When Homer gets a notice from the library that he has a book of classic tales that's years overdue, he finds it on the shelf and begins reading aloud.
The first tale chronicles Homer as Odysseus and the battle of Troy. Ned is the King of Troy and Homer brings the Trojan Horse into the castle and slaughters the lot of them. But on his return home, he angers the gods and they send him off course where he encounters the sirens (Selma and Patty) as well as a trip through Hades and an encounter with a Cyclops. He finally makes it home to his wife Penelope (Marge).
The second tale follows Lisa as Joan of Arc as she attempts to lead the French over the English in the Hundred Years War. Although laughed at first, Joan (Lisa) valiantly leads the French army to victory after victory. But when she's caught by the English - she's brought to trial and burned at the stake for witchcraft.
The final tale follows the story of Hamlet (Bart). Hamlet's uncle Claudius (Moe) kills his father (Homer) and marries his mother (Marge). When Hamlet has a play put on to make Claudius feel guilty, Claudius realizes that Hamlet knows what he did and tries to kill him as well. When Hamlet tries to kill Claudius, he kills Polonius (Chief Wiggam) accidentally and causes Laertes (Ralph) to avenge his father's death against Hamlet.