I'm reading this for AP english. Hard hard stuff. Odysseus has just reached Scheria and met the princess and that took me forever to get to. Any tips for better understanding?

I tend to think of things like this either as Video Game,   or I try to view them as Cartoon Characters.

For some reason I keep thinking of Shrek, but I'm weird like that perhaps.

If that fails, then try THIS perhaps?

...If that fails, then try THIS perhaps?

Good link, Chevy. This one might also be of help to you:

http://www.gradesaver.com/classicnotes/titles/odyssey/fullsumm.html

The Odyssey is basically a seminal literary work that lends itself to so much analysis and interpretation that it's nearly impossible to start a discussion about it on-line, at least in this format. You could, in theory, but it probably wouldn't be very productive in the end.

The best way to tackle it is like you're doing--in pieces and in conjunction with a class studying it (AP English is a great setting for that, especially if you have a smaller class size.) You're going to need many discussions and daily reinforcement of the readings to make it through with a lasting understanding. There are so many aspects involved in comprehension of the work, and it crosses areas of study. Critical analysis is key in studying it, and there are many schools, types and movements that can come into play. It's a very sophisticated work and lends itself to intense discourse.

You'll have enjoyed it after it's all over, and will certainly use it in further studies,  but it will give you brain strain and be very confusing at times.

Ehhhh...there are some common themes but that's about it imo.