how did odysseus get oushed off course

by Maeve McClure 6 min read

When trying to get home, Odysseus and his men's ship gets blown off course because of a big storm. After being thrown around, all over sea for nine days, they finally found land. The land that they found might not have been the best option for them, since it already took so much time to get home.

What happens to Odysseus at the end of the Odyssey?

After a grueling twenty-year journey, Odysseus finds peace at the end of the epic poem. When he returns home to Ithaca, he finds one hundred suitors in his home, as Teiresias's prophecy forewarned.

What lessons does Odysseus learn from his journey?

More importantly, Odysseus learns during his journey that displaying ego and laughing at an enemy is not smart or wise. When he puts out Polyphemus's eye, he can't resist idiotically taunting him by saying that he, Odysseus, did this.

Why did Odysseus take so long to get home?

After Troy fell, Odysseus attempted to return home, but it took him a long time. The Odyssey’s tale of his trip home became its story. The Greeks attacked the Trojans in order to reclaim Helen of Troy, and as one of Helen’s first suitors, Odysseus had sworn an oath to aid Menelaus.

How did Odysseus escape from Polyphemus?

Odysseus and his men made a plan to escape from Polyphemus before they could all be eaten. Among the giant’s simple belongings they found an enormous cudgel of olive wood. They sharpened it over the fire and drew lots to determine who would help their captain lift the resulting stake.

Who blew Odysseus off course?

Coast of Thrace: Odysseus and his men destroy and plunder Ismarus, city of the Cicones, but are eventually driven away with losses. 3. Lotus-eaters: Blown off course, Odysseus' fleet lands on shores of North Africa or the island of Jerba, possible locations for the drugged natives. 4.

How did Odysseus get out of the storm?

Poseidon stirs up a storm, which nearly drags Odysseus under the sea, but the goddess Ino comes to his rescue. She gives him a veil that keeps him safe after his ship is wrecked. Athena too comes to his rescue as he is tossed back and forth, now out to the deep sea, now against the jagged rocks of the coast.

How does Odysseus get off the island?

When morning comes, Odysseus and his men escape from the cave, unseen by the blind Polyphemus, by clinging to the bellies of the monster's sheep as they go out to graze. Safe on board their ships and with Polyphemus's flock on board as well, Odysseus calls to land and reveals his true identity.

How did Odysseus get trapped?

For in a tragic final twist, an aged Odysseus was killed by Telegonos, his son by Circe, when he landed on Ithaca and in battle, unknowingly killed his own father.

How did Odysseus get home?

Odysseus is shipwrecked and befriended by the Phaeacians. After he tells them his story, the Phaeacians, led by King Alcinous, agree to help Odysseus get home. They deliver him at night, while he is fast asleep, to a hidden harbor on Ithaca.

How does Odysseus finally get home?

After twenty years, how does Odysseus finally get home? Odysseus finally comes home because great seafarers, the phaeacians, take him on their boat and take him home.

How does Odysseus get off the island where he was for 7 years?

Calypso allows Odysseus to leave her island because she understands that, despite Odysseus sleeping with her, his heart longs for his wife and home.

How does Odysseus get trapped on Calypso's island?

In Homer's Odyssey, Calypso attempts to keep the fabled Greek hero Odysseus on her island to make him her immortal husband, while he also gets to enjoy her sensual pleasures forever. According to Homer, Calypso kept Odysseus prisoner by force at Ogygia for seven years.

How does Odysseus escape from Circe?

Only Odysseus' vessel escapes. It sails to the island of Aeaea, home of the beautiful but dangerous goddess Circe, whom Odysseus can overcome only through the intervention of Hermes, messenger of the gods and son of Zeus.

How did Odysseus escape the sirens?

In Homer's Odyssey, Book XII, the Greek hero Odysseus, advised by the sorceress Circe, escaped the danger of their song by stopping the ears of his crew with wax so that they were deaf to the Sirens.

How did Odysseus try to get out of the Trojan War?

When the Trojan War began, Odysseus tried to avoid participating. An oracle had told him that if he went to war, he would be away for 20 years and would return a beggar. So Odysseus pretended to be mad and sowed his fields with salt instead of seeds.

What happened to Odysseus in the end?

Odysseus eventually escapes from Calypso, survives a shipwreck where all his compatriots are drowned and is befriended by the Phaeacians, a race of skilled mariners who finally deliver the hero safely to Ithaca, where he takes on the guise of a beggar to learn how things stand at home.

