The Odyssey

The Odyssey, by Chagall

Homer’s Odyssey is a nostos, or an 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 Odyssey 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, set in medias res that generally occur half before Odysseus returns home, and half after. Throughout his journey, Odysseus faces numerous challenges that center around the deceits of the gods, the indulgences of men, and the crosscultural desire to return home. 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

The Various Races

• The Achaeans
• The Gods
• The Cicones
• The Phaecians
• The Lotus-eaters
• The Lystregonians
• The Cyclopes

Human Beings

• Telemakhos
• Odysseus
• Penelope
• Nestor
• Helen

Suitors

• Antinous
• Eurymechus
• Amphinomus

The Women

• Circe
• Clytemnestra
• Kalypso
• Helen
• Penelope

The Supernatural Beings

• Athena
• Circe
• Kalypso
• Polyphemos
• Poseiden
• Zeus
• Hermes

Afterlife

• Greek mythology
• Hades

Internal Links

• Homer
• The Odyssey: Questions for Consideration

Commentaries

• Odysseus — A background on the Odyssey and Odysseus
• A Study Guide by David Claudon
• Myth and the Odyssey
• The Odyssey: General Notes
• The Telemachiad (books 1-4 of the Odyssey)
• Odysseus and the Poet: Notes on Book VIII
• The Odyssey: Notes on Book IX
• The Odyssey: Notes on Book X
• Poor Confusing Elpenor
• The Odyssey: Notes on Book XI
• The Odyssey: The Lessons of Hell (more on Books XI and XII)
• The Odyssey: Odysseus’ Return
• [http://www.sparknotes.com Quiz to review

Works Cited

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