it is evident that the gods are essential, for they not only serve as plot enhancers, but they also help Odysseus grow as a character and return him to Ithaca as a better and more experienced man than he was when he first left.

Similarly, Helios, the sun god, also slows Odysseus journey home. Odysseus makes his men promise not to kill Helios' cattle, knowing if they do then they'd be severely punished: "friends, we have food and drink aplenty aboard the ship- / keep your hands off all these herds or we will pay the price!" (12:345-248). He then makes the mistake of going off to pray and falls asleep (12:363-365). While he is asleep, his curious and jealous crew slaughter the cattle, an act which causes the Almighty Zeus, King of gods, to throw down a lightning bolt which destroys the ship and causes all his men to drown. "Then, in the same breath Zeus hit the craft / with a lightning bolt and thunder...and the god out short their journey home forever" (12:447-452). The slaughtering of the sun god's cattle teaches Odysseus a lesson in leadership. Had he been around to make sure his men kept their word, his crew would still be alive and he wouldn't have landed on Capypso's Island.

Let them all die so, all those who do duch things.

immortality. Such a package deal is very tempting and a lesser man would easily give in. However, "long enduring" (5:190) Odysseus declines the gifts for a one way ticket home.

Father, son of Cronus, our high and mighty king,

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Odysseus journey home - the exile must return! (1:54-76)

nd by Odysseus revealing his name, Poseidon knows who blinds his son (9:584-585). Poseidon swears that Odysseus will never return home safely. When Poseidon notices that Calypso, the nymph, lets Odysseus go he is outraged. He conjures a massive storm in an attempt to kill Odysseus (5:321-328). "At that a massive wave came crashing down on [Odysseus'] head, a terrific onslaught spinning his craft round and round- he was thrown clear of the decks..." (5:344-347). In being so boastful, Odysseus makes his journey home more difficult. Later in Book 13, Poseidon is outraged that the Phaecian's sailed Odysseus home and gave him such wonderful gifts. Poseidon makes it clear to Zeus that he is not pleased that Odysseus' last voyage home was so easy (13:145-156). He wants to destroy the Phaecian's ship and "pile a huge mountain around about their port" (13:173) so the Phaecian's will never sail again. Zeus suggests a milder punishment, to which Poseidon agr

Some common words found in the essay are:
War Brave, Similarly Helios, Poseidon Collectively, Sea Helios, Cice's Palace, Zeus King, Island Calypso, Odysseus Athena, Phaecia Athena, Ithaca Father, journey home, odysseus journey, odysseus journey home, teaches odysseus, gods odyssey, journey home gods, helios sun, battle suitors, book 13, helios sun god, god sea, circe goddess enchantress, athena makes, teaches odysseus lesson, circe goddess,
Approximate Word count = 1569
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)