The tale of The Odyssey begins when Odysseus, King of Ithaca, leaves from Troy after fighting in the Trojan War to return to his home in Ithaca. He and his men first come to the land of the Lotus-Eaters where some of his men lose all motivation after they eat the enchanting lotus plant. They then came to the Island of the Cyclopes. Odysseus led his men into a cave to investigate and were trapped by Polyphemus, one of the Cyclopes. Odysseus thought of a plan to blind the Polyphemus with a red-hot spear and escape tied under the Cyclops rams.
Odysseus and his men then came to the island of the King of the Winds. Here, Aeolus gives Odysseus a bag of good winds that would sail him safely back to Ithaca. When they approached Ithaca with his gift, Odysseus men opened the bag of the winds, thinking it was treasure, sending them all the way back to the same island. The King refused to help them again. They ended up at Circe's island where the witch turns some of his men into pigs. With the help of Hermes, Odysseus resisted her magic and impressed her. His men were restored and they remained on her island for one year. When they left, Circe told them they had to travel to the land of the dead to receive directions to Ithaca.
At the land of the dead they spoke with Tiresias who told them how to get home. Odysseus and his men then made their way home to Ithaca. On the way, they had to sail passed the Sirens. Odysseus poured wax into his mens ears, which blocked the sound of the singing nymphs. They then encountered Scylla and Charybdis, a six-headed monster and a whirlpool. Odysseus loses six of his best men to the sea monster.
As they sailed back to Ithaca, the men insisted on stopping at the island where the cattle of the Sun God were kept. Disobeying Odysseus' orders, the men killed the cattle. This resulted in the destruction of their ship. Odysseus, the sole survivor, floated back through the dangers of the sea and ended up on Calypso's island. Odysseus is kept on Ogygia for seven years before Zeus sends Hermes to retrieve Odysseus and send him back to Ithaca. Calypso informs Odysseus that he must build a ship in order the leave the island. As he sails home, Poseidon becomes angered that Odysseus has made it this far and creates a violent storm that destroys his ship.
He floats to Phaecia where the King of the Phaecians is moved by his stories and offers him a ship to return home. When Odysseus finally reaches Ithaca, he is disguised by Athena as a beggar which allows him to plan his revenge without anyone recognizing his true identity. Athena sends for Telemachus who meets his father for the first time. When they first meet, Odysseus is still a beggar, but Telemachus soon realizes that it is his father. They then plan out how they are going to get rid of the suitors.
The next day Telemachus returns to his house as Odysseus follows disguised as a beggar. When they get to the house Odysseus is given food but must withstand the taunts of the suitors. When he implies that they are generous because they are giving away someone else's food, Antinous throws a stool at him. Odysseus continues to test the loyalty of people around him. He tells his story to Penelope and when an old nurse gives him a bath, she recognizes his scar. Penelope tells him that she will challenge the suitors to string Odysseus' bow and shoot it through twelve axeheads. Whoever does this may marry her.
When Penelope rises the next morning, she retrieves the bow and announces the contest. None of the suitors can string it and Antinous proposes they carry on with the contest tomorrow. Odysseus asks for a try. Odysseus strings the bow and shoots it through the axeheads easily. He and Telemachus begin to kill the suitors. They slaughter every one of the suitors including disloyal servants.
Odysseus is turned back into his own appearance and approaches Penelope who does not believe it is him. Odysseus reminds her of the bed that he built for them. Penelope recognizes that her husband has returned and welcomes him back into her arms. Odysseus earns back his place as King of Ithaca and lives happily with his wife and son.
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