Skip to main content

What happened to Odysseus at sea?

Quite a bit!  After he blinds Polyphemus, the Cyclops son of Poseidon, lord of the seas, his journey by sea becomes much more difficult.  For example, at one point, Aeolus, the keeper of the winds, gives Odysseus a bag containing all of the winds except the one Odysseus needs to blow him back to Ithaca.  However, with home in sight, Odysseus falls asleep and his men open the bag, thinking it might contain some treasure. ...

Quite a bit!  After he blinds Polyphemus, the Cyclops son of Poseidon, lord of the seas, his journey by sea becomes much more difficult.  For example, at one point, Aeolus, the keeper of the winds, gives Odysseus a bag containing all of the winds except the one Odysseus needs to blow him back to Ithaca.  However, with home in sight, Odysseus falls asleep and his men open the bag, thinking it might contain some treasure.  The winds escape, and their ship is blown all the way back to Aeolia.  Aeolus, understanding that some powerful god is working against Odysseus, will not offer him help again.


In another instance, when Odysseus is swimming, alone, in the sea, his ship having sunk, Poseidon sends a mighty storm, attempting to drown the hero.  Odysseus grips a giant rock, but the force of the water is so strong that he leaves pieces of skin stuck to the rock when he is ripped off of it.  Ino gives him an immortal veil, and this helps to save his life and allow him to reach Phaeacia.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...

What gift did Della buy for Jim and why in "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which... Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair.  Della is still willing to sell her hair so she can b...

Explain and discuss how the definitions of freedom change for the nation, for the freedmen and for southern whites after the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to... After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to belong to without being ordered to attend religious services (or not to attend) by their mast...