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Odysseus begins his journey in his home land on "The peaked sea-mark of Ithaca." Homer 21

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Odysseus is called to join in the Trojan war. An offer he initially refuses, not wishing to join a war that did not involve him. But was convinced to join under the influence of Athena.
"Harried for years on end, after he plundered the stronghold on the proud height of Troy?" Homer 3 - 5

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During his journey Odysseus receives many gifts of knowledge from very powerful beings.. The war goddess Athena, the blind prophet Tiresias and the enchantress goddess Circe.

"Odysseus returns to Circe's island. The goddess reveals his course to him and gives advice on how to avoid the dangers he will face." Homer pg 580

"Suppose Athena's arm is over us, and Zeus her father's, must I rack my brains for more?" Homer 1110 - 1111

"At this I stepped aside, and in the scabbard let my long sword ring home to the pommel silver, as he bent down to the somber blood. Then spoke the prince of those with gift of speech." Homer 628 - 631

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During his travels Odysseus must make his way to the land of the dead to meet the blind prophet Tiresias, who tells him of his future and what he must do to make it home to Ithaca.

"Stand clear, put up your sword; let me but taste of blood, I shall speak true." Homer 626 - 627

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Test #1                                 Battle of the Cicones

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Test #1                                 Battle of the Cicones

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After his battle in Troy, Odysseus and his men sail home. On their way back they land on the island of Ilium, home of the Cicones. And it's when they land that they make their first violation of the Greek values, hospitality. "I stormed that place and killed the men who fought. Plunder we took, and we enslaved the women, to make division equal shares to all." Homer 43 - 45

And upon this violation they have angered Zeus who covers them with a storm. "Now Zeus the lord of cloud roused in the north a storm against the ships."
Homer 70 - 71

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Test #2                                 The Lotus Eaters

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Test #2                                 The Lotus Eaters

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After escaping the Cicones, after many deaths upon many hours, the crew sail off again. Landing on the island of the Lotus eaters, moved by Zeus's storm, Odysseus sends his men out to see if the land is safe. But upon the island, the crew eat the islands Lotus flower and fall into a trance like-state. "They fell in, soon enough, with Lotus-Eaters, who showed no will to do us harm, only offering the sweet lotus to our friends - but those who ate this honeyed plant, the Lotus, never cared to report, nor to return." Homer 94 - 98

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Test #3                                Lair of the Cyclops 

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Test #3                                Lair of the Cyclops 

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After later forcing his entranced men off of the island, having used his intelligence to recognize the danger of the Lotus flower, Odysseus once again sets sail. Landing, again, on another island, this time, on the land of the Cyclops. Upon their arrival, they enter a cyclops cave and eat his foods, planning to give him gifts in hospitality, but the cyclops, upon seeing the men, snatches two men and eats them.
It is only by Odysseus sheer intelligence that they escape again. Aided by the goddess Athena, "The rams as well this time, entered the cave: by some sheep herding whim - or a god's bidding - none where left outside." Homer 286 - 288

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Test #4                                  Island of Aeolia

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Test #4                                  Island of Aeolia

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Using his intellect and godly guidance, Odysseus escapes the cyclops. But in his escape, he expresses extreme, violating, pride and tells the cyclops his name. The cyclops then calls upon the sea god Poseidon to avenge him, thus placing Poseidon against Odysseus. Fortunately, Odysseus lands on the island of Aeolia where the wind god, Aeolus, grants him a bag of wind to ensure his safe passage to Ithaca. But just as they see the land, the crew, through greed, curiosity and disloyalty, open the bag. And the winds inside force them back to Aeolia. "When they are near home, Odysseus's men open the sack, letting loose a storm that drives them back to Aeolia."
Homer page 576

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Test #5                                  Laestrygonians 

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Test #5                                  Laestrygonians 

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Odysseus later sails from Aeolia
and continues his journey home, having been considered by Aeolus to be rejected by the Gods. But along the way they pass by the land of the Laestrygonians, a race of cannibals that destroy nearly all of Odysseus's ships.
"They sail for seven days and arrive in the land of the Laestrygonians, a race of cannibals. These creatures destroy all of Odysseus's ships except for the one he is sailing in."
Homer page 576

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Test #7                                        Sirens 

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Test #7                                        Sirens 

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Continuing his journey with the remainder of this men, Odysseus challenges continue. He meets the sorceress goddess Circe who turns his men into pigs. He is only able to save them thanks to a magical herb given to him by Hermes. Afterwards, he traveled to the land of the dead, Hades, where he meets Tiresias, a blind prophet who tells him of his future. He also meets Elpenor, one of his crew members, who was improperly buried and who he promises to build a grave for upon his return to Ithaca.

