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1200 BCE
Trojan War Summary Part 2
Odysseus was one of the greeks who sailed to troy in order to help Menelaus achieve his goal. In battle, Odysseus was “the master strategist” and thought of a plan to trick the trojans into thinking that the Greeks had forfeited without notifying them. He did this by ordering his fellow greek soldiers to build a giant wooden horse and leave it at the gates of Troy at night. This trick was successful as inside the wooden horse were many greek soldiers who jumped out of it and started to attack! -
1200 BCE
Trojan War Summary Part 1
In 1200 B.C the Trojan War was sparked due to the kidnapping of the most beautiful women in the world at the time who happened to be the wife of Menelaus the king of Sparta. Upon the kidnapping Menelaus took action and recruited kings and soldiers from all over Greece to help him avenge his honor and recover his wife. Odysseus was one of the greeks who sailed to troy in order to help Menelaus achieve his goal. (See next part for the rest of the paragraph) -
1200 BCE
Trojan War Analysis
Odysseus and his great intelligence were a big part of the reason why the Greeks were able to effectively accomplish their goal and ultimately win the trojan war. What we learn from this is that Odysseus is a very good strategist and leader to get multiple soldiers to build a giant wooden horse in order to trick the Trojans. If Odysseus had not come up with a plan to trick and defeat the trojan soldiers it may have been a struggle for the rest of the greek soldiers in winning the war. -
1200 BCE
Lotus Eaters Analysis
During Odysseus's encounter with the lotus-eaters, he learned that sometimes things that are really good can be dangerous. Odysseus also learned that he needs to continue being responsible for his men in order to continue his voyage home. The main lesson he learned is that he must protect his men from things that may have the potential of harming them. If Odysseus was not watchful of his men they could have easily forgotten the thought of going home making it hard for Odysseus to continue. -
1200 BCE
Cyclopes Summary
Upon Odysseus' encounter with the cyclopes, he described them as giant and lazy without a law to bless them. Odysseus did not like the cyclopes as he says they have no muster and no meeting along with no tribal ways. Odysseus also does not like the cyclopes as the cyclopes do not show any respect to any of the gods and does not care about them in general. In order for Odysseus to escape the cyclopes he and his men ram it in the eye to blind it so it won't see them escaping. -
1200 BCE
Cyclopes Analysis
When Odysseus first encounters the cyclopes he really does not like them because of how they have no tribal ways. What also makes Odysseus, not like the cyclopes is how they show no respect to the gods and don't care about the gods in general. Odysseus wants to kill the Cyclopes but doesn’t as if he does he will be stuck in the cave that they are in forever. Considering how much Odysseus does not like the cyclopes him deciding not to kill it shows that in this location he learned self-control. -
1200 BCE
Lotus Eaters Summary
The Lotus Eaters are a certain group of people who Odysseus and his men encountered on their voyage that offered them the lotus plant to eat. Odysseus knew that if they ate the plant they would end up not wanting to leave where their current location and they would be stuck. Odysseus knowing this was the case decided to drag his sailors back to the ship and tie them to their oars. If Odysseus had not had the knowledge of the lotus plant that he had, he and his men may have never returned home. -
1200 BCE
Circe Analysis
When Odysseus and his men arrive at Circe's hall Odysseus sends his men to go scope out Circe's hall and while they are observing they are turned into pigs by Circe. After Circe turns Odysseus' men into pigs, she offers Odysseus to sit and talk. Odysseus refuses and confronts Circe saying that his men are more important to him than having a talk with Circe. This shows that Odysseus is highly loyal to his men and will go to extreme measures to protect them. -
1200 BCE
Aeolus - Bag of Wind Summary
In the book 10 Odessy the bag of wind is a parting gift that was given to Odysseus by Aeolus. While voyaging back to Ithaca one of Odysseus' men opens the bag resulting in all of the bad winds being released. The bad winds lead them back to Aeolus’ island where Aeolus refuses to help them once again. This time when Odysseus leaves Aeolus island the bad winds lead them to Circe's island which is unfortunate as circe is known to be a witch. -
1200 BCE
Aeolus - Bag of Wind Analysis
