Draft the summary for The Odyssey Part 1, The Odyssey Part 2, The Odyssey Part 3, or Orpheus and Eurydice. Remember to use your own words and to focus only on important information.
Refer to the strategies on pp. 294–297 in The Essential Guide to Language, Writing, & Literature to construct powerful paragraphs for your summary. Take note of the specific tips about writing a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a concluding sentence. Working on the draft you completed earlier, revise and edit the summary for the use of the “literary present” tense and for chronological order. Make sure that sentences are clear, concise, and varied in structure.
The Odyssey Part 1:
In the first part of The Odyssey, we are introduced to Odysseus, the protagonist of the story, who has been away from home for twenty years due to his involvement in the Trojan War. The story begins with Odysseus being held captive on the island of Calypso, who is reluctant to let him leave. Meanwhile, the gods on Mount Olympus are debating whether to help Odysseus return to his home in Ithaca. Athena, the goddess of wisdom, advocates for his release and enables him to escape from Calypso's island. Odysseus sets sail on a makeshift raft, but encounters a storm that destroys his raft. He is then washed ashore on the island of Phaeacia, where he is found by Princess Nausicaa and her maidens. They offer him assistance and provide him with clothes and food. Odysseus, now revived, tells Princess Nausicaa of his journey and the obstacles he has faced. The story ends with Odysseus being escorted to the palace of King Alcinous, where he is welcomed with a grand feast.
The Odyssey Part 2:
In the second part of The Odyssey, Odysseus continues his storytelling at the palace of King Alcinous. He recounts his encounters with the Cyclops Polyphemus, the sorceress Circe, and the deadly monster Scylla, among others. Odysseus also reveals that these obstacles were set by the gods as punishment for his men's disrespect and hubris. Despite losing many men on his journey, Odysseus manages to survive and escape these dangerous encounters. After leaving the island of Circe, Odysseus arrives in the land of the dead. There, he seeks advice from the spirit of the prophet Tiresias, who warns him of the dangers that lie ahead. Tiresias advises Odysseus to avoid the island of Thrinacia and to appease the god Poseidon in order to ensure a safe journey back to Ithaca. The chapter concludes with Odysseus receiving gifts from King Alcinous and his people, as they grant him a ship and a crew to accompany him on his voyage home.
The Odyssey Part 3:
In the third part of The Odyssey, Odysseus finally reaches Ithaca after many years of being away. However, when he arrives, he finds that his home has been taken over by a group of suitors who seek to marry his wife, Penelope, and claim his kingdom. Disguised as a beggar, Odysseus reunites with his son Telemachus and together they devise a plan to take revenge on the suitors. With the help of the goddess Athena, Odysseus reveals his true identity to Telemachus and they begin to put their plan into motion. Odysseus tests the loyalty of his servants and gains support from some of them. He also learns about the behavior of the suitors and starts devising a plan to rid his home of their presence. Meanwhile, Penelope, unaware of Odysseus' return, faces pressure from the suitors to choose a new husband. The section ends with Odysseus preparing for a confrontation with the suitors and the impending climax of the story.
Orpheus and Eurydice:
The myth of Orpheus and Eurydice tells the tragic tale of a gifted musician named Orpheus and his love for Eurydice. When Eurydice is bitten by a snake and dies, Orpheus is grief-stricken and decides to descend to the underworld to bring her back. With his enchanting music, Orpheus persuades Hades, the god of the underworld, and his wife Persephone to allow him to bring Eurydice back to the land of the living. However, there is a condition - Orpheus must walk ahead and not look back until they both reach the surface. Despite his longing to see Eurydice, Orpheus follows this condition until he is just about to leave the underworld. Unable to resist, he looks back to make sure Eurydice is still following him, but as he does so, she disappears and is forever lost to him. Orpheus returns to the world above, mourning the loss of his beloved. This myth serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of curiosity and the fragility of love.