What happened to Odysseus and his men?

Upon the departure of the Greek army, a fierce storm caused by the gods scattered the Greek fleet. Odysseus and his men were blown off course, and this began a 10-year struggle to return to Ithaca.

Why did Odysseus stay away from home?

A prophecy stated Odysseus would stay away from home for a very long time if he joined the Greek army and attacked Troy. Odysseus loved his wife and newborn son. He did not want to leave, so he pretended to be crazy when the Greek army came to call. He yoked a donkey and an ox together and plowed the seashore. One of the Greeks placed Telemachus in the path of Odysseus, who swerved to miss the baby, revealing the farce. Odysseus left Ithaca and his family to fight at Troy.

How long did Odysseus stay with Circe?

Odysseus and his crew remained with Circe for a year before resuming their journey. Circe advised Odysseus to seek the counsel of Tiresias in the underworld on how to return to Ithaca. She also warned him of dangers along the way.

Why did Odysseus build the Trojan Horse?

Odysseus had the Greek army build what came to be known as the Trojan Horse, a giant hollow wooden horse to give the Trojans as an offering of peace. Inside the body of the horse, some of the best Greek warriors hid. Trojan Horse.

Why did Odysseus leave Ithaca?

Odysseus left Ithaca and his family to fight at Troy. The war with Troy lasted for ten years. Following the death of the Greek champion Achilles, Odysseus devised a plan to enter the city and end the conflict. Here is where the cunning of Odysseus shone through.

What is the story of Odysseus?

The story of Odysseus begins in Homer's epic poem The Iliad, but his second poem, The Odys sey, relates the tale of Odysseus wandering the seas for ten years as he struggled to return from the Trojan War. Odysseus ruled Ithaca, an island kingdom. Penelope, Odysseus's wife, had borne him a son, Telemachus, just before the events ...

Where did Odysseus go on his first adventure?

The first stop on their adventure is to the land of the Lotus-eaters, a people who created food and drink from flowers, but with a drug effect. Several of Odysseus's crew partook of the food presented by the Lotus-eaters and forgot their goal to return home. They wanted to stay among the Lotus-eaters forever. Odysseus had these men dragged to the ships and bound below deck until the ships were safely away from the land of the Lotus-eaters and the men regained their senses.

How did Odysseus escape?

Odysseus used his wits to cleverly escape the cannibal giant that held him captive. His arrogance, however, would set the stage for a long and deadly journey.

Where did Odysseus first stop?

The first stop made by Odysseus was on the island of the Lotus Eaters, and his next was on another uncharted and mysterious island. The island appeared to be uninhabited, but the crew found a herd of sheep and goats there.

What is the story of Odysseus' escape from Cyclops?

Homer’s Odyssey tells the story of the Ithacan king Odysseus, who famously journeyed for a decade before making his way home from the Trojan War.

Why did Odysseus go back to Ithaca?

After a decade of wandering and the loss of his ship and all the men who crewed it, Odysseus made it back to Ithaca to find suitors conspiring to take his land and kill his son.

How long did Odysseus' escape from Polyphemus take?

The escape from Polyphemus ultimately earned Odysseus the enmity of Poseidon. Because he taunted the wounded giant, his journey would take ten years and none of his men would make it back to their homes in Ithaca. Mike Greenberg, PhD. My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!)

What did Polyphemus drink?

Polyphemus drank the bowl of wine and asked for another. He then asked the hero’s name. Odysseus claimed that he was called Outis, or “Nobody.”. As thanks for the wine, Polyphemus declared that he would eat Nobody last of all. Polyphemus drank until he became sick, then fell asleep in a stupor.

Why did Odysseus give his real name?

While this clever trick saved the men in the short-term, however, Odysseus made the mistake of giving his real name when he believed that he was safe. This would set the stage for his further adventures.

What is Odysseus' final fate?

The final fate of Odysseus is only alluded to in the story, as it occurs after the action is completed. In book 21, Odysseus meets with the ghost of Tiresias, the blind prophet of Apollo. Tiresias tells Odysseus that after he returns from his voyage he will find a new home. He must take a ship's oar and travel inland. When someone mistakes his oar for a shovel, there he will find peace as he has finally reached a "land that knows nothing of the sea." There he is to make a sacrifice to Poseidon. Only then will his journey be over.

