Revenge Is Sweet

As the ring leader of the suitors is just lifting a drinking cup. Odysseus puts an arrow through his throat. A man runs to go get swords and shields for the men unil he saw Athena. As she appears Odysseus, Telemachus and the two faithful herdsmen strike with volley after volley of lances. They were then all hung in the courtyard by their necks.

Odysseus tells everyone to dress in their finest and dance, so that passers-by won't suspect what's happened.

Penelope is still in disbelief that he is Odysseus. She wants him to send a "Secret Sign" to show its truly Odysseus. She tells a servant to make up his bed in the hall.
"In the hall!" storms Odysseus. "Who had the craft to move my bed? I carved the bedpost myself from the living trunk of an olive tree and built the bedroom around it." She then rushes to Odysseus knowing that no one could move his real bed

Odysseus' Arrival at Ithaca

Penelope brings out the bow of Odysseus that he got as repayment for sheep that were stolen from Ithaca. She opens a store room door and looks over the fine clothing and has maids bring out 12 axeheads. She tells the suitors, "Here is my lord Odysseus' hunting bow. Bend and string it if you can. Who sends an arrow through iron axe-helve sockets twelve in line? I join my life with his and leave this place, my home, my rich and beautiful bridal house, forever to be remembered, though I dream it only." With that the contest began, many tried but in the end they all failed. Finally Odysseus shows up disguised as a beggar, he asks if he may try to string the bow. Everyone except Telemachus and Penelope are in an uproar, they cant see why a beggar should be allowed to compete with the likes of them. Penelope decides to let the beggar have a chance but promises her suitors that the beggar cannot win her hand in marriage. Telemachus then insists that all the ladies leave the room and not be allowed inside no matter what happens. When this is done Odysseus surprises all by completing the impossible task. The suitors then begin questioning the beggar and he finally reveals himself as Odysseus.

Those Monsters!!!

As they set sails on the seas, Odysseus was fearful for what he was told of. He had to go through a land of sea monsters. So his men wouldn't chicken out he didn't tell them of the dangers that were ahead of them. First came up were the sirens, whose sweet singing lures sailors to their doom. To prevent from sailing off course Odysseus plugged the ears of his men with heavy beeswax. But to be the hard headed man Odysseus is, he had his men tie him up so he could hear the singing for himself. Once They Passed the Sirens, He had a choice of going to either the Charybdis, which is a whirl pool which will suck the ship down then back up ruining all hope of going home considering they would all die, Or going passed the Scylla which is a 6 headed monster which will pick up one of each of his men for how many gods their were. He chose to go past the Scylla and loose 6 men instead of loosing all of them.

They then landed on Thrinacia, the island of the Sun. Odysseus wants to avoid it entirely, but the outspoken Eurylochus persuades him to let his crew rest there. A storm keeps them beached for a month, and at first the crew is content to survive on their supplies in the ship. When these run out, however, Eurylochus persuades the other crew members to disobey Odysseus and slaughter the cattle of the Sun.When the Sun finds out about this he tells Zeus to punish them for their behavior. He kills all of Odysseus men except Odysseus and he washes up on shore of Calypso.

Journey to the Land of Death

This is also a part of Odysseus's tale I wish we did not have to witness it is very grotesque. When Odysseus reached the underworld he did as Circe bade him. He bled a sacrificed lamb into a pit then he made Tiresias drink the blood from the pit. You see when a person dies their spirit endures a fleshless experience and they can't function until re-animated with blood. Tiresias advised Odysseus about his journey home and told him what had to be done to ensure a blissful death. 

The Island of Aeolus, the Laestrygonians, and Circe

This tale begins on the island of Aeolus where Aeolus was made keeper of the winds by Zeus. Odysseus stayed on this island for many months recounting his days in Troy. Finally we were able to leave the island and Aeolus was kind enough to provide a steady breeze to blow us home. Then he gave Odysseus a leather pouch filled with storm winds. Nine days later they approached the coast of Ithaca, Odysseus was exhausted by now, having to man the sail the whole way. so he drifted off to sleep by this time his men had noticed the leather pouch. Thinking that it held gold they opened the pouch. Now as you can probably predict that was a huge mistake. As soon as the pouch opened it released a hurricane wind that blew them all the way back to Aeolus's island.  Upon the return of Odysseus Aeolus concluded that it was against the will of the gods for Odysseus to return home. 

