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Before the events of the Trojan war, Odysseus lived on the island of Ithaca. He was the king of this land and recently fathered a son named Telemachus. Odysseus was also known to be a good sailor and warrior. "Odysseus, master of landways and seaways," (Homer 1010).

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Odysseus's call to adventure is when the king Agamemnon summoned him to fight in the Trojan War. "'...Voyaging onward, As from our song of Troy," (Homer 732-733). After Odysseus initially refused, Athena convinced him to join the war.

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Odysseus was mentored by Athena, Circe, and Tireseus. Athena helps Odysseus escape from Polyphemus's cave, and she later helps him kill the suitors. "Lithe and young she made him," (Homer 1018).
After being defeated, Circe informs Odysseus on how to avoid the charms of the sirens and to avoid Charybdis. She tells him to go to the land of the dead and meet Tireseus. "...to find the place foretold for us by Circe," (Homer 548).
Tireseus explains Odysseus's future and that Odysseus can avoid his crew dying. "But anguish lies ahead; the god who thunders on the land prepares it," (Homer 633-634).

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Crossing the Threshold: Land of the Dead

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Crossing the Threshold: Land of the Dead

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During this episode, Odysseus journeys to the land of the dead to speak with a former ship mate, and to learn his future. The value of death is broken, but later upheld during this episode. "Elpenor, of our company, who lay unburied still on the wide earth..." (Homer 578-579).

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During this episode, the value of hospitality is broken. "Plunder we took, and enslaved their women," (Homer, 44). Odysseus's crew raid the Cicones during this episode. They generally act foolish at this time. They are chased off by the army and many of the crew are killed.

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During the events of this episode, Odysseus and his crew land on an island. Odysseus sends a trio to examine the island for any inhabitants or resources. The trio doesn't come back. The trio ate a flower that made them lose all will to return. Odysseus then forced them to return to the ship and tied them to it while everyone left the island.

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In this episode, the value of hospitality is very much broken. "... he clutched at my companions and caught two in his hands like squirming puppies to beat their brains out," (Homer 233- 235). Odysseus however,  upholds the value of hospitality. "'Cyclopes, try some wine," (Homer 296). In this episode, Odysseus and a dozen of his men are caught by the cyclopes Polyphemus. They need to harden a staff into a spear so that they can puncture Polyphemus's eye. They then escape the cave by tying themselves under the cyclops's rams when morning comes. Athena was important to this story as well. She helped Odysseus by ensuring that all of the rams were brought to the cave. "...by some sheepherding whim--- or a gods bidding..." (Homer 287- 288). The value of pride is shattered by Odysseus at the end of this episode when he announces his name to Polyphemus. "'...tell him Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye:" (Homer 458-459).

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After arriving at the island of Aeolia, the god Aeolus gives Odysseus and his crew another test. They are given a bag of wind and expected not to open it or the north, east, and southern winds would blow them away. The crew opens the bag. "... where Aeolus, king of the winds, sends Odysseus on his way with a gift:" (Homer 576).

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Roughly a week after the crew's trial at the Island of Aeolia, they arrive at a new island. There is a race of cannibals at this island known as the Laestrygonians. These cannibals violate the value of hospitality. "These creatures destroy all of Odysseus' ships except the one he is sailing in," (Homer 567). The cannibals destroyed most of Odysseus's ships.

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At the time of this test, Odysseus's crew land at the island of Aeaea. The resident there, Circe, transforms many of Odysseus's men into pigs. Hermes gives Odysseus a herb that would protect him from the spell. "Protected by a magic herb, Odysseus demands that Circe changes his men back into human form," (Homer 567). Odysseus stays on the island for a year, before Circe tells him to go to Hades to speak with Tiresias.

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After Odysseus returns to Circe's island, Circe informs Odysseus about his upcoming trials with the sirens, Scylla, and Charybdis. His men then sail their ship towards the island where the sirens live. Odysseus coats the ears of his men with wax. He then instructs them to tie him to the mast and don't let him go. "Going foreword I carried wax along the line, and laid it thick on their ears," (Homer 711-713).

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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After Odysseus and his crew pass the sirens, they come across the two giant monsters Scylla and Charybdis. Odysseus chooses to sail closer to Scylla than Charybdis. Six of his men are then consumed by Scylla as they pass. "That was all, and it brought them round to action, But as I sent them on towards Scylla," (Homer 782-783).

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This test occurs over the course of 20 years. It happens soon after the Cattle of the Sun God episode. During this test, Odysseus becomes trapped on an island with the nymph Calypso. "The dangerous nymph Calypso lives and sings there," (Homer 991-992). Odysseus eventually escapes this island after around twenty years.

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The Phaeacians: The Phaeacians were the group that found Odysseus after his test at calypso's island. They also grant him a ship to return home with. "But why tell the same tale that I told last night in hall to you and your lady?" (Homer 993-995).
Telemachus: Telemachus is Odysseus's son. Telemachus helps Odysseus by assisting in killing the suitors at Ithaca. "'Oh father, all my life your frame as a fighting man has echoed in my ears-" (Homer 1088 1089).
Eumaeus: Eumaeus is the swineherd of Odysseus.  Eumaeus informs Odysseus of what is currently happening in Ithaca. "Athena disguises Odysseus as a beggar and directs him to the hut of Eumaeus," (Homer 596).

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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Odysseus's only real enemy over the course of his story are the suitors. When he arrives at Ithaca, Odysseus learns that hundreds of suitors have come to take his wife and land. "But here Antinous broke in, shouting: 'God! What evil wind blew in this pest?'" (Homer 1207- 1210).

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During this episode, Odysseus and his crew are trapped on an island that belongs to Helios. They are starving there for months before the gods put Odysseus to sleep. After Odysseus falls asleep, his crew decided to eat the cows on the island, breaking the rule of hospitality. "Will you fight it? Come, we'll cut out the noblest of these cattle…" (Homer 867- 868). Helios then gets angry and has Zeus kill the crew. "And the Lord Helios burst into angry speech amid the immortals:" (Homer 906-907).

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During this trial, Odysseus must kill the suitors that have invaded his home. He has the help of his son Telemachus. Apollo helps Odysseus aim his bow and arrow. "''Now watch me hit a target that no man has hit before, if I can make this shot, Help me, Apollo,'" (Homer, 1410-1411). The value of hospitality is also very much violated here. "He drew to his fist the cruel head of an arrow for Antinous," (Homer 1412).

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This occurs after Odysseus escapes Calypso. Odysseus tells his story to the king of the
Phaeacians. "'Those adventures made a long evening, and I do not hold with tiresome repetition of a story,'" (Homer 995-997).

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Odysseus's reward for completing his hero's journey is that he may return home. He finally comes home and reunites with his wife, Penelope. "Greathearted Odysseus, home at last," (Homer 1540).

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There are three heroic traits Odysseus shows consistently through the story. They are bravery, intelligence, and leadership. His Intelligence allows him to face a much larger force in his supreme ordeal. "'Now that he's got his hands on bow and quiver he'll shoot from the big doorstone there until he kills every last man,'" (Homer 1475-1477). He shows bravery as well in the fact that he faces such a force. "He drew his own sword as he spoke, a broadsword of fine bronze," (Homer, 1483-1484). He shows leadership during the tale of Scylla and Charybdis. "That was all, and it brought them round to action," (Homer 782).