Book 21: The Bow

At lot has happened since I last saw you. I'll start from the top. Penelope brought out twelve axes and my hunting bow as a contest to see which suitor deserved her the most. Both of the herders broke down to tears as they saw what she was doing. Though something surprising happened at the start. My son, Telemakhos, decided to be the first to give the bow a shot. After he failed the first three times he gave it one more try. The fourth time he almost had it strung when I gave him a hard look that made him stop right away. After that some of the suitors began to fail one after another until Antinoos said to postpone the contest until the next day. While this was happening I took the herders aside to tell them who I was and to tell them what I plan to do. I then gave my bow a shot even though I was critized and threatened and few times. I took my time in stringing the bow and before long all of the suitors were watching every move that I made. When I finished I carefully and cleanly shot the bow straight threw the twelve axes. I then gave the signal to my son that it was time to try to eliminate the suitors. You'll have to read the next chapter to find out what happens.

I think that Odysseus made a good decision in attempting to string and shot the bow. By doing this it showed the suitors that he was no beggar, but was Odysseus and that he was ready to fight. It also showed that he wasn't going to listen to all of the suitors threats and critism. Normally, when a large amount of people pressures you to stop something, you stop because you feel scared of what could possible happen if you followed through with your actions.

Book 20: Feast away

This chapter didn't start well for me. I saw a few women going off to the suitor's room and that got me really angry. But I held myself together. After that I couldn't fall asleep either. At least until Athena came and and comforted me. Something told me that the situation was a little like neurosis. I couldn't fall asleep until I talked to somebody about what I was feeling and thinking about. I then prayed to Zeus for a sign to show me whether the time has come to kill the suitors. He gave me a positive sign ad that made me happy too. That guy named Melanthios made fun of me again. But a man named Philoitios was nice to me and I liked him. Then the suitors had another feast and a suitor threw a cow foot at me. They are so mean and stupid. Telemakhos then came up to the plate and stopped the trouble. Another one of the suitors gave this long speech about how everybody shoud just give up hope of me returning home. I then went to the home of Peiraios. I was greetd kindly. I can't wait to give those suitors what they deserve.

I think that Telemakhos showed, once again, that he is growing up by ending the violence that the suitors were giving his father. Normally, people would just sit there and stare when a large mass of people were throwing stuff and insulting their father.

Book 19: Discovered

Today my masterful plan to kill the suitors began. My son, Telemakhos, hid my weapons and arms, the first step in my plan. After that my wife began to question me, but she didn't realize who I was because I'm still disguised as a beggar. I tried to weave around some of her questions, but I ended up having to answer some of them because I didn't want to risk her getting suspicious. I, again, lied about my past to protect myself and my plan. Penelope surprised me a little bit because she said multiple times that she thinks that now is the time to finally get remarried because she has lost all hope and has no more excuses to use to stall anymore. After hearing this I tried to keep her from doing this by telling her that I knew Odysseus, myself, was close and will return soon. She didn't buy it though. She also mentioned that she thought that I was like her lord, myself, both physically and mentally. After that she insisted that I get bathed and I get a new robe to wear. So the woman that helped raise me, Eurykleia, began to clean me. But before long she noticed the scar which I had acquired a long time ago as a child by a wild boar. She new that it was me immediately, but I stopped her before she said anything. After I made her promise not to tell anybody me wife told me about her plans to choose a suitor to marry. She then went to bed. I don't know about you, but I think that I am running out of time!!

I think that Odysseus again showed his self-control in not slipping up when the maid Eurykleia noticed that the old beggar was Odysseus in disguise. Normally, somebody would panic when they realize that something just happened that can do them in for good.

Book 18

I think that I said some pretty weird things today on page 340. I said that mankind is the frailest mortal creature on the earth. I think that I meant that humans can be the stupidest creatures on the planet and that it doesn't take much to get yourself in trouble with the gods. I also said that life with the gods can be like night and day. This means to me that in different parts of your life and even on different days the gods can favor you, or dislike you. Sort of how after I boasted to the Kyklops the gods didn't like me, but later on and they thought that I had suffered enough and they decided to help me.

I also think that what I said makes me seem very wise. What do you think? Nah. I know you think I'm wise, you don't have to say it. Back to the topic. The sorts of things that I said came from a long time of hardship and disloyalty by myself and others. I could also sense that the person that Iwas speaking to knew that I was telling the truth. I could tell by his reaction. Overall, I think that my wisdom has really grown over my life, but that doesn't mean that I'm too old to be a warrior.

After seeing all of these suitors and learning from what they act like I think that I can probably take them. But that is obviously the biggest problem that I am facing at the moment. I think that another problem that can possibly happen is that I can, once again, lose the god's favor by doing something stupid. It's happened to me before. Like when I said: ""Our minds are as the days are, dark and bright,/blown over by the father of gods and men" (340). Let's just hope that that doesn't happen to me again.

