Book 8

I, Odysseus, have finally found a temprary home with people that are kind and are helping me return home to Ithaca. Earlier, Alkinoos got a ship and crew ready to take me home to Ithaca, but first he wanted to feast and have a game ceremony at the pentathlon. But during the feast a Muse started playing a song about what happened in Troy to me and my fellow warriors. Unfortuanately I began to cry and later I cried two more times when they played the song. At the games ceremony I was challenged by a man of the name Seareach to compete with him. Though he stopped after I threw the discus further than anybody else. Afterwards we feasted and I was given gifts for my trip home. When they played a song about me for the last time I began to cry again and Alkinoos asked me to tell my name to everybody. He also spoke of how he was told by his father that one day a ship from his land will be wrecked by Poseidon, which I think will happen to me, of course. I wonder what they're going to think when I tell them who I am.

I think that Odysseus got a lucky break at finding such a great spot to land on after the storm. I also think that this event shows even more the hospitality of the Greeks in letting Odysseus feast, sleep, and participate in games when they don't even know Odysseus' name. In general, people get suspicious when people don't mention their name or anything about themselves while they are visiting.