The Odyssey

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.

The Odyssey, by Chagall

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

Gods and Mortals

List of Characters

Human Beings

List of Suitors

The Women of the Odyssey

The Supernatural Beings of the Odyssey


The Odyssey in History

Afterlife

Internal Links

Commentaries

Suggested Reading

Works Cited

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