The Odyssey

The Odyssey was full of wonder, power, and surprises. It is packed with epic heroes, creatures, gods, and goddesses. The gods, goddesses, and creatures had supernatural powers that effected the lives of Odysseus, his crew, and his family. Their actions proved to be powerful, beneficial, and deadly. The gods, goddesses , and creatures in The Odyssey on many occations proved to be powerful. Zeus, leader of the gods, was a prime example of this. When, "Zeus the lord of cloud roused in the north/ a storm against the ships, and driving veils/ of squall" , many of Odysseus men died. Another account when Zeus was very powerful was, "Zeus Cronion piled a thunderhead above the ship....then the squall struck whining from the west, with gale force, breaking both forestays" destroying the ship. When Odysseus tells the Cyclops "Poseidon Lord, who sets the earth a-tremble,/ broke it up on the rocks.....a wind from seaward" it showshow Poseidon was very powerful. Also how Aeolus gives Odysseus a bag of winds that his men unleash that throw them off course. Although the gods and goddesses were powerful they were also beneficial . Zeus was beneficial in the way that he helped Odysseus, "Then Zeus thundered/ overhead, one loud crack for a sign.", this sign told Odysseus to start attacking the suitors. The way Circe helps Odysseus in warning him of dangers to come, "Circe foresaw for us and shared with me,/ so let me tell her forcast: then we die/ with out eyes open."She warned of the Sirens, Charybdis, Scylla, and the island of the sun god. Also Athene help Odysseus fight the suitors and win. She also disguises Odysseus to hide him from the suitors and Penelope. In The Odyssey the gods, goddesses, and creatures proved to be deadly. The six-headed monster, Scylla, killed six of Odysseus' men, "whisking six of my best men from the ship.....She ate them as they shrieked... Nothing can be more life changing than when a God or Goddess chooses to interact with a mortal man. Much of Greek mythology describes the natures of these interactions. In The movie Odyssey, Gods and Goddesses play a major role during Odysseus journey home. He had some gods on his side and others against him. Some were even on his side at one time, but did something to hurt him another time. No matter where he went a God or Goddess was always watching over him. For good or for evil, while Odysseus was on his voyage, Athena, Poseidon, and Zeus all played major roles in his journey home to Ithaca. It begins when fighting in the Trojan War against the Trojans for 10 years; Odysseus has begun seeking his wife, Penelopeia. In The Odyssey, Zeus, Athena, and Poseidon impact Odysseus homecoming. To begin with, in The Odyssey, Zeus impacts Odysseus homecoming. In Book five, Zeus impacts Odysseus journey by sending Herms to persuade Calypso, the nymph who held Odysseus prisoner for seven years inher cave, to set Odysseus free. When Zeus informs Herms of his assignment, Herms you are my messenger and here is an errand for you. Go and declare to Calypso our unchangeable will, that Odysseus shall return after all his troubles he is explicit on his instructions (Homer 62). Zeus is all-powerful and whatever he says is done. When he sends word through Hermes to Calypso to release Odysseus, she departs with very little hesitation. Herms continues, ...put[ing] on his fine shoes, those golden incorruptible shoes which used to carry him over moist and dry to the ends of the earth, swift as the breath of the winds. He took up the staff which lays a spell on mens eyes if he wills, or wakens the sleeping (Homer 63). He meets Calypso in her cave, with her beautiful hair flowing over her shoulders and a great fire blazed on the hearth, and the burning logs of cedar and juniper wafted their fragrant scent far over the island where they recognized each other right...

The Odyssey Essay

Nothing can be more life changing than when a God or Goddess chooses to interact with a mortal man. Much of Greek mythology describes the natures of these interactions. In The Odyssey, Gods and Goddesses play a major role during Odysseus journey home. He had some gods on his side and others against him. Some were even on his side at one time, but did something to hurt him another time. No matter where he went a God or Goddess was always watching over him. For good or for evil, while Odysseus was on his voyage, Athena, Poseidon, and Zeus all played major roles in his journey home to Ithaca. It begins when fighting in the Trojan War against the Trojans for 10 years; Odysseus has begun seeking his wife, Penelopeia. In The Odyssey, Zeus, Athena, and Poseidon impact Odysseus homecoming. To begin with, in The Odyssey, Zeus impacts Odysseus homecoming. In Book five, Zeus impacts Odysseus journey by sending Herms to persuade Calypso, the nymph who held Odysseus prisoner for seven years inher cave, to set Odysseus free. When Zeus informs Herms of his assignment, Herms you are my messenger and here is an errand for you. Go and declare to Calypso our unchangeable will, that Odysseus shall return after all his troubles he is explicit on his instructions (Homer 62). Zeus is all-powerful and whatever he says is done. When he sends word through Hermes to Calypso to release Odysseus, she departs with very little hesitation. Herms continues, ...put[ing] on his fine shoes, those golden incorruptible shoes which used to carry him over moist and dry to the ends of the earth, swift as the breath of the winds. He took up the staff which lays a spell on mens eyes if he wills, or wakens the sleeping (Homer 63). He meets Calypso in her cave, with her beautiful hair flowing over her shoulders and a great fire blazed on the hearth, and the burning logs of cedar and juniper wafted their fragrant scent far over the island where they recognized each other right... "The Journey of life," this phrase is often applied to the functions of our daily lives, and our ambitions toward our short, intermediate, and long term goals. Life is habitually affiliated with journey, due to the fact that you never know what is going to happen next, and you need to find a way to reach

