First, his ship was separated from the rest of the other ships in a furious storm causing him to wash up in the land of the Lotus eaters (perhaps Libya). Eating the lotus-fruit would make you forget everything except a desire to eat more fruit. Some men had to be dragged back to the ship to overcome their desires. Next they went to the island of the Cyclops (Huge one-eyed giants). A Cyclops by the name of Polyphemus spotted the sailors, captured them, and hid them in his cave so he could eat them later. Each morning the Cyclops let his sheep out to graze, but never did he let a man escape. He ate all those who tried. Eventually, the men who were still alive got away.

Odysseus first found a stick big enough to damage the Cyclop's one eye and the minute Polyphemus fell asleep, Odysseus stabbed the stick into his eye. The next morning when the sheep went out the men clung to the sheep's bellies so when the blind Cyclops felt around he wouldn't be able to find the men. When Polyphemus discovered the trick, he asked Poseidon to avenge him. Poseidon is a god who was given the ocean as his kingdom, controlling storms and sea monsters. He sent Odysseus off course in his voyage making his trip home a longer and more difficult task.

Back at sea the men were confronted with the god Aeolus, who is the keeper of the wind. He tied the storm winds in a bag and gave them to Odysseus to keep so the crew would face only fair wind. Unfortunately for his foolish men, they opened the bag thinking it was full of treasures, and when the storm winds escaped they were thrown off course to the island Aeaea, home of the witch Circe. She turned unwanted visitors into pigs, and this was the fate of the first men sent for help by Odysseus.

The god Hermes helped Odysseus out by giving him a flower that would immunize him from Circe's spells. Knowing Circe would be unable to harm him, he went straight up to the witch and demanded the release of his men. Circe was quite impressed by Odysseus's boldness and fell in love with him. She released his men, yet they all stayed there for a while before returning on their journey home. She had three kids with Odysseus, but he was still determined to go home.

As they were leaving, Circe sent the men to the underworld to consult Tiresias about their future. Tiresias was an old mortal who can see the future. He was known to give good advice. When Odysseus consulted with Tiresias, the old man warned him that when he got home he would find men fighting over his goods. After Tiresias the men set sail once again. They got safely past the Sirens by blocking their ears with wax, except for Odysseus who wanted to hear their voices. He had himself tied down so he could not be lured to them.

The dangers did not end here. They had to travel down a narrow channel between two monsters it was impossible to avoid. One was Scylla, who had six heads and snapping dogs at her waist. The other was the whirlpool Charybdis which sucks ships to their doom. Odysseus chose to pass nearer Scylla. They barely made it through, though she did kill a few men.

On Sicily the sailors killed and ate cattle. Tiresias had warned Odysseus not to harm these sacred animals and the angry gods sank his ship, drowning all the men. Odysseus survived by holding to the mast.

Eventually he was washed up on the island of Ortygia, where Calypso ruled. Calypso is a nymph who is good at getting her own way, and has the power to make mortals do what she wants. When she found Odysseus she fell in love keeping him for seven years against his will. The god Zeus who had to make Calypso let Odysseus go or he would never have returned home.

When Odysseus finally returned home he found everything as Tiresias had predicted. The nobles were trying to get Odysseus's wife, Penelope, to remarry, and they were all squandering his wealth. Odysseus revealed his true identity to his son, Telemachus, and they secretly removed all the other nobles' weapons from the hall.

Penelope at this time had no idea that Odysseus had returned home. She was too busy deciding who should be her new husband. Penelope knew if Odysseus were dead than it would be wise for her to accept a new husband. Her new husband had to be the best, so she made up a task for the men. Penelope said she would marry the man who could string the bow Odysseus left behind and shoot an arrow. She was sure no one could do it. The suitors did try and failed. Odysseus then stepped forward in a disguise. All the men laughed at the old man but he was the only one who could string the bow and shoot the arrow. Realizing who he was, the men quickly went to get their weapons, only to find they were gone. Odysseus showed no pity and killed all the men. He and his family were united once again.

Then one day a strange ship arrived. Odysseus attacked the ship thinking they were raiders. He was killed in the fight and later it was discovered that the strangers were led by his own son, one of Circe's children.

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