Summary
After escaping the clutches of Polyphemus, the band of adventurers continue on, sailing yet again in the direction of Ithaca. However, they soon came across a massive bronze wall, seemingly endless, stetching across the sea. Ulysses, attempting to find a gate or corner, sails along the edge, eventually coming to a gate of equal size. Without warning, the gates flung open drawing the men in. There, they were welcomed by the demigod Aeolus, who was instructed by the Olympians to protect the winds--North, South, East, and West--Safe in his fortress. Every day, he releases one of the four by cutting into the mountain in which they are kept. Aeolus, who happens to have quite a passion for stories, takes quite a fondness to Ulysses, who has quite the story to tell. So fond, in fact, that he assists the hero by giving him a bag of each wind, to be used to ease the journey to Ithaca. For nine days and nights, Ulysses stood guard protecting the winds, should a gullible crew member be foolish enough to dare open the bag. Just as Ithaca was nearing, however, Ulysses took the time to rest his weary eyes, at what point his crew suspected him of concealing gold from them. The moment the bag was loosened, all four winds came pouring out, contrary to Aeolus's instruction to open it slowly, letting only a single wind out at once. The four winds ravaged the ship, tearing it to splinters and sending it far off course, teaching a valuable lesson to both Ulysses and his crew.
Figurative Language
Similie, page 28
"The sun was blown out like a candle."
Personification, page 29
"When the storm was done, he would whistle the wind back home, and the huge brawling gale, broken by its imprisonment, would crawl back whimpering to its hole."
Personification, page 37
"His sword sleeps in its sheath."
Personification, page 28
"Ulysses felt the deck leap beneath him as the ship was lifted halfway out of the water by the ferocious gust and hurled through the blackness."
"The sun was blown out like a candle."
Personification, page 29
"When the storm was done, he would whistle the wind back home, and the huge brawling gale, broken by its imprisonment, would crawl back whimpering to its hole."
Personification, page 37
"His sword sleeps in its sheath."
Personification, page 28
"Ulysses felt the deck leap beneath him as the ship was lifted halfway out of the water by the ferocious gust and hurled through the blackness."
Notable Quotes
"At the end of the third night, just as the first light was staining the sky, he saw something very strange -- A wall of bronze, tall and wide, floating on the sea and blocking their way." ~Narrator, Page 28
Not only does the quote show the power of the gods - how they are able to construct such a wall in what likely was a blink of an eye - but it foreshadows how great a figure must reside within such a wall.
"'Strangers, you are my guests -- uninvited -- but guests all the same. By the look of you, you have had adventures and should have fine stories to tell.'" ~Aeolus, Page 30
Aeolus's words describe himself as a man who has a passion for stories, carried on the wind and waves by mariners such as Ulysses, who may have finally met someone he may be respected by.
"'You are bold enough. Too bold for your own good, perhaps, but you have caught my attention, Captain. I am listening. Tell on...'" ~Aeolus, Page 31
Aeolus again perfectly describes Ulysses, showing how he "boasts" of his time in the Trojan War, yet only wishes to put it behind himself through sharing his tale with another.
"He had no no knowing, of course, that he blinded Cyclops had prayed to his father and had laid a curse upon Ulysses, and that he, Aeolus, had was being made the instrument of that curse. He did not know this, for the gods move in mysterious ways." ~Narrator, Page 32
The quote shows that even powerful demigods can be naive at times, especially in the case of Aeolus, in which Poseidon alone knows how his gift will be used to torment Ulysses.
"And for nine nights and nine days, Ulysses did not sleep, he did not close his eyes or sheathe his sword." ~Narrator, Page 35
The quote shows how desperately Ulysses strives to return to Ithaca, defending the winds even to the point where he would kill his crew to protect them.
Not only does the quote show the power of the gods - how they are able to construct such a wall in what likely was a blink of an eye - but it foreshadows how great a figure must reside within such a wall.
"'Strangers, you are my guests -- uninvited -- but guests all the same. By the look of you, you have had adventures and should have fine stories to tell.'" ~Aeolus, Page 30
Aeolus's words describe himself as a man who has a passion for stories, carried on the wind and waves by mariners such as Ulysses, who may have finally met someone he may be respected by.
"'You are bold enough. Too bold for your own good, perhaps, but you have caught my attention, Captain. I am listening. Tell on...'" ~Aeolus, Page 31
Aeolus again perfectly describes Ulysses, showing how he "boasts" of his time in the Trojan War, yet only wishes to put it behind himself through sharing his tale with another.
"He had no no knowing, of course, that he blinded Cyclops had prayed to his father and had laid a curse upon Ulysses, and that he, Aeolus, had was being made the instrument of that curse. He did not know this, for the gods move in mysterious ways." ~Narrator, Page 32
The quote shows that even powerful demigods can be naive at times, especially in the case of Aeolus, in which Poseidon alone knows how his gift will be used to torment Ulysses.
"And for nine nights and nine days, Ulysses did not sleep, he did not close his eyes or sheathe his sword." ~Narrator, Page 35
The quote shows how desperately Ulysses strives to return to Ithaca, defending the winds even to the point where he would kill his crew to protect them.