There are a few things that I like about the Odyssey book eleven. I find it interesting how Odysseus relates the details of his journey to hell. I imagine spending years on the rough ocean and be described and compared to hell. The tiny ships that they sailed on were a great example of how their culture lacked to build sufficient ships to handle the waves of the powerful ocean. It wasn't stated in the text how many ships sailed to Troy and how many actually returned. One could only speculate that the Greeks lost many to the rough sea waters. Another thing or person that I find interesting is the great Greek warrior Achilles. He was a legend in his on time. I would like to learn m ...view middle of the document...
He also listened to the stories of them as well. I had a difficult time in making out the brief description of these stories. In the Book twenty on, "The Contest of the Bow," I thought that how Penelope chose her bride through the making of the bow was intriguing. Many women today would argue that this example of choosing a husband by no means is a great way to find true love. This may seem childish or even brainless, but it is also brilliant. If one would take the difficulty in weaving a bow and shooting through twelve axes; one would understand that it takes skill, and a smart minded man to do so.Odysseus's friends show loyalty to him when they are asked to do the task of making a bow. When they see Odysseus's bow they cry in fear. Eumaeus and Philoetius display their affection for Odysseus when they see it. I admire the gratitude of Odysseus's son Telemachus. He knows that the axes need to be set up with haste and accuracy. This comparison of his feelings brings to mind the saying, "like father, like son." Odysseus too was brave and accurate in his decisions and smart minded like his offspring. At the end of the book Odysseus son seems worthy of being next in line to his father. In Book twenty four, Eumaeus and Philoetius prove to be dependable and are a great help to Odysseus in his battle with the suitors. Odysseus is being tested, and this fight against the suitors, who are greater in number than Odysseus' party, is a part of his test. I thought it was interesting of how alike Odysseus is to the great warrior Achilles. I didn't notice how similar they were until he was outnumbered and overcame all of the odds.
