Odysseus finds Eumaeus outside his hut. Although Eumaeus doesn’t recognize him he invites him inside. There Odysseus has a hearty meal of pork and listens as Eumaeus praise upon the memory of his former master, whom he fears is lost for good, and scorn upon the behavior of his new masters, the vile suitors. Odysseus predicts that Eumaeus will see his master again quite soon, but Eumaeus will hear none of it. Still, Eumaeus takes a liking to his guest. He puts him up for the night and even lets him borrow a cloak to keep out the cold. When Eumaeus asks Odysseus about his origins Odysseus lies that he is from Crete. He fought with Odysseus at Troy and made it home safely. He was settled to poverty and on a trip to Egypt he heard about Odysseus and how he was still alive.

My reflection on this is that Eumaeus has no faith that Odysseus is alive even though he has heard from many people and he still does not believe it. Odysseus try's to tell him that he is still alive but he still does not believe. I do not know why he is in disguise maybe he does not want people to know until he claims his home again. Also Eumaeus is so kind to him he does not even know who he is and he takes him in and feeds to him and everything. He shows great hospitality. This has to make Odysseus feel really good. He gives him a blanket for the night so he does not get cold. Eumaeus is showing to be a great man and a kind man. He has a good heart and a good soul.

The Odyessy

Odysseus returns to Aeaea where he buries Elpenor and spends one last night with Circe. She describes the obstacles that he will face on his voyage home and tells him how to negotiate them. As he sets sail, Odysseus passes Circe’s counsel on to his men. They approach the island of the Sirens and Odysseus, as instructed by Circe, plugs his men’s ears with beeswax and has them tie him to the ship. He alone hears their song flowing forth from the island, promising to reveal the future. The Sirens’ song is so seductive that Odysseus begs to be released but his faithful men only tie him tighter. Once they have passed the Sirens’ island, Odysseus and his men must navigate the straits between Scylla. Scylla is a six-headed monster who, when ships pass, swallows one sailor for each head. Charybdis is an enormous whirlpool that threatens to swallow the entire ship. As instructed by Circe Odysseus holds his course. As he and his men stare at Charybdis on the other side of the strait the heads of Scylla swoop down and gobble up six of the sailors.

I remember freshman year when we read this we debated whether Odysseus had god like characteristics and we talked about all of the obstacles he went through and if that made him god like. Then I thought he was like a god but the more im reading now I think he isn't. The only reason he is accomplishing these tasks and reaching home is because the gods are helping him and he is getting lots of help. He is told where to go, what to do, and how to do it. Pretty much he is just listening to the gods and goddesses. That is just what I think I don't know if im correct on that but from what I understand that is what I think.

The odyssey

Odysseus travels to the River of Ocean in the land of the Cimmerians. He pours something and performs sacrifices as Circe earlier instructs him to do to attract the souls of the dead. The first to appear is Elpenor, the crewman who broke his neck falling from Circe’s roof. He begs Odysseus to return to Circe’s island and give his body a proper burial. Odysseus then speaks with the Theban prophet Tiresias, who reveals that Poseidon is punishing the Achaeans for blinding his son Polyphemus. He tells Odysseus his fate and that he will return home, reclaim his wife and palace from the wretched suitors, and then make another trip to a distant land to appease Poseidon. He warns Odysseus not to touch the flocks of the Sun when he reaches the land of Thrinacia; otherwise, he won’t return home without suffering much more hardship and losing all of his crew. When Tiresias departs, Odysseus calls other spirits toward him. He speaks with his mother, Anticleia, who updates him on the affairs of Ithaca and relates how she died of grief waiting for his return. He then meets the spirits of various famous men and heroes and hears the stories of their lives and deaths.


My reflection on this is that since Odysseus knows his fate now he can relax a little bit. He knows he makes it home safe and reclaims everything if he sticks to the path. He just has to follow the directions and listen to the Gods. Also i would feel a little on edge because he finds out he has another task after reclaiming what is his. I would not want to do that because after everything that has happened I would probably be afraid of losing it all all over again. I dont know what I would do in these circumstances. It would be a tough decison on my part wether to keep going after I reached home.

