One of the coolest things about the
Odyssey - and there are many, many cool things about that poem - is the way in which the episodes are structured:
TROY
----
1.
Kikones (innocent city is ambushed)
2.
Lotus Eaters (temptation, delay)
3.
Cyclops (monster)
4.
Aeolus (greedy crew delays journey)
5.
Laestrygonians (monster)
6.
Circe (female temptation)
7.
HADES
8.
Sirens (female temptation)
9.
Scylla (monster)
10.
Cattle/Sun (greedy crew delays journey)
11.
Charybdis (monster)
12.
Calypso (temptation, delay)
13.
Phaecia (innocent city is ambushed)
----
ITHACA
You'll notice that the episodes make a perfect reflection across the
Hades episode;
Circe and
Sirens are both forms of feminine temptation,
Scylla and
Laestrygonians are both monsters, etc. Also notice the smaller reflections inside of this large one:
Scylla and
Charybdis are similar monsters in the same way that the
Cyclops is similar to the
Laestrygonians.