your destination or goal. However, the journey of life does not require a visible transportation device to reach the destination, such as a car, motorcycle, bicyclemotivation, change, guidance and a series of tests is all that's needed. In other words, When conceptualizing the call to adventure, I concluded that it pertains to the journey of life, through several rationales. When starting off the journey of life, it always begins with a call to adventure. The call to adventure is the point in one's life where everything undergoes a revolution, regardless of the individual knowing. In other words, it is the event that makes us aware of a lack or gap that exists in our lives. A basis for the call to adventure to have similar grounds to that of the journey of life is that, it starts off the journey to someone's life. In the movie, The Odyssey, you could find several examples of this hero's quest stage, - "But you, I urge you, think how to drive these suitors from your halls. Come Now, Listen Closely. Take my words to heart. At day break tell the suitors to scatter, each to his own place sail in quest of news of your long lost father,". These are the words of the goddess Athena, inspiring prince Telemachus, to find his father and drive away the suitors from his home, or meet his doom. This made Telemachus to become motivated to start a journey in search for information regarding his father. Additionally, the call to adventure sets the stage for your future and how you're going to be like in the future. The Odyssey contains a quote saying -"No one has taken over your loyal rights, not yet. Telemachus still holds your great estates in peace, he...

Odyssey battles internal and external conflict to take part in the Trojan War. It is at a time when his son Telemachus, is only a month old. Ten years after the war, Odysseus retraces his steps back home. By that time, Telemachus is twenty and living with his mother Penelope in Ithaca. His mother has to deal with 108 suitors, who are boisterous and adamant that she should agree to marriage. Athena, Odysseuss guardian, decides with the King of Gods according to Greek mythology, Zeus, to take the form of Mentes, a Taphian chief and speak to Telemachus. She urges the boy to look for his father. Telemachus and Athena witness Phemius the bard entertaining the rowdy suitors with "Return from Troy". Even as Penelope objects, urged by Athena, Telemachus orders Phemius to read on. Athena finds Telemachus a ship and crew and helps him to depart for the mainland. Welcomed by the Nestor family, Telemachus then embarks on a land journey alongside Sparta, Nestor's son. He chances upon Helen and Menelaus bear witness of a meeting with sea-god Proteus. They inform Telemachus that his father has been captured by Calypso, a nymph. Odysseus, meanwhile, spends seven years in captivity. He is released only to incur the wrath of Poseidon, the sea god who was not present on Mount Olympus when Athena and Zeus interacted. Escaping the wreckage, Odysseus swims ashore exhausted and falls asleep. He then seeks the hospitality of Arete and Alcinous. Odysseus struggles through a situation where his identity is always in doubt. A raid on his twelve ships by storms, lotus eaters and blinded with a wooden stake, leaves the hero a broken man. A boon from Aeolus, the wind god helped Odysseus harness all the winds. However, with destiny playing truant, Odysseus does not retain the only 'safe' wind that could blow him homeward. His escapades with the pantheon of Greek gods and goddesses, a treacherous sailor, Laestrygones the cannibal, Circe, the witch goddess and the spirit of Tiresias, leave Odysseus spent and longing for home. Odysseus' lucky meeting with the Phaeacians, buys him a homebound journey. Disguised as a beggar, Odysseus learns about his family. He meets Penelope with the intention of testing her love for him. Eurycleia, the housekeeper, discovers Odysseus identity and all is well when he strings his own bow as part of the suitor competition set by Penelope.

Book 14: The Loyal Swineherd Odysseus arrives at Eumaeus home. Eumaeus sees him disguised as a beggar and lets him inside. They have a meal, and then Eumaeus asks Odysseus who he is. Odysseus makes up a very long story about his life. That night Eumaeus gives Odysseus a nice, warm cloak to sleep under, and Odysseus falls asleep.

Books 15-16: The King and Prince of Ithaca* Meanwhile, Telemachus has a dream in which Athena tells him that it is time to go home. He wakes up Pisistratus and they tell Menelaus. They travel back to Pylos and Pisistratus returns to his palace. Telemachus then goes to his ship and sails home. Athena, still disguised as Mentor, advises Telemachus to go home a different way so that he doesnt run into the suitors. When

Telemachus reaches Ithaca, he goes to Eumaeus home. He tells Eumaeus to go to the palace and tell Penelope that he is home. Once Eumaeus leaves, Athena changes Odysseus back into himself, and he tells Telemachus that hes back. They hug for a long time. Then Odysseus tells Telemachus the plan to kill the suitors. Later that day, Athena turns Odysseus back into a beggar and Eumaeus returns home.

