Introducing
Your new presentation assistant.
Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.
Trending searches
The Hero's Journey- The Odyssey
The Odyssey: Odysseus' Journey
By: Cassie Davis
Period 5
Leaving Ithaca
Leaving Ithaca
Summary
Odysseus leaves Ithaca to go participate in the Trojan War in Troy. He participates in the war for 10 years, ultimately helping the Greeks take over the city of Troy and become victorious. He then begins his 10 year journey back home to Ithaca.
Summary
Summary
Lotus Eaters
Odysseus and his men escape from Calypso, Circe, and the Cicones and find themselves stranded out at sea for nine days. They find an island and decide to stop there to rest. His men are entranced by the taste of the Lotus and don't want to leave. Odysseus has to drag his men back to the ship to continue traveling.
Character Analysis
Character Analysis
In this scene of the story, Odysseus displays great self-control among his crew. "...but those who ate this honeyed plant, the Lotus...longed to stay forever" (Homer 44-46). This quote explains how when his men ate the Lotus, they didn't desire to reach their home anymore, and would rather stay at the island. Odysseus states that, "I drove them, all three wailing, to the ships, tied them down under their rowing benches..." (58-59), which further explains how he was the only one of his men who didn't eat the Lotus and kept his path towards getting home.
Summary
Land of the Cyclopes
After sailing, Odysseus and his crew arrive to the island of the Cyclopes. Odysseus takes a few of his strongest men ashore and raids the cave of one of the Cyclopes. Polyphemus, son of Poseidon and the inhabitant of the cave, returns and traps Odysseus and his men. He then eats two of the men and saves the rest as meals for later. The next day as Polyphemus is tending to his sheep, Odysseus finds a wooden stick and carves it to create a stake. Odysseus and the Cyclops speak and Odysseus tells the Cyclops his name is "Nohbdy", as part of his plan. As Polyphemus is sleeping, the men stab him in the eye, and he begins to shout "Nohbdy" has hurt him, so no one suspects anything is wrong. Odysseus then leaves the island and continues to venture towards home.
Character Analysis
Odysseus shows his cleverness in this part of the story. Odysseus says to Polyphemus in line 274, "My name is Nohbdy..." Odysseus later stabs Polyphemus in the eye to carry out the rest of his plan. Polyphemus' neighbors ask, "Why do you cry so sore in the starry night? No man has tricked you, ruined you?" (312-315) to which Polyphemus replies, "Nohbdy, Nohbdy's tricked me, Nohbdy's ruined me!" His neighbors think nothing is wrong and return to their homes. Odysseus escapes using Polyphemus' sheep, (another clever plan he had) and successfully evades the Cyclops.
Summary
Aeaea
Odysseus and his crew end up at the island of Aeaea, the home of the witch, Circe. The men find her sewing and no longer perceive her as a threat. She then prepares a meal for them, but tricks them and turns all of Odysseus' men except Eurylochus into pigs. Eurylochus reports what had happened back to Odysseus and Odysseus convinces Circe to turn his men back to their normal state. Everyone, however, stays with Circe for a year until Odysseus begs her to let them leave. Circe tells them, though, they must travel to the land of the dead to hear a prophecy from Tiresias.
Character Analysis
Odysseus displays immense courage in this part of the story. Eurylochus suggests that the rest of the crew should quickly leave the island once Circe turns the men into pigs, but Odysseus goes to save his men instead. The text states, "Against this advice, however, Odysseus rushes to save his men from the enchantress" (Fitzgerald 387). Odysseus is also the one to negotiate with the witch to convince her to let him and his friends leave the island. Odysseus' courage and determination help free him and his crew from the witch, Circe.
Summary
The Land of the Dead
Odysseus and his men reach The Land of the Dead. Only Odysseus exits the ship and begins to find Tiresias. He is first greeted by one of his dead crew members, Elpenor. He requests that Odysseus builds him a proper burial place and that he doesn't forget him as he continues on his journey back to Ithaca. Odysseus then sees his mother and grieves her death, as when he left Ithaca she was still alive. She tells him that his son, Telemachus, and his wife, Penelope, are still awaiting his reutrn back in Ithaca. Odysseus finally sees Tiresias, and he relays the events that will happen to Odysseus and his men throughout the rest of his journey. Tiresias tells him that they must not eat Helios' cattle from the island of Thrinacia and that Odysseus will be the only one who survives the entire trip. Odysseus then returns to his ship, and sails away from the land, filled with fear.
