BOOK 12 OF THE ODYSSEY

After getting off of the Island of the dead, the crew went back to Kirke, who gave them advice for the next steps of the journey. They passed through some Sirens, then went on towards the sea monster Skylla, who ate 6 men. When they reached Helios' island, they ended up eating his cows, which brought the wrath of the Gods down. Their ship was wrecked and Odysseus was the only survivor. He passed by Skylla again and ended up floating to the island of Kalypso, where his story started.

Knowing that he'll lose 6 men, Odysseus goes by Scylla anyway because it's the only way to get home. He's more committed to the journey of getting home and wants to get there as fast as he can. He's in more of a rush than he was before he went to the Island of the Dead. This shows in the way that the second time he went to Kirke's island, he had only a short visit, whereas he stayed on her island for a year previous to visiting the land of the dead.

3 THINGS WORTH NOTING

• The end of the book is where Odysseus started his part of the story, with him at Kalypso's island.
• Zeus wrecked Odysseus' ship, but kept him hidden from Skylla.
• Odysseus was the only man on board that listened to the song of the Sirens.

"The lovely voices in ardor appealing over the water made me crave to listen, and I tried to say, "Untie me!" to the crew, jerking my brows; but they bent steady to the oars. Then Perimedes got to his feet, he and Eurylokhos, and passed more line about, to hold me still. So all rowed on, until the Sirens dropped under the sea rim, and their singing dwindled away."

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