The Odyssey, Book 12: The Cattle of the Son (personal response)

    I would have to say that this is my favorite book of the Odyssey we have read yet.  At the end, everything seems to be brought full circle, and I finally see where our hero has come from.  A few exciting "tests" that are apart of the "road of trial" are also found in this book.  To me, it was a little disappointing at first when Circe outlines the troubles that Odysseus will have to face.  Yet these brief descriptions from the "nymph with lovely braids" are nothing compared to Odysseus' story of conquering these tasks.  I also found it interesting that Circe gives Odysseus a choice, when it comes to telling him what lies ahead of him, of which path he could take.  After choosing the Scylla and Charybdis path, he then seems to feel that he does not need the advice of others and he "cleared [his] mind of Circe's orders" and enters into the passage between the cliffs (lines 245-30).  So we do see this continuing sense of arrogance that Odysseus carries with him.
    I also find it interesting that we see some epithets in The Cattle of the Son even though this entire book is an autobiographical story of Odysseus' challenges before reaching Calypso's island.  For example in the very beginning of the book, Odysseus mentions "Dawn with her rose-red fingers" (line 8).  These epithets might be a way for Homer to insure that the Phaecians and us as the readers all know who is doing what.  
    We also see one of the first rebellions against Odysseus by his men, when they break the oath on the island of the Sun.  Perhaps Odysseus should take this as a reminder that he is not the only one who is on this journey.  This "fatal plan" of Eurylochus later causes the entire crew to fall into danger (line 365).  Yet of course, our hero comes through alive even when his crew unintentionally is keeping him back.  This raises an interesting point, is Odysseus really a hero when he saves only himself and not the crew that is dead because they rebel against their leader?