Character Analysis
This is the first in the story where we see Odysseus display any kind of emotion that isn't typical of an ideal "heroic" character. "From every side they came and sought the pit with rustling cries; and I grew sick with fear" (15-16). This quote shows how Odysseus wasn't his usual courageous self, and showed fear when entering the land of dead. He also says, "Seeing this ghost I grieved, but held her off, through pang on pang of tears" (63-64). This quote displays Odysseus' sadness and grief when he sees his mother's ghost, not knowing she had passed away while he was on his journeys.
Summary
Scylla and Charybdis
Odysseus and his men are told by Circe that the way to get home to Ithaca is through the evil six headed monster, Syclla, and the whirpool, Charydbis. When they approched Syclla's cave, they continued to row on, even after Syclla took and killed Odysseus' six best men. The men also surpassed Charydbis' violent spews of ocean water and threatening mouth. They continue on to Thrinacia, where Odysseus warns them not to consume the cattle. They ignore him and eat Helios' cattle, which angers the sun god. He orders Zeus to avenge his cattle and Zeus sends down thunder that sinks Odysseus' ship and kills everyone except him. Odysseus eventually sails off to Ogygia, where Calypso keeps him for seven years.
Character Analysis
This is the most difficult part of Odysseus' journey, and he loses everything that he has. In the beginning of this part Odysseus shows optimism towards going to fight Scylla and Charybdis when he says, "More fearsome, is it now, than when the Cyclops penned us in his cave? What power he had!" (145-146), though he knows the inevitable fate of his crew members. By the time Helios has killed Odysseus' crew and destroyed his ship, he has nothing. The text even states that at this point, "Odysseus ends the telling of his tale to King Alcinous" (398).
Summary
Return to Ithaca
After a twenty year long journey, Odysseus finally comes back home to Ithaca. He's disguised as a beggar so as not to let anyone know, especially his wife's suitors, that he has returned. Odysseus sees his dog, Argos, who after twenty years is old, frail, and mistreated by everyone. Odysseus cries at the appearance of his dog, but Argos is happy enough to see his master after so long, and dies. Odysseus then continues on to his own home, and is mocked by Penelope's suitors.
Summary
Summary Continued
Penelope has finally lost hope of Odysseus ever returning home, and decides to hold a competition for her hand in marriage. The suitors must successfully string Odysseus' bow and shoot it through twelve iron axe heads. After several of the suitors fail, Odysseus asks if he can try. He successfully strings and shoots the bow. He reveals his identity and he and Telemachus arm themselves and prepare to fight.
Summary
Summary Continued
Odysseus and Telemachus finally are able to seek revenge on the suitors for disrespecting his home and wife. Odysseus begins by shooting Antinous in the throat, which is also when the suitors realize they have no weapons and begin to scatter. Eurymachus attempts to rally the men to fight back, which only angered Odysseus more and costed Eurymachus his life. Odysseus, Telemachus, Eumaeus, and Philoetius continue to kill off the suitors until none are left. Having avenged his name, Odysseus then prepares to meet Penelope.
Summary
Summary Continued
Odysseus cleans up and prepares to meet Penelope. Initially, Penelope doesn't believe it's actually him, but once she does, she orders that the maid make him his bed. At this, Odysseus rages at Penelope and asks who removed the bed that he carved out of the trunk of an olive tree. She cries and begs for his forgiveness, and he begins crying too, realizing how much he missed his wife and his home. They talk about everything that has occurred over the last twenty years and rejoice. Odysseus visits his father in the country to inform him of his return, and Athena calms down the people of Ithaca over the slaughter of all the young suitors.
Character Analysis
When Odysseus comes home, he experiences several different emotions and change in his character. The first scene we see when Odysseus returns is when he sees his dog, Argos. The text states, "And the man looked away wiping a salt tear from his cheek" (18-19). This quote is telling us that Odysseus was sad to see how rugged his dog has become and gives us a true idea of how long Odysseus has been away from home. Odysseus also displays self-control when dealing with the suitors, and manages to keep his cover, something he didn't do when he was dealing with the Cyclops earlier in the book. Odysseus also shows us his vengeful side that would be expected of a typical heroine. In lines 34-40, Odysseus says, "You yellow dogs, you thought I'd never make it home from the land of Troy...Your last hour has come. You die in blood." This is the speech Odysseus makes to the suitors explaining how he's going to kill all of them for disgracing his family, him, and his home. He then proceeds to kill everyone who had wronged him while he was away at sea. Afterward, he shows us for the first time in the story affection towards his wife. "..he wept at last, his dear, clear and faithful, in his arms.." (81-84). Throughout the entire story, Odysseus experienced several obstacles that changed him significantly throughout the story, and made him the man he was at the end of the book.