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1. 
   amethystrose Teacher
   High School - 9th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   Zeus sending the storm that blew Odysseus and his crew to the Land of the Lotus Eaters, leading him on a ten year journey to get home was a bit extreme for a bit of over-zealous after war partying at Ismarus.  But apparantly, Zeus was on the side of the Ciccones.

   After blinding the Cyclops and then taunting him with his name, Polyphemus curses Odysseus with the loss of his men, the loss of his ships, and an incredibly long trek home, and even if he ever got home, trouble would be waiting for him there.  Poseidon does as his son, Polyhemus, asks and works against Odysseus at every step.

   Calypso keeps Odysseus on her island for seven years, while he is yearning to get home to his wife Penelope (in the meantime, finding solace for his plight with Calypso).   This comes after Zeus blows up Odysseus' last ship because the men ate Helios' sacred cows.  Of course, Zeus had seen to it that their ship couldn't leave for a month and the men were starving.  Helios  wasn't concerned about some starving sailors... he was more concerned about his cattle.

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/odyssey/book-1-summary-analysis

   http://www.enotes.com/odyssey/book-5-summary-analysis

   http://www.enotes.com/odyssey/book-9-summary-analysis

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   Posted by amethystrose on Tuesday October 7, 2008 at 7:02 PM