How many suitors does Odysseus find in his home?

After a grueling twenty-year journey, Odysseus finds peace at the end of the epic poem. When he returns home to Ithaca, he finds one hundred suitors in his home, as Teiresias's prophecy forewarned.

What is the final book of Homer's Odyssey?

Book 24 , the final book of Homer's Odyssey, deals with the events after Odysseus and Telemachus kill the suitors and, ultimately, with the fate of the story's hero. As book 24 begins, Odysseus finds that his troubles are not over with the death of Penelope's suitors. He has just proven his identity to Laertes and Penelope. He must now contend with the families of the one hundred dead suitors who want vengeance. Only with Athena's help is he able to defeat them. The story ends with Athena's divine intervention in bringing peace to Ithaca. Odysseus is now able to take his rightful place as the king of Ithaca, happily reunited with his entire family.

Who kills Eupeithes before Athena can intervene?

He concedes, and she quells the tensions, forcing the Ithacans fighting against Odysseus to flee. However, Laertes kills Eupeithes before Athena can intervene. With the help of Athena, the two sides work out their differences, and Odysseus regains control of Ithaca once again.

Who is Odysseus' father?

Once he has restored his home, Odysseus seeks out his father, Laertes. At first, he disguises his identity, but seeing the pain in his eyes, Odysseus stops the trickery. To prove he is the real Odysseus, he tells his father about a scar and some trees that Laertes had given him in years past.

Does Odysseus know his identity?

However, Odysseus has been masking his identity. Penelope, his wife, tests Odysseus with a secret that only the real Odysseus would know. Odysseus, knowing their bed cannot physically be moved, passes the test and is reunited with his faithful wife. Once he has restored his home, Odysseus seeks out his father, Laertes.

What does Odysseus learn from Polyphemus?

More importantly, Odysseus learns during his journey that displaying ego and laughing at an enemy is not smart or wise. When he puts out Polyphemus's eye, he can't resist idiotically taunting him by saying... (The entire section contains 2 answers and 400 words.)

Does Odysseus want to eat his cake?

Although Odysseus always wants to get home to Penelope, at the story's beginning, he is willing to dally for awhile with Circe, among others. He wants to have his cake and eat it too. By the time he gets home, however, he at least appears to be wiser and more...

What did Odysseus do to get out of his obligation?

While he did try to get out of his obligation by pleading insanity, he eventually honored his promise and sailed off to war. During the Trojan War, Odysseus proved to be one of the most valuable strategists and leaders on the Greek side of the conflict.

Why did Odysseus leave Ithaca?

Odysseus originally left Ithaca to participate in the Trojan War, according to SparkNotes. The Greeks attacked the Trojans in order to return Helen of Troy to Menelaus, and as one of Helen's original suitors, Odysseus had sworn an oath to assist Menelaus.

How long did Odysseus travel?

Odysseus was blown off course during his return from the Trojan War, and he spent 10 years traveling from island to island attempting to find his way home. The trials of this journey, along with what happened when he finally returned to his homeland, are chronicled in Homer's epic, "The Odyssey.". ADVERTISEMENT.

What was Odysseus' role in the Greeks?

He led many victorious raids, and he was the creator of the famed Trojan horse that proved instrumental in allowing the Greeks into the city. While Troy eventually fell, Odysseus' actions during the long siege did not go unnoticed.

What is the second half of the Odyssey about?

The whole second half of The Odyssey is structured as a series of scenes in which Odysseus reveals his identity. Odysseus’s final two revelations—to Penelope and Laertes—are the most important. One of the first things we learn about Odysseus is that he has “his heart set on his wife.”.

What is the best thing a man can do in the Odyssey?

The Odyssey takes place in a patriarchal world where the best thing a man can do is pass his fame as a warrior (and the wealth he has plundered) on to a male heir. This patriarchal warrior code originally drove Odysseus to leave Penelope’s side, in order to win fame and spoils at Troy.

What is the story of Odysseus and Penelope?