In this part of the story when Odysseus gets the bag of wind he may have learned that he needs to be watchful of his men. Because Odysseus was not watchful of his men he lost his chance to return home quickly and Is turned back to Aeolus. Aeolus refuses to help Odysseus and his men once again meaning that Aeolus may no longer see Odysseus as the person he previously saw him as. Now Odysseus and his men are being led to the home of Circe because of the evil winds let out by the bag of wind. -
1200 BCE
Circe Summary
In book 10 Odysseus and his men are being led by evil winds to Aeaea the home of Circe. Circe is an evil witch with magic powers who turns Odysseus' men into pigs. Odysseus is going to get his men back and while in the process he is almost drugged by Circe when Hermes in the form of a young man tells him to take a herb to protect himself. Odysseus forces Circe to give his men back by overpowering her with his sword. -
1200 BCE
Sirens Summary
In book 12 sirens are an entity who lure men coasting by with their beautiful singing voices. Odysseus is warned by Circe of these sirens and their deadly abilities. Odysseus warns his men about the sirens but is sure that they can survive the sirens if he keeps his crew's spirit up. Odysseus and his men are prepared to take on the sirens as they approach the siren's island. -
1200 BCE
Sirens Analysis
When Odysseus sets sail he and his men encounter the sirens on their island. Odysseus had already warned his men about the sirens and as a result, they were ready for combat. Odysseus is tied up so that he will not be lured in by sirens but when he was ready to be untied his men couldn’t hear him because of the sirens. Later the sirens threw themselves into the water resulting in their death and because they died Odysseus was finally untied. -
1200 BCE
Scylla and the Charybdis Summary
Scylla of book 12 is described by Circe as huge and monstrous with 12 legs that are tentacles. According to Circe Scylla lives in a den where she makes noises described as “a newborn whelps cry”. Another sea monster is called a Charybdis which according to Circe comes up from the water and then makes its attack. Scylla seems to be one of the strongest entities in the book as Circe says that “no ship’s company can claim to have passed her without loss and grief”. -
1200 BCE
Scylla and the Charybdis Analysis
Scylla is describing to Odysseus the description of Scylla and the Charybdis to give him an idea of what he will be going up against. Scylla is a powerful monster with serpent heads and tentacles. The Charybdis is a sea monster that makes its attack from under the water. Even though Circe gives a very unpleasant idea of both of the creatures Odysseus still has combat on his mind and asks Circe how can he fight off the creatures. -
1200 BCE
Hellios' Cattle Summary
Helios' Cattle in book 12 are the cattle of the god of the sun Helios. Circe talks to Odysseus about how he will find Helios' Cattle and not to steal it as Helios will take revenge. When Odysseus and his men encounter Helios' Cattle driven by their hunger even though Odysseus told his men not to they still end up eating the cattle. The eating of Helios' Cattle makes Helios mad and because of this, he threatens to stop the sun from shining. -
1200 BCE
Helios' Cattle Analysis
Helios' Cattle are the cattle of the sun god Helios. Circe warns Odysseus and his crew not to steal or negatively affect the cattle. However, Odysseus' men end up letting their hunger take them overtake them and they decided to eat Helios' Cattle. As a result of this situation, Odysseus may have learned to more watchful of his men. -
1200 BCE
Suiters/Home Summary
When Odysseus arrives back at Ithaca he goes to see his two servants. He reveals to his servants that he has returned in which they both react shockingly and in a delightful manner. He reveals his plan to slaughter some of the suitors to his servants In which he tells all of the women to go inside while he is doing this gruesome act. Later after this, he reunites with his wife and he explains to her with evidence that he is not an imposter and is her real husband. -
1200 BCE
Suiters/Home Analysis
Odysseus is finally back home and arrives in Ithaca where suitors are trying to compete in a challenge to take Odysseus' wife's hand in marriage. Odysseus talks to his most trusted servants about a plan that he has to kill the suitors. Odysseus goes along with this plan and slaughters Antinous the leader of of the suitors. Odysseus later reunites with his wife and his wife does not believe it is him. Odysseus then reveals the secrete only he and his wife knew verifying he is not an impostor.
