What is happening in Ithaca while Odysseus is away?

While Odysseus is away from Ithaca, several of the lords and chiefs are heading over to where Odysseus has built his home because they believe that their King is dead. The begin to try and get Penelope to marry them and anger Telemachus who believes that his father is still alive. Athena eventually comes and tells Telemachus that his father is in fact still alive and then tells him what he must do to get the suitors to leave.