Do you think I should revise the first sentence? Also, am I using the dash properly?
"Driven by sea storms, Odysseus and his men wind up upon the land of the Lotus Eaters, and three of the men are sent to retrieve information about the inhabitants of the peculiar island. When they return, however, the men wish to remain on the island forever—an effect triggered by the consumption of the Lotus. Immediately, Odysseus binds the affected men and tells his men to embark on their ships again, in fear of losing hope for returning home."
See below.
The dash is fine.
As an AI language model, I can give you some suggestions regarding your first sentence and the use of the dash.
In terms of revising the first sentence, it is generally subjective and depends on the context of your writing. However, here are a few alternative suggestions to consider:
1. "Driven by a fierce sea storm, Odysseus and his men find themselves stranded upon the land of the Lotus Eaters."
2. "Pushed by raging sea storms, Odysseus and his crew are washed ashore onto the peculiar land of the Lotus Eaters."
3. "Caught in the grip of tempestuous sea storms, Odysseus and his men are swept onto the shores of the enigmatic Lotus Eaters' island."
Now, regarding the use of the dash, it is important to understand its purpose. Dashes are used to indicate a sudden change in thought or interruption in the sentence. In your provided sentence, the dash seems to be used appropriately to introduce a shift in focus from the sea storms to the men sent to retrieve information. However, if you're unsure about using a dash, you can also consider using a comma or rephrasing the sentence slightly. Here's how you can rephrase it using a comma:
"Driven by sea storms, Odysseus and his men end up on the land of the Lotus Eaters, where three of the men are sent to retrieve information about the peculiar island's inhabitants."
Ultimately, it's important to maintain clarity and consistency in your writing, ensuring that the sentence structure and punctuation choices align with your intended meaning and style.