lla and Charybdis, the Sun god’s Island, Calypso’s Island and finally the Island of the Phaiakians. The fact that Odysseus is still determined to get home after all of these impediments is incredible. Odysseus’ extreme will power shows the urgency behind his return. Homer’s most important reason for using the en media res method and taking the epic out of chronological order is that it draws the reader into the story right away instead of having the reader wait for a climax in the action. By using this method the reader feels more involved in Odysseus’ journey because the reader knows he must return home to solve the problems of his kingdom. The audience already knows that Odysseus’ ultimate goal is to return home and expel the suitors from his house even before Odysseus knows his fate. In a way the reader goes through the narrative to make sure that this happens. The clear example of the reader understanding Odysseus’ destiny comes in book II in lines 49-85 during Telemakhos’ speech during the assembly that begins the action in the epic. Telemakhos explains that it is not courteous for the suitors to plunder his home and riches and that the suitors have no indignation or shame about the foul acts that they commit. Later on in the assembly Telemakhos begs that Zeus come so that the suitors “shall get what you deserve: a slaughter here, and Bruns 5nothing paid for it!” (Lines 153- 154). After that statement Zeus sends a sign to the Greeks:Now Zeus who views the wide world sent a sign to him, launching a pair of eagles from a mountain crest in gliding flight down the soft blowing wind, wing-tip to wing-tip quivering taut, companions, till high above the assembly of many voices they wheeled, their dense wings beating, and in havoc dropped on the heads of the crowd- a deathly omen- wielding their talons, tearing cheeks and throats; then veered away on the right hand through the cit...
