The Odyssey - Literature

The Odyssey

·         STORY

The story occurred after the end of the Trojan War, when Odysseus couldn’t return home yet in Ithaca, Greece. 

While Penelope, his wife, was courted by a large and unwanted mob of suitors. Helped by Mentor, the loyal Odysseus friend, Penelope reared Odysseus child, prince Telemachus, who desperately wanted to throw them out. One of the suitors, Antonious, planed to assassinate him, eliminating the only opposition to their dominion over the place.

Map Ithaca and Troy.Image from here.


But no one knew that Odysseus was still alive in Ogygia Island, with the beautiful nymph Calypso who was possessed by love and has imprisoned him. While the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus debated Odysseus’s future, Athena, resolved to help Telemachus. She disguised as a friend of his father, Laertes, and convinced the prince to visit the kings Nestor and Menelaus, Odysseus’s companions during the war, who informed him that his father was alive and trapped on Calypso’s Island.

Meanwhile, the god of gods, Zeus, decided to send Hermes, who persuaded Calypso to let Odysseus build a ship and leave.

Unfortunately, Poseidon whipped up some storms and Odysseus washed ashore in the land of Phaeacians since the hero blinded his son. Nausicaa, the Phaeacian princess, showed him to the royal palace, and when he identified himself as Odysseus, everybody was stunned. They promised to give him safe passage to Ithaca, but first they begged to hear the story of his adventures.

The hero spent all the night describing the events: the Land of the Lotus Eaters, his battle with Polyphemus the Cyclops, his lover Circe, his temptation by the deadly Sirens, his journey into Hades and his fight with the sea monster Scylla.

Cyclop. Image from here.                                                                                                                            Poseidon. Image from here.

They all were so moved by his suffering that returned him back to Ithaca.

Odysseus followed Athena advice and unloaded to Ithaca disguised as a beggar and swineherd Eumaeus told him about the suitors then the hero met with his son and revealed his true identity. They two devised a plan to massacre the suitors and regain control of Ithaca.    

Next day, at the palace, still disguised as a beggar, the only who recognized him was his old nurse, Eurycleia, and his dog, but she sworn to not disclose his secret.

Then Penelope decided to organize an archery contest the following day and promised to marry any man who could string Odysseus’s great bow. All the suitors failed but Odysseus fired an arrow through all twelve axes and then together with Telemachus, killed every last suitor.

Finally Odysseus told his identity to Penelope and stayed all night telling her the long story about his adventures.

Next morning Odysseus’s parents starteed looking for vengeance for killing all the young noblemen of Ithaca but Athena, sent by Zeus, restored peace once again.

Penelope. Image form here.

·         PERSONAL OPINION

I saw the movie like about 3 years ago and I thinks it's quite interesting. Mythology is something I find very cool since there're a lot of stories about surreal things that might me possible? It's like a fantastic and amazing world I get involved. 

Particulary I find The Odyssey a great story! I love The Trojan War so Odyssey may be a "sequel" of the main one. With new characters, gods and goddess and a lot of awesome adventures :D An unexplored world. What can be more interesting than that? 

·         WEBGRAPHY

Historia Simple. (2009-2016). http://www.historiasimple.com/2009/04/resumen-de-la-odisea.html

Spark Notes (2016). http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/odyssey/summary.html

Shmoop University (2016). http://www.shmoop.com/odyssey/summary.html