In general, I think that my self-awareness has grown too. When I was challenged to a fight by Iros, I decided not to fight too rough because I didn't want to have a chance of giving myself away. See!!!!!!!!!!!! I have changed. In the past I would have seen this as a chance to show my strength and would have crippled him right there on the spot. I also think that I am much more aware of my surroundings now than before. I can tell when to say things in certain situations without getting myself into that much trouble.

Book 17: Begging to learn

Well I was in for a surprise today. The suitors treated me like dirt. But I'll promise you one thing. In a few days they will all be at the mercy of myself, Odysseus. I'll tell it from beginning to end. Telemakhos left right when the sun rose the day after we met for the first time in twenty years. I stayed at the swineherds house for a while after he left though. A little later the swineherd led me to the my palace even though I was made fun of on the way there. When I got to my house I saw my dog Argos right before he died and it broke my heart. I soon was participating in a feast that the suitors held, even though I was doing much more begging than feasting. I soon learned how much of a jerk one of the suitors was. His name is Antinoos. He threw a stool at me and bruised my shoulder. My wife Penelope then asked if I could tell news of myself to her, but I said that I would tell her later after the sun set. That is all that has happened up to this point.

Even though my summary isn't based on Telemakhos, I think that he showed great self restraint in not jumping to his father's aid after Antinoos threw a stool at Odysseus. In general, when someone sees their father being abused or hurt they can't stand to see it happen.

Book 16: Reuniting

I, Odysseus, have finally met my son for the first time since I left him to go to the trojan war. I will tell it exactly how it happened. I had been staying at the swineherds house for a while before I met my son. Before I knew it though Telemakhos came walking into the house and sat down next to me. He didn't know who I was because I was disguised as an old beggar. I didn't tell him who I was until a little later. After Telemakhos asked who I was the swineherd told of the lie that I made up ( I still can't believe that he believed that!!!!!!). Telemakhos then told me of the horrible life he had been living with the suitors and I felt terrible. Athena then let me know that it was time that I told Telemakhos who I was and at first he thought that I was a God ( Athena made me look like who I really am). He didn't accept at first that I really was his father. I then explained to him how Athena had been helping me and changing my apperance from time to time. After we had hugged each other we began to devise our plan to take out the suitors. I am not going to tell you the plan now because I want it to be a surprise when it happens. Well, that's all that has happened up to now.

I think that Odysseus, once again, showed great self-control at not just lunging at his son when he first saw him. In general, most people would forget about everything around them and the situation that they were in if they saw their son for the first time in twenty years.

Book 12: Adventures

When my crew and I left the land of the Dead we went straight back to bury Elpenor. We then feasted for the night and ventured out back into the sea the next morning. Kirke told me of what is in the future for my companions and what can happen if we did different things correctly or incorrectly. First we passed by the island of Seirenes, which was like torture to me because the music that they played was so beautiful ( I got a thing for music). Then we went to the land of Skylla and Kharybdis and survived again, thankfully, with small losses. Then things started to go wrong. When we passed by the island of Helios and his cattle my men insisted on stopping to rest. I made them promise not to kill any of the animals for fear of the warning that Kirke gave me. Luck did not go our way though after that. For a month the weather was made poor by Zeus and eventually my men killed some of the cattle while I was sleeping. When we launched out again a storm came and ruined the ship and killed all of my men. I slowly drifted back to the dark island of Skylla and Kharybdis but survived. Though another dark time lies ahead of me as I near Kalypso's island.

I think that, for the most part, Odysseus' men did a good job in keeping promises and avoiding danger. Although they failed at the very end and and caused destruction for everybody. In general, it's hard to keep cravings down for a month when what you crave is right in front of you.

Book 11: The Adventure of Death

I met a lot of interesting people today. It is kind of sad because they all asked me, Odysseus, of the whereabouts of their families. I'll tell it from the top though. My men and I arrived at the land of Death to make a sacrifice to Teiresais. After we sacrificed the ewe and lamb I guarded them until Teiresais arrived. While I was waiting I saw my mother and talked with her after Teiresais came. Teirasais came and told me of my future too (it sounded bleak). Eventually I met a lot of my companions and friends from the past who had died. Eventually it got a little boring because their were so many of them. But I met Agamemnon, Akhilleus, and Aias. At the end though Persephone brought some dark hell and I left swiftly with my crew to escape. Wish me luck (I'm going to need it)!

I think that what happened in the land of the dead showed great courage and determination on the part of Odysseus. To go into such a dark place shows just how much he wants to go home, although sometime that determination falters. In general, some people just give up when they think that the going is going to be too rough.