The Odyssey
Odyssey is great Greek poem that was written by Homer. The poem mainly talks of a Greek hero called Odysseus. The Odyssey talks of the fall of the city of Troy. It revolves around on of a Greek warrior, a hero called Odysseus. It elaborates of is journey home after the Greek won at the Trojans War. Odyssey has been away from Ithaca for more than 20 years with half of that duration spent fighting the Trojan War. There are more than 100 suitors who approach Penelope, Odysseus wife. They all visited the royal place seeking for marriage. Telemachus who is the son of Odysseus is around 21 years old wonders what to do with the suitors and look forward to the return of Odysseus. The goddess Athena advises the young prince to gather all the leaders in the island and tell them of the invasion by the suitors.
He visits King Menelaus of Sparta who was an old friend of his father and inquires about Odysseus. Some two suitors are not happy of Penelope and accuse her of delaying for too long in finding a suitable husband among the suitors. The suitors are impatient with Penelope. Telemachus goes to Pylos in search of his father but the suitors have plans to assassinate him. He fails to get the father at Pylos but proceeds to Sparta where he gets information from king Menelaus, informs him that Odysseus is alive and is held captive by goddess Calypso.
After being urged by the gods to free Odysseus from Calypso, the goddess that had spent seven years with Odysseus releases him. Odysseus is shipwrecked at Phaeacia by the sea god, Poseidon who was revenging for Odysseus having blinded his son Cyclops. He narrates his adventures to the Phaeacians. After the Trojan War, the Greeks raid the Central city but are later affected by a storm caused by god Athena. The storm takes them to the land of Lotus- eaters. They eat a lotus plant and their memory is rubbed away. Odysseus meets Cyclops who is a one-eyed giant and ends up blinding the giant in order to escape. Aeolus calms the storm for Odysseus.
His bag was opened while he was asleep by people who expected that it had treasures. At Greece, Odysseus befriends Circe. Odysseus continues with his journey and survives an attack by a monster who was six headed. With assistance from Athena, Odysseus returns to his home pretending to be a beggar. Panelope decides to wed any suitor who can shoot an arrow like Odysseus a feat that could only be achieved by Odysseus himself. Odysseus kills the suitors and they reunite with Panelope. Odysseus makes peace with the rest of the suitors and stays home at last.
Odysseus was confident and possessed sharp intellect and wit that enable to survive throughout his tiresome journey. His intelligent was evident especially during his speeches. He was able to think first especially when he was escaping from Cyclops. He loved glory and that prompted him to reveal his name to Cyclops. He demonstrated patience to the suitors until he was able to strike them. Odysseus was very proud of himself and at times he could be taken to be arrogant. While sailing he shouted that nobody could defeat him a factor which made him more proud and fearless.
