I just had the incomparable pleasure of finishing the book the Odyssey after about a day and a half of reading. Don't get me wrong, but the book needed editing. For example:
~When Odysseus is asked, innumerable times, "who are you?" and he replies by going into this long-winded speech of his life. Most of the time, he is lying and makes something up. I ask why he cannot say, "who I am matters not, just that I am not Odysseus..." or even more simply, "I am John Smith, from Greece" Is it that difficult? No, he has to give a long description of how he toiled and was ailed by all manner of demons. *sigh*
~When Odysseus is on speaking to the creepy ghost-people, why can he not just say, "what's new, Akhylleus?" (or however you spell his name). No, he must say:
"Agamemnon, you, mightiest of the many kings to have sailed from Ithaka against the great walls of Troy, what grievous misfortune is this, that I should see you among the souls of those whom the Gods willed to move on?" (or something like that) and then Agamemnon gives an abbreviated autobiography describing his death in full. He doesn't even have the courtesy to say, "I was killed by my cheating wife and her lover when I came back from Troy!" He must say things like, "Ah, alas, mighty tactician that you are, great Odysseus, I fell not on the field of battle, for you know that we sailed different courses after the battle was o'er. No, it was my lot that I should come by long way from Troy to [insert some random many-lettered seaport name here] whereupon I heard of my bloodline, still dwelling in my noble house. I then made my way from [seaport] to the pass of [insert some random many-lettered name here] and then onward to my home. There, I came home, to find my great hall, standing as it did before the nine years taken from me by Troy in addition to the year (or whatever it was) on the journey home and I find my court, awaiting my return. Alas, the return they all looked upon with deception and malice. What unfortunate circumstance it was when I heralded the royal courts of my kingdom, I went to greet my loyal subjects. A greater ailing I could never imagine, for instead of loyal subjects, I was to find traitors and betrayers in my noble house. Nay, 'twas not to safety and rest I went to, rather it was to death. A man courted my wife, and for years just stayed friendly. However, he had not a single honorable intention in him. For he took my wife's consort and marooned him on an island, food for the gulls and birds in the air. Then he went forth to my house and courted my wife, she resisted, but not for long. He plotted to murder me, Odysseus, Master Tactician. And murder me he did, upon my return. Kassandra, my consort was murdered as I breathed my last. My noble home, dirtied and sullied in blood. Oh, great Odysseus, 'tis better to go through years of trials, as you  have, then to have been allotted my fate. Be wary, Odysseus. You may have that and worse waiting for you upon the arrival to your sanctuary..."
~All this would be said in hexameter WITHOUT PUNCTUATION!

My summary of the book is the following:
Odysseus is at Troy for nine years. Wins renown.
Odysseus returns home, having to face many trials and testing.
Odysseus comes to his house disguised to see how he has been missed and who is still loyal.
Odysseus wins the contest of axes as a beggar man, then kills suitors.
Athena helped, too.

Your post made me laugh. So true. Why can't Odysseus just use simple sentences?

I think it is because he is the happy sufferer. Only at inner peace with himself when others know how hard it is for him. Or something. It really is pretty ridiculous.