The Odyssey
Book Ten
Book Ten
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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 and 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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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?