Together, the men prepare to fight the fathers of the murdered suitors, but Athena intervenes to make peace. The whole second half of The Odyssey is structured as a series of scenes in which Odysseus reveals his identity. Odysseus’s final two revelations—to Penelope and Laertes—are the most important. One of the first things we learn about Odysseus is that he has “his heart set on his wife.” He tells Nausicaa that there is “No finer, greater gift” than “when man and woman possess their home, two minds/two hearts that work as one.” Odysseus’ s happy reunion with Penelope, at the climax of his story, seems to endorse this statement. Some scholars have even argued that the poem originally ended with Odysseus and Penelope’s reunion, and that the final book, Book 24, was added later.

What does Odysseus tell Nausicaa?

He tells Nausicaa that there is “No finer, greater gift” than “when man and woman possess their home, two minds/two hearts that work as one.”. Odysseus’s happy reunion with Penelope, at the climax of his story, seems to endorse this statement.

What is Laertes' joy at being reunited with his son contrasted with?

Laertes’ joy at being reunited with his son is contrasted with the rage and grief of the suitors’ fathers, who have lost their own sons at Odysseus’s hands. Odysseus is powerless to prevent further bloodshed: only Athena’s divine intervention brings peace to Ithaca.

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Overview

Odysseus , also known by the Latin variant Ulysses (/juːˈlɪsiːz/ yoo-LISS-eez, UK also /ˈjuːlɪsiːz/ YOO-liss-eez; Latin: Ulysses, Ulixes), is a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey. Odysseus also plays a key role in Homer's Iliad and other works in that same epic cycle.
Son of Laërtes and Anticlea, husband of Penelope, and father of Telemachus an…

Name, etymology, and epithets

The form Ὀδυσ(σ)εύς Odys(s)eus is used starting in the epic period and through the classical period, but various other forms are also found. In vase inscriptions, we find the variants Oliseus (Ὀλισεύς), Olyseus (Ὀλυσεύς), Olysseus (Ὀλυσσεύς), Olyteus (Ὀλυτεύς), Olytteus (Ὀλυττεύς) and Ōlysseus (Ὠλυσσεύς). The form Oulixēs (Οὐλίξης) is attested in an early source in Magna Graecia (Ibycus, according to Diomedes Grammaticus), while the Greek grammarian Aelius Herodianus ha…

Genealogy

Relatively little is given of Odysseus' background other than that according to Pseudo-Apollodorus, his paternal grandfather or step-grandfather is Arcesius, son of Cephalus and grandson of Aeolus, while his maternal grandfather is the thief Autolycus, son of Hermes and Chione. Hence, Odysseus was the great-grandson of the Olympian god Hermes.
According to the Iliad and Odyssey, his father is Laertes and his mother Anticlea, although there w…

Before the Trojan War

The majority of sources for Odysseus' pre-war exploits—principally the mythographers Pseudo-Apollodorus and Hyginus—postdate Homer by many centuries. Two stories in particular are well known:
When Helen of Troy is abducted, Menelaus calls upon the other suitors to honour their oaths and help him to retrieve her, an attempt that leads to the Trojan War. Odysseus tries to avoid it by fei…

During the Trojan War

Odysseus is one of the most influential Greek champions during the Trojan War. Along with Nestor and Idomeneus he is one of the most trusted counsellors and advisors. He always champions the Achaean cause, especially when others question Agamemnon's command, as in one instance when Thersites speaks against him. When Agamemnon, to test the morale of the Achaeans, announce…

Journey home to Ithaca

Odysseus is probably best known as the eponymous hero of the Odyssey. This epic describes his travails, which lasted for 10 years, as he tries to return home after the Trojan War and reassert his place as rightful king of Ithaca.
On the way home from Troy, after a raid on Ismarus in the land of the Cicones, he and his twelve ships are driven off course by storms. They visit the lethargic Lo…

Other stories

Odysseus is one of the most recurrent characters in Western culture.
According to some late sources, most of them purely genealogical, Odysseus had many other children besides Telemachus. Most such genealogies aimed to link Odysseus with the foundation of many Italic cities. The most famous being:
• with Penelope: Poliporthes (born after Odysseus' return from Troy)

Altars - Islands - Cities

Strabo writes that on Meninx (Ancient Greek: Μῆνιγξ) island, modern Djerba at Tunisia, there was an altar of the Odysseus.
Pliny the Elder writes that in Italy there were some small islands (modern Torricella, Praca, Brace and other rocks) which were called Ithacesiae because of a watchtower that Odysseus built there.
According to ancient Greek tradition, Odysseus founded a city in Iberia which was called Odyssei…