Do the gods and goddesses in the 'Odyssey' mostly help or hinder Odysseus ?

This question would most likely be 10 marks and is asking for direct comparison.To answer the question fully you would want to pick out specific moments in the 'Odyssey' that demonstrated a god or goddess helping or hindering Odysseus. It is important to explain why you think that the god's actions helped or hindered Odysseus.
For example: Athene, Odysseus' mother, significantly helps him throughout his travels. The epic opens with Athene persuading Zeus to send the gods' messenger Hermes to Ogygia in order to tell the nymph Calypso to release Odysseus from her capture. This allows Odysseus to continue his 10 year long journey home and that would not have been possible without Athene's intervention. Returning to Ithaca is Odysseus' ultimate aim and therefore Athene significantly helps Odysseus.
To demonstrate a full range of knowledge you would then want to offer a contrasting example, most likely why another god hindered Odysseus' travels. As the question is 10 marks you should give at least 3 or 4 fully developed examples, ideally each from different stages of Odysseus' journey and ensuring that with each one you explain why you have included it. A short conclusion at the end of your answer would help to ensure that your argument is clear to the examiner.