Odysseus In Homer's The Odyssey

The Odyssey by Homer is an action-packed epic poem with many heroic movements of their main character Odysseus. The Odyssey Part 1 has many different shocking, arrogant and heroic events Odysseus does. This story is known worldwide and many people have interpreted and translated it to there languages over the ages.

Odyssey is truly the most well known epic poem in the world today.

The first thing that happens in the Odyssey Part 1 is Odysseus finally leaves Troy and heads home at last. The only problem is Odysseus forgets to thank you and give the gods sacrifices because he is so self-important. This makes Poseidon infuriated! Poseidon then makes a huge storm to delay or even destroy Odysseus. When the storm battered Odysseus and his

crew they drifted to the island of Calypso. There, Calypso forced Odysseus to stay with her for many years. After Zeus required Calypso to set him free they drifted to the island of the Cyclops.

After landing on this dangerous island his men fed off of the wild goats and wine on the island listed on page 470, “The Island is lush and unoccupied, and they spend their time there feasting on wild goat and wine, all the while observing the mainland where the Cyclopes live.” Odyssey’s curiosity gets the best of him, though.

He and some chosen men go on the treacherous expedition looking for Cyclopes. This was a huge mistake of Odysseus’s. A giant Cyclopes names Polyphemus captured them and took them to his shadowy gruesome hideout. He closed the door with a giant boulder and began to consume Odysseus’s men. Odysseus figured out a plan to stab Polyphemus eye out with a charred log. He told Polyphemus that his name was Nobody. Polyphemus believed

him.

Odysseus and his men grabbed a charred log and were going to stab Polyphemus’s eye out with it as he was resting. Soon after assaulting the beast in the eye. He cried out, “Nohbdy, Nohbdy’s tricked me Nohbdy’s ruined me!” Verse 320 page 480. As he cried out the other Cyclopes thought he hurt himself and didn’t come to his rescue. Polyphemus opened the door to let out his goats and Odysseus and his remaining surviving men escaped by riding on the underside of these large goats.

Odysseus had finally got out of danger and loaded the goats onto their vessels.

But, out of pure arrogance as they were leaving Odysseus yelled, “O Cyclops! Would you feast on my companions? Puny, am I in a Caveman’s hands? How do you like the beating that we gave you, you damned cannibal? Eater of guests under your roof! Zeus and the gods have paid you!” Verses 395-399 page 483. After that, the Polyphemus was outraged! He began to hurl gigantic boulders at the sound of the men. As they were departing Odysseus once again yelled, “Cyclops, if ever mortal man inquires how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider of cities took your eye: Laertes’ son whose home’s on Ithica!” Verses 424- 428 page 484. The finally escaped the treacherous beast but Odysseus will pay a horrendous consequence for his

sin.

The Odyssey is a well know epic poem that is filled with action, fearlessness and heroism. Odysseus is a very bigheaded, self-centered arrogant man. He sees his soldiers as just pawns and doesn’t really worry about losing them all at sea or on treacherous islands. The Odysseus is truly an epic poem that shows you Odysseus is mortal and makes many mistakes like every person does.