The Odyssey
The Journey of Odysseus
Presented by: Eden May Auman
The Odyssey
"The Odyssey" is an ancient Greek epic
poem attributed to Homer, believed to
have been composed in the 8th century
BCE. It is a sequel to Homer’s earlier
work, "The Iliad", and is centered on the
adventures of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, as
he strives to return home after the Trojan
War.
1. Departure and
The epic begins with Odysseus
Wanderings:
stranded on the island of Ogygia,
held captive by the nymph Calypso.
The gods, particularly Athena,
intervene on his behalf. He is
eventually allowed to leave, but his
journey home is fraught with peril.
Odysseus encounters various
mythical creatures and divine
beings, including the Cyclops
Polyphemus, the enchantress Circe,
and the Sirens. Each episode tests
his wit, resolve, and leadership.
2. Trials and
Challenges:
Odysseus’s journey spans ten years as
he confronts numerous obstacles. After
blinding Polyphemus, he incurs the
wrath of Poseidon, the god of the sea.
His trials include navigating the
treacherous straits between Scylla, a
six-headed monster, and Charybdis, a
monstrous whirlpool. He also descends
into the Underworld to seek advice from
the prophet Tiresias.
3. Return to Ithaca:
Upon fi nally reaching Ithaca, Odysseus
fi nds his home overrun by suitors vying for
the hand of his wife, Penelope, believing
him dead. Disguised as a beggar, he
devises a plan to reclaim his kingdom. With
the help of his son, Telemachus, and a few
loyal servants, Odysseus defeats the suitors
in a dramatic contest of skill and strength.
4. Restoration and
Reunion:
The epic concludes with Odysseus reuniting with Penelope
and restoring order to his household. His return signifi es
the end of his long, arduous journey and the
reestablishment of his rightful place as king of Ithaca.
The Odyssey
The Odyssey tells the story of a heroic but
far from perfect protagonist who battles
many antagonists, including his own
inability to heed the gods’ warnings, on
his arduous journey home from war. Along
the way the poem explores ideas about
fate, retribution, and the forces of
civilization versus savagery.
The poem is organized around a single
goal: Odysseus’s return to his homeland
of Ithaca, where he will defeat the rude
suitors camped in his palace and reunite
with his loyal wife, Penelope.
Characters of The
Odysseus
Odyssey
The protagonist of The Odyssey. Odysseus fought among the
other Greek heroes at Troy and now struggles to return to his
kingdom in Ithaca. Odysseus is the husband of Queen Penelope
and the father of Prince Telemachus. He is a favorite of the
goddess Athena, who often sends him divine aid, but a bitter
enemy of Poseidon,
Telemachus
Odysseus’s son. An infant when Odysseus left for Troy, Telemachus
is about twenty at the beginning of the story. He is a natural
obstacle to the suitors desperately courting his mother, but
despite his courage and good heart, he initially lacks the poise and
confi dence to oppose them.
Characters of The
Penelope
Odyssey
Wife of Odysseus and mother of Telemachus. Penelope spends
her days in the palace pining for the husband who left for Troy
twenty years earlier and never returned. Homer portrays her as
sometimes fl ighty and excitable but also clever and steadfastly
true to her husband.
Athena
Daughter of Zeus and goddess of wisdom, purposeful battle, and
the womanly arts. Athena assists Odysseus and Telemachus with
divine powers throughout the epic, and she speaks up for them in
the councils of the gods on Mount Olympus. She often appears in
disguise as Mentor, an old friend of Odysseus.
Characters of The
Calypso
Odyssey
The beautiful nymph who falls in love with Odysseus when he
lands on her island-home of Ogygia. Calypso holds him prisoner
there for seven years until Hermes, the messenger god,
persuades her to let him go.
Circe
The beautiful witch-goddess who transforms Odysseus’s crew into
swine when he lands on her island. With the help of Hermes,
Odysseus resists Circe’s powers and then becomes her lover, living
in luxury at her side for a year.
Characters of The
Poseidon
Odyssey
God of the sea. As the suitors are Odysseus’s mortal
antagonists, Poseidon is his divine antagonist. He despises
Odysseus for blinding his son, the Cyclops Polyphemus, and
constantly hampers his journey home. Ironically, Poseidon is
the patron of the seafaring Phaeacians, who ultimately help to
return
Zeus Odysseus to Ithaca.
King of gods and men, who mediates the disputes of the gods on
Mount Olympus. Zeus is occasionally depicted as weighing men’s
fates in his scales. He sometimes helps Odysseus or permits
Athena to do the same.
Characters of The
Antinous
Odyssey
The most arrogant of Penelope’s suitors. Antinous leads the
campaign to have Telemachus killed. Unlike the other
suitors, he is never portrayed sympathetically, and he is
the fi rst to die when Odysseus returns.
