Reading Notes: Homer's Odyssey (Part A)

Homer's Odyssey part A was really entertaining. I was not sure what to expect from it. Many years ago I read it; in middle school I believe. At the time it was a tough read, but the snippets we read in part A were fascinating. 

It begins with Odysseus and his crew arriving at the shores of a cyclops filled island. Odysseus and his men entered the cave of a cyclops by the name of Polyphemus. The crew wished to simply steal some of the many goats and rams that Polyphemus had rounded up in pens. Unfortunately Odysseus did not listen to the crew and decided to meet they cyclops in hopes that he would be hospitable to the crew. Polyphemus arrived and had no desire to be kind to the men. He ate two of them and closed the exit so the rest of the men could not get out. The next morning he ate two more men, and then he left for his daily activities. In the meantime, Odysseus and the men devised a plan to escape. 

When Polyphemus arrived at the cave from his daily activities Odysseus gave him several wine skins full of fresh wine. The giant cyclops became sleepy and fell into a heavy rest. The men grabbed Polyphemus' giant club and shoved it in his giant eye. Since his vision was impaired, the men strapped themselves to the bellies of the sheep. The next morning Polyphemus let the sheep out to graze and the men snuck out with them. 

Later, Odysseus and his crew landed on Circe's island. He sent half of the men to explore a fire they saw from the shoreline. The men encountered the house of Circe, and her many lions and wolves. Surprisingly, the lions and wolves did not attack the men, but it was because they were under a spell. Circe invited the men in and gave them food and drink that had been laced with magic drugs. Circe turned the men into pigs! One of the men snuck away and reported the news to Odysseus. 

Upon hearing the news, Odysseus set out for Circe's house in order to free the men. On the way, Hermes met Odysseus and gave him a root that would make him immune to Circe's spells. It happened just as Hermes said, and Odysseus was immune. This amazed Circe, and she agreed to help him rather than hurt him. All of the men were changed back to humans and she fed them and housed them for almost a year. Odysseus prompted Circe to let them leave in peace and she gave him instructions to find the route home.

Circe and her gentle Lions - Wikipedia

Homer's Odyssey, Book 9-12, Homer