View source for The Odyssey

[[Image:Chagall-odyssey.jpg|thumb|The Odyssey, by Chagall]] [[Homer]]’s <i>Odyssey</i> is a ''nostos'', or an [[Epic Poetry | epic]] of return, and asks if one can come home again, especially after years of bloody war. In fact, an odyssey is now meant generally as a long journey home, much like [[Odysseus]]’ after the fall of Troy. The <i>Odyssey</i> attempts to remake order after the chaos of war. Odysseus, a young man when [[Agamemnon]] and [[Menelaos]] recruited him for the campaign against Ilium, is now a middle-aged survivor and veteran of that war who must be smarter than the champion [[Achilles]] and the leader Agamemnon in order to return home and set his lands in order. War almost seems easy in the light of Odysseus’ journey — at least in war, he knew his enemies. Enemies during peacetime wear many masks; Odyssey must do the same if he is to survive. Odyssey has emenies that can't be be humanly fought; the gods, but Athena helps him to get home safely.

== Summary ==
The ''Odyssey''’s action is spread over twenty-four books, generally half before Odyssey returns home, and half after. Throughout his journey odyesseus grows to be a better person.For a synopsis of each book, see [[The Odyssey Summary]].

== Comparisons ==
* [[Telemakhos to Paris]]
* [[Kirke to Helen]]

== Gods and Mortals ==
* [[Athena and Telemakhos]]
* [[Muses]]
* [[Hermes Argeiphontes]]

== List of Characters ==
===Human Beings===
* [[Telemakhos]]
* [[Odysseus]]
* [[Penelope]]
* [[Nestor]]
* [[Helen]]
* [[Lotus-eaters]]
==List of Suitors==
*[[Antinous]]
*[[Eurymechus]]
*[[Amphinomus]]
==The Women of the ''Odyssey''==
* [[Circe]]
* [[Clytemnestra]]
* [[Kalypso]]
* [[Helen]]
* [[Penelope]]

== The Supernatural Beings of the ''Odyssey'' ==
* [[Athena]]
* [[Circe]]
* [[Kalypso]]
* [[Polyphemos]]
* [[Poseiden]]
* [[Zeus]]


== The ''Odyssey'' in History ==


== Internal Links ==
* [[Homer]]
* The [[Odyssey: Questions for Consideration]]

== Commentaries ==
* [http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/Odysseus.html Odysseus] — A background on the ''Odyssey'' and Odysseus
* [http://www.davidclaudon.com/odyssey/questions.html A Study Guide by David Claudon]
* [http://litmuse.maconstate.edu/~glucas/archives/000167.shtml Myth and the <i>Odyssey</i>]
* [http://litmuse.maconstate.edu/~glucas/archives/000314.shtml The <i>Odyssey</i>: General Notes]
* [http://litmuse.maconstate.edu/~glucas/archives/000313.shtml The Telemachiad] (books 1-4 of the <i>Odyssey</i>)
* [http://litmuse.maconstate.edu/~glucas/archives/000038.shtml Odysseus and the Poet]: Notes on Book VIII
* [http://litmuse.maconstate.edu/~glucas/archives/000316.shtml The <I>Odyssey</i>: Notes on Book IX]
* [http://litmuse.maconstate.edu/~glucas/archives/000317.shtml The <i>Odyssey</i>: Notes on Book X]
* [http://litmuse.maconstate.edu/~glucas/archives/000215.shtml Poor Confusing Elpenor]
* [http://litmuse.maconstate.edu/~glucas/archives/000318.shtml The <i>Odyssey</i>: Notes on Book XI]
* [http://litmuse.maconstate.edu/~glucas/archives/000318.shtml The <i>Odyssey</i>: The Lessons of Hell] (more on Books XI and XII)
* [http://litmuse.maconstate.edu/~glucas/archives/000319.shtml The <I>Odyssey</i>: Odysseus’ Return]
*[http://www.sparknotes.com Quiz to review

== Suggested Reading ==


== Works Cited ==

* Grimal, Pierre. ''Larousse World Mythology''. New Jersey: Chartwheel Books Inc. 1973.


[[Category:World Literature|Odyssey]]