Important Events In The Odyssey

The Odyssey is an epic poem about the greek gods, goddesses, and monsters but is there an absence of an epic hero in this poem? Odysseus -the reigning king of Ithaca- was taking part in the Trojan War for 10 long years. After the Trojan War, he was thrown of his course by the gods and goddesses. These gods were upset by how Odysseus had overthrown and held hostages during the war. He was then traveling another 10 years to return to his home, Ithaca. On and on he raced to go home while overcoming the constant challenges thrown his way on his journey. Three major events that were extremely significant throughout the poem were when Odysseus and his men landed on an island and were imprisoned on the Cyclops, when he journeyed through the sea and
fought against the monsters and when he challenged the suitors to a duel to win back his home and wife. Sailing by the land dangerous land of the Lotus Eaters, the warriors came across an island that different and unusual. As Odysseus got closer to the island with his men, he ventured onto the island with his “... twelve best fighters and went ahead” (Homer 565). Some men went to investigate a strange cave then were imprisoned by Polyphemus, Poseiden’s son. The warriors then planned to offer him a powerful liquor and once Polyphemus drank the liquor, the warriors then took a stake and blind him. Polyphemus was under-the-influence and passed out so the men could draw the stake “... from the coals and my four fellows gave me a hand… sprinted, lifted it, and rammed it deep in his crater eye” (Homer 570). Once Polyphemus was awaken with a sharp pain in his only eye, Odysseus and his accomplices were able to escape by hiding under the sheep to get out of the cave. Safely returning back to the harboring ship with most of his men returning back. About to escape on his boat, Odysseus reveals himself to the Cyclops so he was punished even more by the gods and goddesses for harming a god’s offspring. Homebound, Odysseus was warned about the rigorous monsters that lurk in the sea. Together, Scylla and Charybdis are surprises to the men on the ship; “ More fearsome, is it now, than when the Cyclops penned us in his cave? What power he had! Did I not keep my nerve, and use my wits to find a way out for us” (Homer 583). Words of encouragement, like so, were used to help the warriors to calm them into entering the battle with courage and trust in one another. But once Scylla and Charybdis came into view, the men do not stay true to the power that they once believed they had. Battling Scylla, “... making her strike, whisking six of my best men from the ship” (Homer 585). More men died to the point that Odysseus will be all alone by the end of his journey. Referring back to the beginning of the Epic, there are zero survivors that boarded the ship with him. Continuing to travel back to Ithaca, Odysseus’ then loses his ship later on, which brings us back to the introduction of the Odyssey. Lastly, once he returns to Ithaca after a 20 year absence, Athena disguised Odysseus as a beggar to walk amongst the streets.
Roaming through Ithaca, he finds his son and tells him that “ Athena, counseling me, will give me word, and I shall signal to you, nodding: at the point round up all armor, lances, gear of war left in our hall… when the suitors miss those arms and question you” (Homer 599). Telemachus and Odysseus reunite and stage a plan to overthrow the suitors living in the palace. Between one other, the plan was bound to work. Penelope still has no idea that Odysseus has returned and interrogates the beggar asking “ Friend, let me ask you first of all: who are you, where do you come from, of what nation of and parents were you born” Odysseus then responds to Penelope that “... he (Odysseus) is alive and well, and headed homeward now” (Homer 605-606). Later, once Odysseus finally returns home, he challenges the suitors to a challenge for the palace and his wife. One of the challenges was to string his bow and shoot an arrow through twelve axes handle sockets which only Odysseus is capable of performing. Once the suitors did not hold true to the challenge, Odysseus, with the help of others, killed all of the suitors, not sparing
anyone. Fighting in a 10 year-long war and battling to return home, it had took Odysseus twenty years to reunite with his family and loved one. After going from a wide range of warriors walking along his side to then reduce to himself, he was able to battle and fight through the various tasks created by the gods and goddesses. Saving his men from the leuring Lotus Eaters, the carnivorous Cyclopes, sea monster, suitors and others makes him seem heroic. Creating a heroic mood throughout the entire Epic Poem, he was the epic hero while looking after his men the best he could.