The Odyssey is about an old king who fought in the Trojan War.  He's a smart man (in fact, if I recall correctly, he's the originator of the Trojan Horse, which allowed the Greeks to win after 10 long years), who makes a crucial mistake just before he leaves for home.  Angered, the gods essentially force him to sail for another 10 years before he finally reaches home.

It's really too bad, that like Shakespeare, the language used in the Odyssey kind of flows in a poetic way.  The translations, like those of Beowulf are pretty stilted, and of course it's difficult for poetry to reach a modern audience. 

I like the story myself, but find it to be quite unreadable.   Are you in High School?  Considering your use of language, I'm guessing yes.  In my experience, High School teachers are the worst.  It's as if, in many cases they're trying to overcompensate for not having continued their education  They're trying to show off how smart they are.   They should stick with Huckleberry Finn.

It sounds like you have read the story once.  It's too bad, it sounds like you didn't retain anything from the first reading, since you're stuck with reading it again.  You are most unfortunate for having not one, but two teachers who are a little bit insecure.  The Odyssey is certainly very heavy reading.

PhilnEdee, you're absolutely correct...the story is a true classic.  It's too bad it's presented in a format I have a difficult time reading. 

"O Brother Where Are Thou" is an excellent adaptation of the story, though I think they spend considerably less time on the road.  Gotta love those Sirens.    And John Goodman makes a helluva cyclops.

Want some fun?  Watch "O Brother Where Art Thou" a couple of times, THEN read the book.  Blind Oracles, Cyclops, Sirens... they're all there if you know where to look.