The Odyssey Book Ten Book Ten n When
The Odyssey Book Ten
Book Ten n When Odysseus leaves the island of the Cyclops’ he arrives on the island of Aeolia (home of Aeolas, god of wind). Aeolas, and his luxury loving family, entertain Odysseus for a month in his splendid palace and Odysseus is then sent home, with a magical and securely fastened bag of wind. This bag remained sealed on his ship. When they were in sight of Ithaca, while the hero was asleep, some of his crew opened the bag, thinking it was gold, silver and riches.
Book Ten n They were blown right back to Aeolia again. When Odysseus appears in front to Aeolia once more and asks the wind god to assist them again, he is cursed and driven off the island.
Book Ten n Next the hapless crew landed on the island of the giant Laestrygonians. Odysseus sends three men inland to investigate. On the way they meet a woman who brings them to the royal house-hold. There the giant king, Antiphates, apprehends one of the sailors to eat him for supper. The other two escape back to the ships to warn the crew. Under a volley of rocks thrown at them by the giants, Odysseus and his men make a difficult escape from the island, however, many of Odysseus’ men are killed or captured by the giants.
Book Ten n n Odysseus’ wanderings then take him to Circe’s homeland, Aeaea. Whilst exploring inland he noticed some smoke rising into the distance. Rather than exploring this immediately, he kills a passing deer and brings it down from the mountain providing a feast for his distressed men.
Book Ten n n He sends a scouting party ahead to see who lives on the island – this party is lead by Eurylocus. When they approach her palace, the animals that lay about the place, come up to the men and are friendly to the visitors. They are really humans turned into animals by Circe. The men hear her spell-binding singing coming from inside.
Book Ten n n When the men enter the palace they are given a meal. Eurylochus stays outside, fearing it is a trap. After eating the food, Circe touches the men with her wand then transforms them into pigs. Circe imprisons them in a pen and cages. Eurylochus escapes back to the ship to tell Odysseus about the fate of his men.
Book Ten n Odysseus asks Eurylochus to take him back to the Circe’s cabin but Eurylochus begs Odysseus not to bring him along so Odysseus travels to Circe’s dwelling alone. The hero immediately makes his way up to Circe’s palace. On the way he meets Hermes (a god). He gives Odysseus a plant to protect him from Circe’s magic.
Book Ten n n Odysseus arrives at her palace, enters and is given a meal by the nymph. Her drugs have no effect and when Odysseus draws his sword to kill her she pleads for mercy. When Circe assures the hero that no more harm will come to him or his men, they both retire to her bed.
Book Ten n Circe’s maids prepare a bath and a meal for the hero but he is not in any humour to eat, his mind is distracted. Before the hero takes any food, he wants his men turned back into humans. Circe uses an ointment and converts the pigs back into human beings. Odysseus returns to his ship to bring the rest of his men to the palace. When he invites them all to Circe’s castle, Eurylochus is deeply suspicious of this. He begs Odysseus to think again on this matter. Eurylochus reminds the crew of the danger Odysseus got them into with the Cyclops. Odysseus is furious with his captain but ventures ahead anyway.
Book Ten n n The crew and Eurylochus go inland to the nymph’s castle. There they feast and live the high life for a year. Eventually Odysseus decides it is time to return home. Circe tells him to visit the underworld – Hades. He is instructed to speak to Teiresias. The nymph directs him to the Island of the river oceans. One of his men, Elpenor, had fallen asleep on the palace roof, drunk the previous night. He was awoken by all the noise and commotion of the men’s departure below. Forgetting he was on the roof he failed to take the ladder down to the ground and falls to his death. Meanwhile Odysseus and his men sail to the river oceans.
Book Ten: Important Points n n Note again the pattern of the narrative: two short stories followed by a longer adventure. Note the underlying tension between the hero and his men (particularly in the Circe episode). Note the role of Hermes; the herb he gives Odysseus. Note that like Calypso, Odysseus does not fully trust Circe. Yet in spite of her black magic, like Calypso, she has Odysseus’ interests at heart and helps him. In fact she proves to be very helpful to Odysseus.
Book Ten: Important Points n n Elpenor’s death at the end of the book is noteworthy. Odysseus will meet his comrade in the underworld. Note that, as in book 9, there are good and bad features of Odysseus’ character. He does save his men from the Laestrygonians and Circe. Yet why the home-sick hero spends a whole year living the high-life in Aeaea with Circe is hard to explain. Was Odysseus not impatient to return home to his beloved Penelope?
Book Ten: Questions 1. 2. 3. Outline Odysseus’ encounter with the Laestrygonians. How does Circe help Odysseus – what advice does she give him? (about getting to Hades and what he has to do when he gets there) How would you describe Odysseus’ relationship with his men in this book?
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