Empty handed Odysseus arrived on the land of the Laestrygonians where  its daylight around the clock.  A patrol was was sent out to scout the countryside soon, they came upon a husky young girl who took them to the queen and king. The king who was thirsty for blood grabbed one of the men tore him in half and devoured him. As soon as the other men came to their senses they ran back to the shore. With the Laestrygonians  not far behind. The fleet of men tried to cast off but were hindered boulders pelted at them. Many ships were smashed along with the men in them. The only ship that survived was Odysseus's. It was a very tragic event that I wish Google and I didn't have to witness but then who would inform you of this tale?

Soon they came to Circe's island also known as the witch goddess. No one was intent on exploring but the crew was divided in two. Eurylochus led the first group, while Odysseus and his group stayed behind.  Before long the first group came to Circe's stone house surrounded by tame lions and wolves. They came to a halt and noticed a beautiful song coming from within. Presently Circe invited the men inside, all but Eurylochus accepted the invitation. Circe gave them a feast mixed with a vile potion and she turned them into swine. Eurylochus ran back to the ship to warn his shipmates. Upon hearing this Odysseus set out to save his men, along the way he met Hermes. Hermes told Odysseus that he should accept the potion she gave him, but not to worry he would be protected by a godly herb, moly. When Circe raised her wand, Odysseus should draw his sword and make her swear an oath. When he reached the house Circe bade him enter. Odysseus drank the potion and unsheathed his sword, then he made Circe swear an oath. Circe then knew him to be Odysseus. She kept him and his men in her home for many months with entertainment and many feasts. Finally his men reminded Odysseus of home. Circe let him go under one condition Odysseus must enter the land of death and consult the blind prophet Tiresias. 

Cyclopes

Oh boy... Odysseus's men split up when they landed on the island. Half of the men stayed on the ship and the other half went with Odysseus and explored the island. While they were exploring they found a cave. Odysseus was curious so they went inside not knowing that it was inhabited by a cyclops. Now this was no ordinary cyclops, his name was Polyphemus son of Poseidon the god of the sea. When Polyphemus came back into his cave from the fields with his cattle and sheep. He did not notice Odysseus and his men at first. When he finally noticed them Odysseus told him that his name was nohbdy and that he and his men were shipwrecked on the island. Polyphemus trapped them in the cave and ate four of his men. 

Odysseus had to think quickly so he found a hard wooden staff and put it into the fire. Then he offered the cyclops some wine and got him drunk. As soon as Polyphemus collapses from being intoxicated, Odysseus and a select group of his men drive the red hot staff into his eye. Polyphemus awake and screams. The other cyclopes came to his horrible pain. When he told nohbdy hurt him they all went away. The next morning, Odysseus and his men escape from the cave unseen because the cyclopes is now blind, by clinging on the bottom of the sheep. Odysseus then calls back out to Polyphemus and tells him his name. Polyphemus then calls out to his father to get revenge on Odysseus.

Calypso's Island

So lets just say Calypso's Island was not a pleasant expierience. I mean who holds a married man with a son captive for seven years. Her motives were all wrong, why would you hold him captive for your own pleasure? Well first off, Calypso is the goddess of the sea. Odysseus and his men landed on her island after fighting in the Trojan War. She kept him and his men against their will. Odysseus survived only to bring his shipmates home and to see his son and wife.

Finally with the help of Athena the goddess of war,wisdom, and weaving, Odysseus persuades Calypso to let him and his men go. Calypso agrees to let them go and helps them build a raft to leave her island. The raft end up getting destroyed by storms and Odysseus and his men are washed up on the land of the Phaeacians. The king Alcinous gives a banquet in honnor of Odysseus and he relates his adventures to the king.(Books 9-12 of the Odyssey)