Book I: Homer begins the narrative by calling on the Muse to help him tell the story of Odysseus. He briefly writes about how Odysseus’ journey home from the Trojan War was a struggle, and he mentions that Odysseus’ men all died because they foolishly ate the cattle of the god Hyperion.
The story then begins. Odysseus is not dead, but he has not yet returned home. The nymph Calypso, who wants to marry him, has held him captive for many years.
The gods on Mount Olympus finally hold a council to discuss this matter. Athene pleads for the gods to tell Calypso to free Odysseus. Zeus and the other gods agree, though they recognize that Poseidon, who is not present at the meeting, has long held a grudge against Odysseus. Because Odysseus blinded one eye of the Cyclops Polyphemus, Poseidon’s son, Poseidon is angry with Odysseus and will try to prevent him from reaching home. The gods then devise a plan. Hermes will be sent to the Ogygian Island, Calypso’s homeland, to tell her that she must let Odysseus go.
However, Athene herself first goes to Ithaca, Odysseus’ home, disguised as Mentes. She speaks to Odysseus’ son, …show more content…
He begs Nestor to tell him the entire truth. Nestor speaks fondly of Odysseus. He says that they never argued in the nine long years of the Trojan War.
However, once the Greeks were victorious, disaster struck. Agamemnon and Menelaus, the brothers who led the Greek army to war, had a disagreement. Menelaus wanted to sail home, but Agamemnon wished to offer sacrifices to avoid the wrath of Athene. The army was firmly divided in two in this dispute; half the army sailed home the following day with Menelaus while the other half stayed with Agamemnon. Nestor sailed with Menelaus. However, there was a second disagreement among those who followed Menelaus. Odysseus led a group of men back to apologize to Agamemnon; the others continued home to Greece, Nestor among
The story then begins. Odysseus is not dead, but he has not yet returned home. The nymph Calypso, who wants to marry him, has held him captive for many years.
The gods on Mount Olympus finally hold a council to discuss this matter. Athene pleads for the gods to tell Calypso to free Odysseus. Zeus and the other gods agree, though they recognize that Poseidon, who is not present at the meeting, has long held a grudge against Odysseus. Because Odysseus blinded one eye of the Cyclops Polyphemus, Poseidon’s son, Poseidon is angry with Odysseus and will try to prevent him from reaching home. The gods then devise a plan. Hermes will be sent to the Ogygian Island, Calypso’s homeland, to tell her that she must let Odysseus go.
However, Athene herself first goes to Ithaca, Odysseus’ home, disguised as Mentes. She speaks to Odysseus’ son, …show more content…
He begs Nestor to tell him the entire truth. Nestor speaks fondly of Odysseus. He says that they never argued in the nine long years of the Trojan War.
However, once the Greeks were victorious, disaster struck. Agamemnon and Menelaus, the brothers who led the Greek army to war, had a disagreement. Menelaus wanted to sail home, but Agamemnon wished to offer sacrifices to avoid the wrath of Athene. The army was firmly divided in two in this dispute; half the army sailed home the following day with Menelaus while the other half stayed with Agamemnon. Nestor sailed with Menelaus. However, there was a second disagreement among those who followed Menelaus. Odysseus led a group of men back to apologize to Agamemnon; the others continued home to Greece, Nestor among