa accepts to help him and lets him bathe and get dressed. Then he follows them to the gate of the city and learns that he is in the Phaiacian land. Nausikaa gives him advice on how to get help from her family, and drives ahead of him, not to be seen with him.

Odysseus sends a prayer to Pallas Athene for her to help him on this land.

Rhapsody VII: