Book 13-Trip to a Forgotten Place

I ended my long, painful story. I asked to be on my way, and Alkinoos prepared my ship. They gave me great gifts of gold and other valuable objects, and in return I thanked them for their great hospitality. It was time that I left Phaiakia. As we pushed off towards Ithaka, I soundly fell asleep. I woke up on an unfamiliar island, by myself with the gifts that were given to me. My first thought is that the Phaiakians had betrayed me and dropped me off somewhere different than my real home. I stomped around until I ran into a shepherd. I asked him where I was, and he told me that it really was Ithaka. I lied to him about how I had gotten here and just like that, he had changed into Athena, the daughter of Zeus. She lifted a mist and the real Ithaka I knew was revealed. She told me what was going on with my wife and son. She decided to disguise me as an old man, and with that she left to help my son, Telemakhos.

I'm so happy to be home. When the mist was lifted, "[Odysseus] kissed the earth, and lifting up his hands prayed to the nymphs..." (241). Although I was scared at first that the Phaiakians had betrayed me and secretly dropped me off at the wrong island, I'm now so relieved that I'm here. After everything I've faced, it is the most comforting thing in the world to be home. I'm also happy that I've had Athena watching me and protecting me. If not for her, I might not have made it.

Poseidon was talking to Zeus about Odysseus having too easy of a journey home. Zeus said, "But if some mortal captain, overcome by his own pride of strength, cuts or defies you..." (234). Poseidon doesn't want Odysseus to get away with beating him. Odysseus sent a blow to Poseidon by hurting his Kyklopes son. Poseidon can't let Odysseus get away with this because he is an all mighty and powerful god while Odysseus is just a mortal. The gods are too proud to be defeated by mortals or people less than them.

Book 12-Sea Adventures

My crew left the Ocean Stream and traveled back to Kirke to give a proper burial to Elpenor. Here Kirke directed me on how to get past the obstacles on our way home. The first obstacle we faced was the two Eirenes. I was tied to the mast and listened to their beautiful voices. I wanted to break away and go to their island, but the ropes restrained me. We got past them, and made our way to the Skylla. I tried to prepare for the Skylla, but it took me by surprise and killed six of my men. We quickly pushed forward and escaped. As we moved on, we approached the island of the sun. I didn't want to stop, but my crew out voted me and demanded that we did. I knew I couldn't stop them, but I made them take an oath that they wouldn't touch anything on their island. We rested their for many days, but our supplies soon ran out. While I was asleep, they killed a cattle without me, breaking the oath. I knew we were in trouble, so we left the island. As soon as we were out to sea, lightning struck down our ship. I lost all of my men, and landed on Kylapso's island.

I'm so mad my crew disobeyed my orders. I yelled to Zeus, "...you made me sleep away this day of mischief!" (222). We had gotten past the hard part of this journey, and the only thing we had to be was disciplined. I know that we were running out of food, and we needed rest, but we were so close. I shouldn't have listened to my men and stopped at that island. We should have stayed on course and continued our journey home.

My men were starving. Eurylokhos said to them, "...but famine is the most pitiful, the worst end that a man can come to...Come, we'll cut out the noblest of these cattle..." (221). Even though they had made an oath, a covenant, they couldn't obey it. Hunger had driven them to a point where they would do anything to get some food. When food is right in front of you, it is hard to ignore it and stay strong. A person will do whatever necessary in a difficult situation.

Book 11-Ghostly Interaction

From Kirke's island, we traveled where she told us to go. There, Persephone sent many different ghosts to speak with me. The first one was a man from my own company. Next, my mother appeared in this ghostly form. Both of them gave me advice on how I should continue my journey and arrive home. Many other people who I've never met before arrived, and I talked to them about different things. I stopped my story here, and Arete promised she would send me home. But Alkinoos wanted to know if I met with any ghosts from the war of Troy. I got into my story once again. I spoke of how Agamemnon came to me and also Akhilleus. Herakles also showed up, but I didn't get to see everybody who I wanted to see. I wanted to see Theseus and Peirithoos, but I wasn't so lucky. Persephone then started sending horrifying ghosts, and my crew and I quickly escaped from that creepy place

My meetings with these ghosts were very scary. When I met with Agememnon, he said, "The day of faithful wives is gone forever," (200). This isn't something I want to hear. I have been gone from home for so long, facing terrible monsters and attacks. I get by from day to day thinking about my wife, family, and home. If I return and my wife has left me, I don't know how I'd react. My trip home won't be worth it if my family isn't there fore me.

After I told Arete of the terrible things I've seen, she was more willing to help. She said, "Be in no haste to send him on his way or scant your bounty in his need," (196). She wouldn't be like this if I hadn't told her my story. If she didn't know that I was a respectable man, she wouldn't have wanted to help me as much. Arete feels bad for me because of all the pain I've faced. Once a person knows of the hard things you've felt, they are more willing to help you.

Book 10-Kirke Encounter

After our confrontation with the Kyklopes, we visited a few islands before landing on Aiaia, the island of Kirke. I saw smoke coming from a house on the island, and we decided to split up into two groups. My group would stay behind, and the other would go check out the house. As soon as they left, Eurylokhos ran back, saying she had made my men vanish. I quickly ran alone back up to the house. Before I arrived, Hermes met me and directed me on how to defeat her. I was not tricked by her wine, and I was able to free my men. We then stayed and feasted there for a year. It was time to go home, and I asked Kirke if we were able to leave. She allowed us to leave, but warned us that we would have to endure even more hardships.

I felt terrible that I had to give the news that we would have to go through even harder journeys. After I had told them, "They felt so stricken, upon hearing this, they sat down wailing loud, and tore their hair," (182). My men are so sick of fighting monsters and enduring all of this terrible pain. The truth is so am I. The best thing for us is to go home. I know that these new journeys are unavoidable, I just hope that we can get through them without losing any of my great men.

Kirke gave me the news that I would to have to to on even more journeys. She said, "...but home you may not go unless you take a strange way round and come to the cold homes of Death and pale Persephone," (180). No matter what I want to do, I always have to do something for someone else in order to acheive what I want. It will never be easy. Nobody will ever just allow me to go home. In order for a person to acheive their goal, they have to endure hardship.

Book 9-Kyklopes Island

In my last post, I left you with the question the king had asked me. Who are you? Well, I thought of my answer, and I knew I couldn't lie to him. I came right out with it. My name is Odysseus, I told him. I then talked of my home and my family. After I gave him the background of my life, I decided to tell him stories of the hardships I have faced. The first one was of my encounter with the Kyklopes. I was stuck in his cave on his island, and the only way out was to trick him. He had already eaten a few of my companions. We stabbed him in his only eye, and he was blinded. Now, we hid ourselves among the sheep, and escaped with them out of the cave. During my escape, I teased and told him to always remember that Odysseus tricked him. This wasn't so wise because he prayed to Poseidon that I would never be able to reach home.

Its a terrible thing that the Kyklopes prayed to Poseidon that bad things should happen to me. The Kyklopes prayed, "...grant that Odysseus, raider of cities, never see his home..." (161). Poseidon, the father of the Kyklopes, will likely listen to this prayer. Although many of the great Gods of Olympus help and respect me, Poseidon will still be able to cause me problems. He is very powerful, and at some point throughout my journey, I will have to venture over seas. I hope that he won't cause me too much harm.

My crew had told me not to tease the Kyklopes once we had already escaped. One of my crew warned, "Why bait the beast again? Let him alone!" (159). This was a major mistake I made. I was so frustrated by all of the bad things that had occurred to my crew and I felt that this was a way to get back at the monster. It only caused me worse problems. I should've known that the Kyklopes was going to pray to his father, Poseidon. When people are arrogant, bad things come back to hurt them.

Book 8-Beautiful Songs From The Harper

This morning, an assembly was held in order to pick out my crew for my journey home. We picked out a crew, and they had a feast prepared just for me. I was having a great time, with all of the great food and drink, when they start an athletic competition. I just observed at first, but then I was asked to join. I politely declined, but in response they called me out and said that I wasn't a good athlete. What nerve! I couldn't let this stand, so I entered the competition and defeated them all. Afterwards, they showed their great ability in music, and played beautiful songs. When they started playing a song about the Trojan War, a tear came to my eye. I couldn't help it, just thinking about all my lost soldiers made me feel so sad. The king, seeing the tears, demanded who I was.





I don't want to tell Alkinoos my identity. He said, "...some day one of our cutters homeward bound over the cloudy sea would be wrecked by the god..." (142). I know this prediction was meant towards me. Poseidon and I have had many quarrels, and we are sure to fight again. I can't tell Alkinoos who the truth because I may take back his promise of my return home. I can't afford that to happen. I've spent way too long far away and in terrible situations. I need to get that ride home.

Demodokos sang the song of Hephaistos catching Aphrodite and Ares. He sang, "So trussed they could not move apart, nor rise, at last they knew there would be no escape..." (133). Even the Gods can be tricked. Although they are great powerful beings, sometimes they aren't always the wisest people. The Gods do not seem as great as they used to be because people have seen them tricked and humiliated, like Aphrodite and Ares here. Gods aren't perfect.

Book 7-Much Needed Hospitality

Nausikaa left me right before the entrance to the city, and I sent a quick prayer up the mountain for safe proceedings. As soon as I walked into the city, a dense mist enveloped me. It was as if someone had cast the fog around me on purpose because it seemed to follow me. I ran into this little girl, and I asked for direction to the king's mansion. She quickly took me there and gave me much needed information on how to treat the king himself, which I thought was very peculiar. Arriving at the mansion, I entered and made my way toward the king. As soon as I approached, the fog lifted, and I begged for hospitality and a way to get home. The king, shocked with my appearance, gave me some food. I told him my story, and he respected what I had to say. He promised to help me arrive safely to my homeland. This was the greatest news I had heard for quite some time. And to cap off one of the best days ever, they prepared a bed, and I slept beautifully.

