Crawford's Odysseus

Aeolus Bag Of Wind

1200 BCE

The bag of wind was a gift given to Odysseus. One of the men opened the bag thinking it had silver and gold. The bad winds led them back to Aeolus’ island where Aeolus refuses to help them once again. Odysseus and his men leave again and the bad winds lead them to Circe's island.

Circe

1200 BCE

Odysseus and his men are being led by evil winds to Aeaea. Circe is an evil witch with magic powers and she turns Odysseus' men into pigs. Odysseus gets his men back and is almost drugged by Circe when Hermes tells him to take an herb to protect himself. Odysseus forces Circe to give his men back by overpowering her with his sword.

Aeolus Bag Of Wind Analysis

1200 BCE

Odysseus gets the bag of wind and notices that he needs to be watchful of his men. Odysseus was not mindful of his men, he lost his chance to return home quickly and is turned back to Aeolus island. Aeolus refuses to help Odysseus and his men once again. Now Odysseus and his men are being led to the home of Circe because of the evil winds let out by the bag of wind.

Circe Analysis

1200 BCE

Odysseus and his men get to Circe's hall and Odysseus sends his men to go check out Circe's hall. While they are observing they are turned into pigs by Circe. Circe turns Odysseus' men into pigs, she offers Odysseus to sit and talk. Odysseus declines her offer and confronts Circe saying that his men are more important to him than having a talk with Circe. This shows that Odysseus is very loyal to his men and will go to extreme measures to protect them.

Sirens

1200 BCE

Sirens are entities who lure men nearby with their attractive singing. Odysseus is warned by Circe of the sirens and their abilities. Odysseus warns his men about the sirens but they don't listen. Odysseus and his men take on the sirens as they approach the siren's island.

Siren's Analysis

1200 BCE

Odysseus sets sail he and his men encounter the sirens on their island. Odysseus already warned his men about the sirens. Circe tells Odysseus to plug his men's ears with beeswax and has them bind him to the mast of the ship. This shows that Odysseus is thoughtful of his men and listens to instructions.

Scylla

1200 BCE

Scylla is described by Circe as an evil creature with 12 large feet and six heads on long necks, with each head containing three rows of razor-sharp teeth. According to Circe, Scylla lives in a den where she makes noises described as “a newborn whelps cry”. Another sea monster is called Charybdis. According to Circe, this creature comes up from the water and makes its attack. Scylla seems to be one of the strongest entities in the book.

Scylla Analysis

1200 BCE

Circe is describing to Odysseus what Scylla is and the Charybdis to give him insight on his battle. Scylla is a powerful monster with 12 heads and sharp teeth. The Charybdis is a sea monster that makes its attack from under the water. Even though Circe gives a very bad idea on how to beat both of the creatures, Odysseus still has combat on his mind and asks Circe how can he fight off the creatures.

Helios's Cattle

1200 BCE

Helios' Cattle are the cattle that belong to Helios. Circe talks to Odysseus about how he will find Helios' Cattle and advises not to steal it as Helios will get his revenge. When Odysseus and his men encounter Helios' Cattle, driven by their hunger, they eat the cattle. The eating of Helios' Cattle made Helios mad and he threatens to stop the sun from shining.

Helios Cattle Analysis

1200 BCE

Helios' Cattle are the cattle that belong to Helios, the sun god. Circe warns Odysseus and his crew not to steal the cattle. But, Odysseus' men end up letting their hunger overtake them and decide to eat Helios' Cattle. Odysseus learns to more watchful of his men.

Suitors

1200 BCE

Odysseus arrives back at Ithaca and he goes to see his two servants. He reveals to his servants that he has returned and they are in shock. He reveals his plan to slaughter some of the suitors to his servants. In the plan, he tells all of the women to go inside while he is doing this gruesome act. After he slaughters the suitors he reunites with his wife and explains to her with evidence that he is not an impostor and is her real husband.

Trojan War Analysis

1194 BCE

The idea of the building of the Trojan Horse used to invade Troy was Odysseus' idea. He played a big role in the execution of the plan of getting the queen back. In the war, Odysseus helps the Greeks and delays the Trojans from being able to fight back.

Trojan War

Period: 1194 BCE to 1884 BCE

This was a war between the Greeks and the people of Troy, or the Trojans. The war began after the Trojan Prince Paris, abducted Queen Helen. The king asked his brother Agamemnon to lead a quest to retrieve her. They were joined by Greek heroes and traveled to Troy to siege and demand her release.

Lotus Eaters

500 BCE

In this epic of Homer's The Odyssey, Odysseus and his men go to the land of the lotus eaters. His men eat the lotus fruit and forget about their journey. Odysseus regroups his men and ties them to the boat and sails off to their next destination.

Lotus Eaters Analysis

500 BCE

This encounter with the people on the island shows the reader that too much of something can be dangerous. Odysseus's men had a lot of the lotus flowers and they forgot about their responsibilities and needed someone to snap them back into reality.

Cyclops

5 BCE

Odysseus' experience with the Cyclopes was not enjoyable. They were giant and lazy. Odysseus did not like the Cyclopes because they have no tribal ways. They also didn't show respect to any of the gods. Odysseus escaped by poking the Cyclopes in the eye so it wouldn't see them escaping.

Cyclops Analysis

5 BCE

Odysseus' encounter with the cyclops show cased his self control and endurance. Odysseus was in the cyclops cave for many years and did not kill him although the Cyclops was being very disrespectful and went against his life style and morals.

Suitors Analysis

1200

Odysseus is finally back home in Ithaca where suitors are competing in a challenge to take Odysseus' wife's hand in marriage. Odysseus talks to his most trusted servants about a plan that he has to kill the suitors. Odysseus goes along with this plan and slaughters Antinous, the leader of the suitors. Odysseus later reunites with his wife but his wife does not believe it is him. Odysseus reveals the secret only he and his wife knew proving that he is not an impostor.