Books 17-18: Odysseus Disguised* Telemachus goes back to the palace to see his mother. Then Odysseus and Eumaeus go to the palace. Odysseus begs for food from the suitors so that he can see if any of them are actually innocent. Although most of them give him a piece of bread, thinking that he might be a god in disguise, Antinous, the leader of the suitors, throws a stool at him. Odysseus doesnt react, but instead he thinks of how he can give Antinous a horrible death. Soon Penelope hears that the stranger in her house was hit by a stool, and she arranges to talk to him later that night. After this, another beggar named Irus enters the palace. He insults Odysseus and makes him very angry. Odysseus then knocks him out with one punch. The suitors were all amazed by this and let Odysseus feast with them. Later, Odysseus insults Eurymachus, another suitor, who also throws a stool at him. Again, Odysseus plots in his mind how he is going to kill Eurymachus. Finally, the suitors go back to their houses for the night.

Books 19-21: Preparations and Portents* Odysseus and Telemachus, once the suitors have gone for the night, hide the suitors weapons that are stored in the palace. Then Odysseus talks to Penelope. Penelope says that she is finally ready to choose another husband. She decides that she will put twelve axes in a row, and the first person who can string Odysseus bow and shoot an arrow through all of the axes will be her husband. The next day, the suitors see many signs of their destruction, but they ignore everything. Odysseus prays to Zeus for a sign that he will kill the suitors, and Zeus thunders at that moment. After a while, Penelope sets up the axe test with grief and sorrow. She takes out Odysseus' bow, which was a prized gift from one of his friends that passed away some time ago. The suitors try to string the bow but none of them can even come close to succeeding. While the suitors are trying to string the bow, Odysseus secretly goes out of the palace and talks to two of his loyal friends, Eumaeus and Philoetius (the cowherd). He reveals his true identity to them. Then they go back into the palace and Odysseus asks for a try at the axe test. Telemachus orders Penelope to leave the room. Then Odysseus strings the bow effortlessly. He shoots an

arrow straight through the axes. The suitors are amazed and confused. Then Odysseus and Telemachus get out their weapons and are ready to fight.

Book 22: Slaughter in the Hall Odysseus immediately runs far away from the suitors and showers arrows on them, while Eumaeus and Philoetius lock all the doors and help him fight. The three of them, along with Telemachus, kill many of the suitors, including Antinous and Eurymachus. Once Odysseus is out of arrows, he kills the rest of the suitors with swords and spears. Once all the suitors are dead, Odysseus makes all the maids who had been disloyal while he was gone clean up the mess. They are then hanged. Lastly, Odysseus reunites with his faithful servants and hugs and kisses all of them.

Books 23-24: The End* Penelope comes down from her room when a maid tells her that Odysseus has returned and killed the suitors. Penelope doesnt believe her, and, when she sees Odysseus, she doesnt recognize him. However, after talking for a little bit, Odysseus mentions that their bedpost was made out of an olive tree. Only Odysseus and Penelope knew this secret, so Penelope immediately knows that this really is Odysseus. They hug for a very long time and they spend the entire night together, talking about what they have been doing over the last twenty years. The next morning, Odysseus goes to see his father, Laertes. Laertes is overjoyed to see his son after twenty years. Soon, however, the friends and family of the suitors come to Laertes farm. They attempt to get revenge on Odysseus, but are unsuccessful. Odysseus kills a few of them, and then the gods intervene and stop the battle. Soon Athena restores peace to Ithaca, and everyone lives happily ever after.

Book 1: Athena Inspires the Prince Athena convinces Zeus to let her help Odysseus, who has been stuck on the goddess Calypsos island for eight years, get back home to Ithaca. First, though, Athena wants to inspire Odysseus son, Telemachus, to go on a journey to get news of his father. She travels to his palace disguised as an old friend of Odysseus (Mentes). Telemachus tells her about his mothers suitors, who are living in the palace and eating all of the food. After a long talk with Athena, Telemachus is inspired to call an assembly the next day and then set out on his journey.

Book 2: Telemachus Sets Sail

Telemachus calls for a town assembly. He tells everyone that the suitors are ruining his life. However, the suitors deny this and say that it is actually Penelopes fault (Telemachus mother) because she refuses to marry anyone. That night, Athena, disguised as another friend of Odysseus (Mentor), gets everything ready for Telemachus journey. Then Telemachus, Athena, and twenty other men set sail for King Nestor's palace.

Book 3: King Nestor Remembers Telemachus reaches Pylos, the place where King Nestor lives. King Nestor was a good friend of Odysseus who fought with Odysseus in the Trojan War. Telemachus and Athena meet Nestor and ask him if he has heard anything about Odysseus. Although he goes through a long speech, he does not say anything about Odysseus. He tells Telemachus to go to Sparta and see King Menelaus. Telemachus travels to Sparta with Pisistratus, Nestors son, whom he met at Nestors palace.

Book 4: The King and Queen of Sparta Telemachus and Pisistratus reach King Menelaus palace. Menelaus also fought in the Trojan war with Odysseus. Telemachus asks him if he knows anything about Odysseus. He says that he heard from a god that Odysseus was stuck on Calypsos island. Meanwhile, back at Odysseus palace, the suitors hear about Telemachus setting out on a voyage. They form a barricade of ships and hope to ambush and kill him when he comes back to Ithaca.