the odyssey

Odysseus tells the Phaeacians his story. From Troy, the winds sweep him and his men to Ismarus, city of the Cicones. The men plunder the land and, carried away by greed, stay until the reinforced ranks of the Cicones turn on them and attack. Odysseus and his crew finally escape, having lost six men per ship. A storm sent by Zeus sweeps them along for nine days before bringing them to the land of the Lotus-eaters, where the natives give some of Odysseus’s men the fruit of the lotus. As soon as they eat this fruit, they lose all thoughts of home and long for nothing more than to stay there eating more fruit. Only by dragging his men back to the ship and locking them up can Odysseus get them off the island. Odysseus and his men then sail through the y night to the land of the Cyclopes, a rough and uncivilized race of one-eyed giant. After making a meal of wild goats captured on an island offshore, they cross to the mainland. There they immediately come upon a cave full of sheep and crates of milk and cheese. The men advise Odysseus to snatch some of the food and hurry off, but, to his and his crew’s detriment, he decides to linger. The cyclops is the son of Poseidon. Polyphemus makes a show of hospitality at first, but he soon turns hostile. He devours two of Odysseus’s men on the spot and imprisons Odysseus and the rest in his cave for future meals.

My response to this is that while he is telling this story he is probably going through the emotions he felt in all of these encounters. Dragging his men back to the ship? That would of made me very angry tired and frustrated. All I would want to do is go home and this speed bump would frustrate me greatly. Then with the cyclops that had to be very scary. I would not know what to do but he is brave and can take care of the situation. He is not afraid and if he was it didn't show in him very well. These two encounters show home much Odysseus wants to make it home and reach home.

The next day Alcinous calls an assembly of the Phaeacian counselors. Athena back from Athens ensures attendance by spreading word that the topic of discussion will be the godlike visitor who recently appeared on the island. At the assembly Alcinous proposes providing a ship for his visitor so that the man can return to his homeland. The measure is approved and Alcinous invites the counselors to his palace for a feast and celebration of games in honor of his guest. Theres a blind bard named Demodocus sings of the quarrel between Odysseus and Achilles at Troy. Everyone listens with pleasure except Odysseus, who weeps at the painful memories that the story recalls. The king notices Odysseus’s grief and ends the feast so that the games can begin.

To me Odysseus is weeking because the memories are to hard for him to recall. He is being torn up through thinking of it. More and more he does the more and more he hurts. I can relate to this because if something happens to me and it makes me mad or sad I try not to think of it much because if I do I get more and more mad or more and more sad. The king notices this so he tells them to end it and begin the games. The king is looking to be a good man and good king to me throughout of what ive read. He is helping Odysseus out greatly and seems to be really kind and nice towards him

the odyssey

Later that evening when the king and queen are alone with Odysseus Arete recognizes the clothes that he is wearing as ones that she herself had made for her daughter Nausicaa. She interrogates Odysseus alot. While still withholding his name, Odysseus responds by recounting the story of his journey from Calypso’s island and his encounter with Nausicaa that morning, which involved her giving him a set of clothes to wear. Odysseus claims that it was his idea to come alone. Alcinous is so impressed with his visitor that he offers Odysseus his daughter’s hand in marriage. He respectfully declines and says he has a child and wife of his own.

To me when Odysseus declines marriage it is showing his drive or love for his wife. He respects her so much that he hasnt given up on their love. He could of easily had altercations with Nausicaa or even married this girl but he doesnt want to. Even though he was used on Calpysos island he still hasnt given up on his love. This impresses me greatly. Also how he can make up a story to tell Arete and make it sound as if it is true. He is just doing this to pertect himself and the gods.

The odsessy

On his way to the palace of Alcinous who is the king of the Phaeacians Odysseus is stopped by a young girl who is Athena in disguise. She offers to guide him to the king’s house. She keeps him in a mist so that the people dont harass him. She also advises him to direct his plea for help to Arete who is the wise and strong queen who will know how to get him home. Once Athena has delivered Odysseus to the palace she leaves to athens. Odysseus finds the palace. As soon as he sees the queen, he throws himself at her feet, and the mist about him dissapears. At first, the king wonders if this wayward traveler might be a god, but without revealing his identity, Odysseus puts the king’s suspicions to rest by declaring that he is indeed a mortal. He then explains his predicament, and the king and queen gladly promise to see him off the next day in a Phaeacian ship.

This shows that he is on his way home. Athena is a great help to him and he is giving him the directions and is doing everything she can to help him go home. The book has changed from telamachus to now Odysseus. It is changing to how he is going to get back home. This whole book is on how he is trying to get home and all the things that are going to happen on their way there. The king and queen see where Odysseus is comming from and they want to help. They think he may be a god in disguise but he really isnt. Athena may have made him look like one a little but he is immortal.