Test, Allies, Enemies - The journey home is an amalgam of tests, allies, and enemies for Odysseus. There are many tests, not to mention many temptations, through which Odysseus thrives through. The people which befriend Odysseus are the ones who give him food, clothes, and shelter like King Alcinous, and Circe. Obviously throughout the story there is one main enemy who is against Odysseus, this is Poseidon. There are also many small enemies who Odysseus meets on his travels. Scylla, Charybdis, and the Lastrygonians are some of his adversaries, but the most important is the cyclops, Polythemus, who condemns Odysseus to his long, arduous journey home. Primarily speaking Odysseus encounters new tests, allies, and enemies on each new land he falls upon on his trek back to Ithaca.
Approach to Inmost Cave - The approach to the inmost cave is when the son of Laertes, Odysseus, finally arrives home at last. At first he does not acknowledge the fact that he is home. When he does come to that fact, he knows he cannot run home and exclaim that he is back. He knows he must bury his great feelings until the time is right.
SupremeOrdeal - Getting back to his peaceful home of Ithaca and reuniting with Penelope and Telemachus is the ultimate ordeal of Odysseus. Before he can do that, he must drive the careless suitors from his once proud household.
Reward - The reward for Odysseus is when he arrives home and then defeats the complacent suitors. Also Odysseus is abound with riches in presents from the aristocrats of Phaeacia.
Road Back - The road back for our hero, Odysseus, is when he cleanses his house of the incarnadine stains from the vile blood of the suitors and removing their bodies to the outside. After this is done, Odysseus goes to see his sick and emaciated father to bring his spirits back to life.
Source: http://library.thinkquest.org/19300/data/Odyssey/odysseus2.htm
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