The Odyssey
What is an Epic?
A long narrative poem about a
legendary hero who represents
the cultural values of a nation.
The poem is in a formal and
dignified tone.
Supernatural elements are
frequently present.
Homer
Poet
He was thought
to be blind, but
describes
events as a
seeing person.
Lived around
1200 B.C.
Homer
Wrote The Iliad
and The
Odyssey stories about
the war between
the Trojans and
the Greeks.
The Illiad
Story of the last year of the
Trojan War
War had lasted 10 years.
Troy was defeated when
Ulysses and his men were able
to get inside the walls of Troy
concealed within the body of
the Trojan horse.
The Trojan Horse
The Odyssey
The story of the journey of
Ulysses and his men trying to
get home after the Trojan War.
The journey takes 10 years
An epic about humans on the
journey of life overcoming
temptations along the way.
The Odyssey
Today, The Odyssey has been reinterpreted into several different
works of film and television.
Themes
 The Power of guile over Strength
 The Pitfalls of Temptation
THE MORTALS
ULYSSES
 The main character is called either Ulysses
(Latin), Odysseus (Greek), or Ulixes (Roman). Also
known as Olysseus, Oulixeus, or Oulixes.
Ulysses is the king of Ithaca
and the husband of Penelope.
When he left to fight the Trojan
War, he left Penelope pregnant
with his son, Telemachus.
Ulysses is well-known for his
resourcefulness and guile and is
known by his epithet, “Ulysses
the Cunning.”
ULYSSES
The Iliad and The
Odyssey are not
the only stories
that Ulysses is
mentioned in!
The Romans hated the guy and in Virgil's, Aeneid, the story of the
legendary story of Aeneas, a Trojan who traveled to Italy and
became the ancestor of the Romans, Ulysses is referred to as “cruel
Odysseus” or “deceitful Odysseus.”
Although Ulysses’ cunning and deceit were admired by the Greeks,
the Romans saw it as dishonorable.
Penelope
 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 flighty and
excitable but also clever and steadfastly
true to her husband.
Telemachus
 (Tell-e-mack-us)
 Odysseus’s son. 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 confidence
to oppose them.
EURYLOCHUS
(Your-E-Low-Cuss)
Ulysses’ second in command.
Cowardly and unpleasant, he
frequently undermines Ulysses’
authority and causes trouble.
Relative of Ulysses through
marriage.
Antinous
 The most arrogant
of Penelope’s
suitors. Antinous
leads the
campaign to have
Telemachus killed.
Eurymachus
 A manipulative, deceitful suitor.
Eurymachus’s charisma and duplicity
allow him to exert some influence over
the other suitors.
Amphinomus
 Among the dozens of suitors, the only
decent man seeking Penelope’s hand in
marriage. Amphinomus sometimes
speaks up for Odysseus and
Telemachus.
Eumaeus
 The loyal
shepherd who,
along with the
cowherd
Philoetius, helps
Odysseus reclaim
his throne after
his return to
Ithaca.
Eurycleia
 The aged and
loyal servant who
nursed Odysseus
and Telemachus
when they were
babies. Eurycleia
is well informed
about palace
intrigues and
serves as
confidante to her
masters.
Tiresias
 A Theban prophet,
Tiresias meets
Odysseus when
Odysseus journeys to
the underworld. He
shows Odysseus how
to get back to Ithaca
and allows Odysseus
to communicate with
the other souls in
Hades.
THE GODS
Zeus
Also known as
Jupiter or Jove.
Ruler of all the
Gods.
Poseidon
 God of the sea. He
despises Odysseus
and constantly
hampers his journey
home.
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.
THE DEMIGODS &
MONSTERS
THE SIRENS
The Sirens are dangerous birdwomen who lured in sailors with
their enchanting music.
CALYPSO
 The beautiful nymph
who falls in love with
Odysseus when he
lands on her islandhome of Ogygia.
Calypso holds him
prisoner there for
seven years until
Hermes, the
messenger god,
persuades her to let
him go.
CIRCE
(Sir-Cee)
 The beautiful
witch-goddess
who transforms
Odysseus’s crew
into swine when
he lands on her
island. With
Hermes’ help,
Odysseus resists
Circe’s powers
and then becomes
her lover, living in
luxury at her side
for a year.
Polyphemus
 One of the Cyclopes
(uncivilized one-eyed
giants) whose island
Odysseus comes to
soon after leaving
Troy. Polyphemus
imprisons Odysseus
and his crew and
tries to eat them. He
is Poseidon's son.
Charybdis (Car-Rib-Diss)
A monster at the bottom of the
ocean who, three times a day,
caused a whirlpool that would
pull in sailors to their deaths.
Scylla (Cil-Uh)
A monster with 12 feet and 6
heads with 3 rows of teeth,
carries off a sailor in each
mouth