What happens in Book XIV of The Odyssey?
Ulysses leaves the haven and makes his way through the forested land to the mountainside hut of Eumaeus, his swineherd. He finds Eumaeus sitting outside next to yards that hold twelve sties, each with fifty breeding sows, three hundred and sixty boars, and four fierce hounds. When the dogs attack Ulysses, Eumaeus drives them away and welcomes him inside, offering food and drink. Eumaeus mourns the loss of his master, who went to fight at Troy, and curses Helen for causing so many deaths.
Eumaeus prepares a meal of roasted pork and wine for Ulysses, explaining that the suitors take the best pigs while wasting Ulysses' vast estate. When asked about his master, Eumaeus describes Ulysses' wealth and shares his sorrow, saying he will never find another master as good. Ulysses swears that his master will return within the month, but Eumaeus is doubtful, having been misled by travelers in the past. He mentions his concern for Telemachus, who has gone to Pylos and might be ambushed by suitors on his way back.
Next, Ulysses weaves a false tale, claiming to be a Cretan who fought in Troy, raided Egypt, was enslaved, traveled to Phoenicia and Libya, survived a shipwreck sent by Jove, and landed in Thesprotia where King Pheidon told him about Ulysses. He says that Thesprotian sailors stripped him and brought him to Ithaca, where he managed to escape. Eumaeus remains skeptical but shows hospitality out of respect for Jove.
That evening, Eumaeus sacrifices a five-year-old boar for dinner. After the meal, Ulysses shares a story about feeling cold during an ambush at Troy, hinting that he needs a cloak. Eumaeus provides him with goatskins, sheepskins, and a heavy cloak for the night, while he himself sleeps outside with the pigs.
Analysis
Book XIV shifts the focus from palace intrigue to the warm hospitality of the swineherd, highlighting his loyalty in stark contrast to the corruption found in Ulysses' home. The chapter unfolds through a series of parallel discoveries: Eumaeus unknowingly welcomes his master while Ulysses tests his servant's loyalty through disguise and deception.
The narrative remains in third-person but closely follows Ulysses' viewpoint, capturing his joy at Eumaeus' welcome alongside his quiet contemplation of revenge. Homer organizes the chapter around three meals—preparing breakfast, enjoying the afternoon feast, and performing the evening sacrifice—each marking a moment in the deepening bond between host and guest. The vivid depiction of the swineherd's self-constructed yards and diligent farming portrays him as an exemplary servant, working "without saying anything to Penelope or Laertes."
The chapter explores the theme of genuine versus fabricated storytelling. Eumaeus cautions against travelers who come "with their mouths full of lies," yet Ulysses quickly weaves an intricate tale of Cretan adventures filled with shipwrecks and enslavement. This fictional autobiography reflects Ulysses' real experiences while probing whether Eumaeus holds his master in higher regard than any potential gains. The swineherd's insistence—"I know all about the return of my master"—ironically underscores his loyalty.
The language shifts between ritualistic descriptions (the sacrifice outlined in a detailed sequence) and emotional honesty ("I cannot speak of him without reverence"). The chapter concludes with a subtle test of hospitality as Ulysses hints for a cloak through a woven story, which Eumaeus successfully navigates by offering warm bedding while keeping his own watch over the pigs.
Key quotes from Book XIV
“all strangers and beggars are from Jove.”
Eumaeus explains to the disguised Ulysses why he must offer hospitality even to poor travelers.
“I cannot speak of him without reverence though he is here no longer, for he was very fond of me, and took such care of me that wherever he may be I shall always honour his memory.”
Eumaeus describes his feelings about his lost master Ulysses, not knowing he speaks to him.
“I hate a man, even as I hate hell fire, who lets his poverty tempt him into lying.”
Ulysses, while spinning a false story himself, swears an oath about his master's return.
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Create an accountSign inVocabulary in Book XIV
- conscience-stricken
- Feeling deep guilt or remorse for wrongdoing; troubled by one's own sense of right and wrong. Afflicted by an awareness of having done something morally wrong.