It is after these challenges that we see Odysseus again. Upon passing by the land of the Sirens Odysseus, again using his intelligence, has his men cover their ears with wax and tie him to the mast. So he may hear the sirens song without his crew sailing off course.
"The lovely voices in ardor appealing over the water made me crave to listen, and I tried to say 'Untie me!' to the crew, jerking my brows; but they bent steady to the oars." Homer 745 - 748

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Test #8                                   Scylla and Charybdis 

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Test #8                                   Scylla and Charybdis 

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After his encounter with the Sirens, Odysseus reaches the sea of Scylla and Charybdis. He is told by Circe to go to the side of Scylla so not all of his crew can be killed. Intelligently, he does so and loses only 6 men to the deadly, hydratic, monster. "Then Scylla made her strike, whisking six of my best men from the ship. I happened to glance aft the ship and oarsmen high overhead. Voices came down to me in anguish, calling my name for the last time." Homer 809 - 814

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Test #9                                   Cattle of the Sun God

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Test #9                                   Cattle of the Sun God

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The surviving crew who had escaped from Scylla landed with Odysseus on another island. The island of the sun god's cattle, which Odysseus was told by Tierces to not eat unless he wanted Apollo to burn him alive. Again, being the intelligent warrior he was, he listened, but hunger soon got the better of his crew and they ate the cattle, angering the sun god Apollo who demands Zeus punish the crew. The thunder god obliges and releases the storm around them, allowing them to leave the island. But soon he struck them with a lightning bolt and destroyed
their ship. "Astern of us the island coastline faded, and no land showed anywhere, but only sea and heaven, when Zeus Cronion piled a thunderhead above the ship, while gloom spread on the ocean." Homer 935 - 939

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As the story of the Odyssey progresses, Odysseus meets many people who would end up as his allies in his tasks and battles, such as his godly mentor Athena, and the messenger god Hermes. But continuing his journey, Odysseus also makes allies with his son, Telemachus, a beggar named Eumaeus and the Phoenicians. "Ten years after the Trojan war, Odysseus departs from the goddess Calypso's island. He arrives in Phaeacia, ruled by Alcinous. Alcinous offers a ship to Odysseus and asks him to tell of his adventures."
Homer page 562

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As many allies as Odysseus has, he also has as many enemies.

Poseidon, lord of the ocean, seeks revenge against Odysseus through the wish of the cyclops Polyphemus. "In these words he prayed, and the god heard him."
Homer 994

He also becomes the enemy of the suitors who seek to woo his wife throughout his adventures and continue upon his return. "He drew his own sword as he spoke, a broadsword of fine brozen, honed like a razor on either edge. Then crying hoarse and loud he hurled himself at Odysseus." Homer 1484 - 1486

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Odysseus's greatest life or death crisis occurs just after his ship is struck by lightning in the cattle of the sun god, after which this event Zeus sends him away in a makeshift raft to the sea of Scylla and Charybdis. This forces his raft to capsize into the whirlpool of Charybdis as he hangs overhead by a lone tree. "The root and bole being far below, and far above my head the branches and their leaves, massed, overshadowing Charybdis pool. But I clung grimly, thinking my mast and keel would come back to the surface when she spouted." Homer 973 - 979

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The final test that Odysseus faces in when the fights all the suitors on his island. He reveals his identity and strikes in them a frozen fear as he threatens them with death. Even the offering of payment beyond his wealth is not enough to satisfy him as he fights with bow, shield and spear against the suitors.
"Not for the whole treasure of your fathers, all you enjoy, lands, flocks, or any gold put up by others, would I hold my hand. There will be killing till the score is paid. You forced yourselves upon this house. Fight your way out, or run it, if you think you'll escape death. I doubt one man of you skins by." Homer 1466 - 1471

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The journey home for Odysseus is long and rough. He alone survives and he alone sets foot again on Ithaca. He shall face more tasks before the end but he has now arrived home to Ithaca. However, it is not known publicly until he announces his name to his wife's suitors. "You yellow dogs, you thought I'd never make it home from the land of Troy. You took my house to plunder. You dared bid for my wife's hand while I was still alive. Contempt was all you had for the gods who rule wide heaven, contempt for what men say of you hereafter. Your last hour has come. You die in blood."
Homer 1439 - 1444

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After all his challenges, the crushing seas, the thunders of the sky and the monsters of the darkest earth, Odysseus has finally overcome all obstacles and may now rest in his home of Ithaca with his wife, Penelope, in his bed carved from a tree. He is home now and it will be many more years before he dares set his foot into battle again. "Few men can keep alive through a big surf to crawl, clotted with brine, on kindly beaches in joy, in joy, knowing the abyss behind: and so she too rejoiced, her gaze upon her husband, her white arms round him pressed as though forever." Homer 1619 - 1623