Beginning of Essay
The Odyssey, written by Homer, is the story of Odysseus and how he faced misfortune in his attempts to return home after the Trojan War. From these misfortunes he learned to be a better man and became able to regain his place in his homeland of Ithaca. During his ....

Middle of Essay
.... new information Polyphemus prays to his father Poseidon to have Odysseus and his men punished. Having angered Poseidon, they must wander throughout the sea slowly dying one by one. Odysseus learns that bragging can have ill effects and uses this knowledge on the island of the Phaecians and Ithaca when he does not openly boast of his deeds and his journeys. Odysseus also learns to pay close attention to the instructions of the gods, or he might have to face a terrible price. When Odysseus and his crew landed at the island of Aeolus, they were given a parting gift that would have helped them greatly if they had paid heed to the warnings ....