Haggard Jr Odyssey

Lotus-Eaters (Part 1 Summary)

Nov 18, 1200

Odysseus and his men land on the island of the Lotus-Eaters. The Lotus-Eaters all feed on a flower on their island. Some of his men eat the Lotus flower, and it makes them forget about home. Odysseus drags the men back to the boat and ties them to their position in order to leave the island.

Lotus-Eaters (Part 2 Analysis)

Nov 18, 1200

Why were Odysseus's men so willing to eat the flowers, not knowing what it would do to them? Do they want to forget about the battles that they are in, or do they actually want to forget about home? Odysseus didn't really lose any soldiers on the island, but he cannot trust them the same as he could before. What will Odysseus do to the men who ate the flowers?

Cyclops (Part 1 Summary)

Nov 18, 1200

After the Lotus island, Odysseus and his men are on the Cyclops island. The men eat goats and drink wine to relax. Then they meet Maron who does not let his slaves drink his wine. A Cyclops only has one eye, and he killed two of Odysseus's men by beating them to death. Then the Cyclops eats Odysseus's men. Odysseus tricks the Cyclops and stabs him in the eye before leaving the island.

Cyclops (Part 2 Analysis)

Nov 18, 1200

Why do Odysseus's men keep letting their guard down by drinking? Odysseus lost a few men here, and I wonder if the ones that are with him still respect him. They do not seem to be learning much from island to island. I believe this will help Odysseus gain more respect from his men, but it also may make them question why they keep stopping at these dangerous islands.

Trojan War (Part 1 Summary)

Nov 18, 1200

It's about Odysseus and his man raid, rob and kill Cicones. Odysseus did this because the Cicones are allies with the Trojans. In return the Cicones killed 72 of Odysseus man. After that Odysseus was delayed for two days by a storm.

Trojan War (Part 2 Analysis)

Nov 18, 1200

I think it wasn't a good idea because losing 72 men is not an good idea. He could've used them to get knowledge on the Trojans and had an advantage. He doesn't know what the Trojans are planning and now that they know the Cicones killed 72 of there men this could be an advantage for them. Odysseus could've used the Cicones as a bait instead of having them as enemy's.

Aeolus- Bag of Wind (Part 1 Summary)

Nov 19, 1200

Odysseus is given a bag of wind by Aeolus that will help the men sail home. The wind is working, but the men open the bag because they think that it is treasure. The men are brought back to the island by the winds, and this time they will not be given another one.

Aeolus- Bag of Wind (Part 2 Analysis)

Nov 19, 1200

Odysseus's men were so close to home, and they have nobody to blame but themselves for being sent back. From Aeolus, the learned that they need to follow directions closely and trust their leader. Odysseus and his men have lost another opportunity to return to their families.

Circe (Part 1 Summary)

Nov 25, 1200

The next conflict takes place when Odysseus and his men run into Circe. Circe is a beautiful woman with magical powers. She turns Odysseus's men into pigs, but Odysseus is able to resist her. She eventually turns Odysseus's men back into men, but Odysseus becomes distracted by her wealth and beauty and stays on the with her for an entire year.

Circe (Part 2 Analysis)

Nov 25, 1200

Odysseus resists some, but not all of Circe's magic. Because of this, Odysseus gains comfort, but loses another year away from home. If Penelope ever finds out about the year that Odysseus spends with Circe, it may cause him to lose his wife also. She has been home resisting the advances of many men, so it is not fair what Odysseus did to her on this part of his journey.

Sirens (Part 1 Summary)

Dec 1, 1200

Odysseus plugged his men's ears with beeswax so that they would not be attracted to the Sirens. Odysseus does not plug his own ears, and has his men tie him up. Even though he begged and begged, Odysseus's men would not untie him so that they did not go off route.

Sirens (Part 2 Analysis)

Dec 1, 1200

Odysseus gains respect for his men after seeing how well they followed his orders not to untie him. For once, they don't seem to have lost anything. By successfully passing the Sirens, Odysseus and his crew gained confidence in their mission to return home.

Scylla & Charybdis (Part 1 Summary)

Dec 2, 1200

Scylla is a six-headed monster. When ships past threw her she swallows one person for each head. Charybdis is an huge whirlpool. When ships past by she threatens to swallow the whole ship.

Scylla & Charybdis (Part 2 Analysis)

Dec 2, 1200

Odysseus and his crew lost six men, but they kept their ship. They were able to get past the Sirens, but not Scyila & Charybdis. Odysseus sacrificed the six men it seems, which will probably lose some of respect from his other men. Odysseus must be getting close to home.

Helios' Cattle (Part 1 Summary)

Dec 3, 1200

A storm keeps Odysseus and his crew in the boat until they run out of food. The crew disobeys Odysseus, and eats the cattle on the nearby island. Because of this, Zeus creates a storm that destroys Odysseus's ship and kills his entire crew. Odysseus is the only survivor.

Helios' Cattle (Part 2 Analysis)

Dec 3, 1200

Odysseus loses all of his men and his ship in this section. He doesn't gain much, but is very determined to make it home at this point. It is too bad that Odysseus's last memory of his men will be them disobeying him. I can see why Zeus was so angry with them for eating his cows.

Suitors/Home (Part 2 Analysis)

Dec 4, 1200

I understand why Penelope did not believe that her husband real at first, because it has been over twenty years. Odysseus gained his wife back, and Penelope got her husband. I understand why Odysseus is mad with the suitors, but I do not agree with his decision to kill them. As long as it has been, I can see why other men want to try to persuade Penelope to marry them.

Suitors/Home (Part 1 Summary)

Dec 4, 1200

When Odysseus get's home, Penelope does not greet him right away. She is afraid that she is being tricked by the gods, and Odysseus isn't really there. Odysseus reminds her that the bed cannot be moved because it was made around an oak tree. Penelope accepts Odysseus, and Odysseus kills all of the suitors.