Eurymachus
A manipulative, deceitful suitor. Eurymachus’s charisma and
duplicity allow him to exert some infl uence over the other
suitors.
Characters of The
Amphinomus
Odyssey
Among the dozens of suitors, the only decent man seeking
Penelope’s hand in marriage. Amphinomus sometimes
speaks up for Odysseus and Telemachus, but he is killed
like the rest of the suitors in the fi nal fi ght.
Eumaeus
The loyal shepherd who, along with the cowherd Philoetius,
helps Odysseus reclaim his throne after his return to Ithaca.
Even though he does not know that the vagabond who
appears at his hut is Odysseus, Eumaeus gives the man food
and shelter.
Characters of The
Eurycleia
Odyssey
The aged and loyal servant who nursed Odysseus and
Telemachus when they were babies. Eurycleia is well
informed about palace intrigues and serves as confi dante
to her masters. She keeps Telemachus’s journey secret
from Penelope, and she later keeps Odysseus’s identity a
secret after she recognizes a scar on his leg.
Melanthius
The brother of Melantho. Melanthius is a treacherous and
opportunistic goatherd who supports the suitors, especially
Eurymachus, and abuses the beggar who appears in
Odysseus’s palace, not realizing that the man is Odysseus
himself.
Characters of The
Melantho
Odyssey
Sister of Melanthius and maidservant in Odysseus’s palace.
Like her brother, Melantho abuses the beggar in the palace,
not knowing that the man is Odysseus. She is having an
aff air with Eurymachus.
Polyphemus
One of the Cyclops (uncivilized one-eyed giants) whose
island Odysseus comes to soon after leaving Troy.
Polyphemus imprisons Odysseus and his crew and tries to
eat them, but Odysseus blinds him through a clever ruse
and manages to escape. In doing so, however, Odysseus
angers Polyphemus’s father, Poseidon.
Characters of The
Laertes
Odyssey
Odysseus’s aging father, who resides on a farm in Ithaca.
In despair and physical decline, Laertes regains his spirit
when Odysseus returns and eventually kills Antinous’s
father.
Tiresias
A Theban prophet who inhabits the underworld. Tiresias
meets Odysseus when Odysseus journeys to the underworld
in Book 11. He shows Odysseus how to get back to Ithaca
and allows Odysseus to communicate with the other souls in
Hades.
Characters of The
Laertes
Odyssey
Odysseus’s aging father, who resides on a farm in Ithaca.
In despair and physical decline, Laertes regains his spirit
when Odysseus returns and eventually kills Antinous’s
father.
Tiresias
A Theban prophet who inhabits the underworld. Tiresias
meets Odysseus when Odysseus journeys to the underworld
in Book 11. He shows Odysseus how to get back to Ithaca
and allows Odysseus to communicate with the other souls in
Hades.
Characters of The
Nestor
Odyssey
King of Pylos and a former warrior in the Trojan War. Like
Odysseus, Nestor is known as a clever speaker. Telemachus
visits him in Book 3 to ask about his father, but Nestor
knows little of Odysseus’s whereabouts.
Menelaus
King of Sparta, brother of Agamemnon, and husband of
Helen, he helped lead the Greeks in the Trojan War. He
off ers Telemachus assistance in his quest to fi nd Odysseus
when Telemachus visits him in Book 4.
Helen
Wife of Menelaus and queen of Sparta. Helen’s abduction
from Sparta by the Trojans sparked the Trojan War. Her
beauty is without parallel, but she is criticized for giving in
to her Trojan captors and thereby costing many Greek men
their lives. She off ers Telemachus assistance in his quest to
fi nd his father.
Agamemnon
Former king of Mycenae, brother of Menelaus, and
commander of the Achaean forces at Troy. Odysseus
encounters Agamemnon’s spirit in Hades. Agamemnon was
murdered by his wife, Clytemnestra, and her lover,
Aegisthus, upon his return from the war. He was later
avenged by his son Orestes. Their story is constantly
repeated in The Odyssey to off er an inverted image of the
fortunes of Odysseus and Telemachus.
Nausicaa
The beautiful daughter of King Alcinous and Queen Arete of
the Phaeacians. Nausicaa discovers Odysseus on the beach
at Scheria and, out of budding aff ection for him, ensures
his warm reception at her parents’ palace.
Alcinous
King of the Phaeacians, who off ers Odysseus hospitality in
his island kingdom of Scheria. Alcinous hears the story of
Odysseus’s wanderings and provides him with safe passage
back
Areteto Ithaca.
Queen of the Phaeacians, wife of Alcinous, and mother of
Nausicaa. Arete is intelligent and infl uential. Nausicaa tells
Odysseus to make his appeal for assistance to Arete.
Themes
Homecoming
Divine Justice
Cunning
Thank
You
