The Odyssey, written by Homer, is a definitive novel describing one man's long journey home from the Trojan War. Odysseus is a war hero who is desperately trying to reach his homeland, Ithaca. On his return journey he faces many trials and tribulations that prevent him from reaching his family in a short time. The Odyssey is an epic novel that has many similar connections to the modern world. Odysseus and his family faced many of the same obstacles and feelings experienced by soldiers and military families today. His wife Penelope and his son Telemachos were sad and lonely, and scared while Odysseus went to war. These are some of the same emotions that today's military families experience during their loved one's deployment. The current military families, along with Penelope and Telemakhos, were forced to continue their daily routines and schedules without their loved one. Odysseus struggled with many different emotions while away from Ithaca, just like our soldiers today when they are deployed away from their families. Soldiers fighting in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are missing their fa...