This news of my passage is the greatest thing I've ever heard. Alkinoos told me, "...I can assure you now of passage late tomorrow..." (120). I've been so lucky that I ran into Nausikaa and then the king. I barely know who this man is, but he is still helping me out anyway. The Gods must have taken mercy on me and finally giving me the good fortune that I've needed. Although these great things are happening, I don't want them to stop. I hope all sails smooth on my journey home.

When I first arrived at the house of Alkinoos, he noticed my needs and helped me. Right when I arrived, he "... gave his shining chair to Lord Odysseus," (116). Without even knowing who I was, he allowed me to sit in his highest chair. Friends of the king probably never sat in that chair before, but I, a needy man, was given the right to sit there. He was very empathetic to my needs because he could feel the hardship that I had faced. Great people are willing to help any person in a time of need.

Book 6-A Way Into Poseidon's City

I woke up at the sound of piercing shout. Angered by this disturbance, I lifted myself up and went to check it out. I brushed through the bushes and found a group of girls. At my appearence, all of the girls fled except for one. Her name was Nausikaa. I wasn't sure how to address this one girl, but I decided that I should complement her. She understood my situation and gave me clothes and food while I took a bath. Coming out of the river after my bath, I felt taller and stronger, as if being a God myself. I wolfed down the food and drink, thankful for my hunger to be ceased. Nausikaa then told me the plan to myself into the city and speak with her father. I prayed to Athena for love and mercy among Poseidon's people and at that, we were on our way to the city.

I'm so lucky that I found Nausikaa. I don't know how much longer I would have lasted without any food or drink. I must have recieved some help from the Gods, "... the grey-eyed goddess Athena made her tarry, so that Odysseus might behold her beuty..." (102). Without Athena's help, I would have had to find my own supplies and look for the town on my own. I might have eventually found both of those things, but it would have been much harder on me. The Gods truly saved me.

On the way into the city, Nausikaa had me walk behind the cart and stressed how important it was to please her parents. She said, "...I myself should hold it shame for any girl to flout her own dear parents, taking up with a man, before her marriage," (107) and "...If [Mother] looks on you kindly, you shall see your friends..." (108). The continuance of my journey depends on whether her parents like me. Nausikaa's parents control her life, and she needs their permission to do anthing on her own. Parents were commanding figures.

Book 5-Release From Captivity

Finally, I was able to leave. I was sitting on my stone seat as I normally did when the nymph who I disliked so much, said that she would help me go. I questioned this act of kindness and thought it was some type of trickery. The next few days I created my raft out of the wood on the island. On the fifth day before I left, she gave me a bath and supplied a cloak, meat, and wine for my journey. And with that, I was on my way out to sea. As soon as I was off the coast of the island, a terrible storm had begun. A wave knocked me overboard, and I was swallowed up by the sea. When I felt all of my hope leave me, a nereid appeared, and she told me to swim to the shore because Poseidon wouldn't drown me. I thought that it was going to be a trick at first, but I decided it was the right thing to do. I drifted through the sea for two days straight, and on the third day I saw land. I found an entrance to a small cave, and slowly made my way onto the island. I collapsed from my battle with the sea and felt grateful to be alive.

I'm lucky to be alive. On my third day at sea I see land, "...breaking clear over a high and windless sea... he caught a glimpse of land" (92). I was put through a vicious storm, almost drowning many times. Why would the Gods put me through so much difficulty, when I end up at my final goal anyway? The Gods are testing me to see if I truly am a hero. The Gods want to see if I won't give up, and am willing to fight through the difficulty to arrive at my goal.

Are some Gods jealous of mortals? When Hermes is talking to Kalypso about Odyseus' release, she says, " Oh you vile gods, in jealousy supernal! You hate it when we choose to lie with men..." (85). When a God chooses a mortal to love instead of another God, does that make the mortal greater than the immortal? Gods don't want to be shown up by mortals, even if they are a hero. When a God chooses a mortal over a fellow immortal, it weakens the image of that God. Although Gods are powerful beings, they are still jealous of regular mortals.

Book 4-Stories From Meneláos

Viewers, I think I'll soon be able to start my blogs, but for now here is Telémakhos.
Odysseus

Link:
http://alonewithtelemakhos.blogspot.com/2008/02/book-4.html

Book 3-Meeting with Nestor

Once again, Telémakhos has your updated story.
Odysseus

Link:
http://alonewithtelemakhos.blogspot.com/2008/02/book-3-truth-of-war-and-god.html

Book 2-Standing Up For Yourself

Hey everyone. Still stuck out here. Telémakhos still has you covered.
Odysseus

Link:
http://alonewithtelemakhos.blogspot.com/2008/02/book-2-standing-up-for-yourself.html

Book 1-Help From a Stranger

Hey viewers, Odysseus here. I'm currently lost in the world, and I don't have anything to blog about. This week we'll have a guest blogger, Telémakhos. The link at the bottom of the page will get you to his blog. I'm not sure what's in store because I can't read it myself, must be internet problems.
Check it out,
Odysseus

Link:
http://alonewithtelemakhos.blogspot.com/2008/02/book-1-goddess-intervenes.html