The Odyssey Analysis
Main Human Characters
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Odysseus - The Odyssey is the story of his journey home from the Trojan war. He is
brave, loyal, and above all else clever. He is the king of Ithaca.
Penelope - The faithful, loyal wife of Odysseus. She patiently waits 20 years for his
return. She is Homer's example of the perfect Greek wife and mother.
Telemachus- Son of Odysseus and Penelope. He was only an infant when his father left to
fight in Troy. The Odyssey is also a story about Telemachus' journey to manhood.
Minor Human Characters
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Antinous- The evil leader of the suitors. He is the first one Odysseus kills
Eumaeus - A servant of Odysseus. He has remained loyal to Odysseus throughout his
master's twenty year absence. He and Philoetius help Odysseus fight the suitors.
Eurycleia- An old woman servant who was a devoted nurse to both Odysseus and
Telemachus.
Eurymachus- A suitor. He is an evil coward. He tries to blame Antinous for all the suitors
actions. Eurymachus is the second suitor killed by Odysseus.
Irus- The favorite beggar of the suitors. He is cruel to Odysseus when Odysseus is
disguised as a beggar.
Laertes - Odysseus' father. He lives on a farm some distance from Odysseus palace.
Melantho - A servant girl. She has been disloyal to Odysseus in his absence by becoming
the mistress of Eurymachus.
Melanthius- A servant of Odysseus who has betrayed him in his absence by assisting the
suitors.
Menelaus- King of Sparta. He was a comrade of Odysseus during the Trojan war. It was
the abduction of his wife, Helen, that caused the war.
Nestor- King of Pylos. He fought at Troy with Odysseus. He is known for his wise
counsel.
Philoetlus A loyal servant to Odysseus. He and Eumaeus help Odysseus fight the suitors.
Tiresias- A famous, deceased Greek prophet. Odysseus goes to Hades to consult his
spirit.
Gods Who Help Odysseus
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Athena- Goddess of wisdom. She comes to Odysseus' aid by intervening with the other
gods to bring Poseidon into line and let Odysseus go home.
Hermes- Messenger of the gods. He is sent by Zeus to order Calypso to release Odysseus.
He, also, guides the souls of the suitors to Hades.
Zeus- King of all the gods. He is the keeper of Fate. He lets Athena assist Odysseus.
Gods and Others Who Impede The Journey Home
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Aeolus- Keeper of the winds. He places all of the bad winds in a bag and gives them to
Odysseus. Ithaca is within sight when the ship's crew lets the winds out and the ship is
blown far away by the storms within the bag.
Calypso- A beautiful sea nymph who tries to make Odysseus her husband. She holds him
captive for nine years. Calypso offers Odysseus immortality if he will stay with her.
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Charybdis - A violent whirlpool. It destroys all ships that get caught in home by boat,
having this god angry at you is not a good idea!
Circe - When Odysseus' crew meets her, she turns them; into pigs. Odysseus becomes her
lover, and she later helps him on his journey home.
Helios - God of the Sun. Odysseus earns his wrath when his crew eats some of Helios'
sacred cattle.
Lotus-Eaters - A people who eat the Lotus plant, a narcotic.
Polyphemus - Son of Poseidon. He is one of the Cyclops (one eyed giants). Odysseus
blinds him.
Poseidon - God of the Sea. He seeks revenge on Odysseus for injuring his son,
Polyphemus. When you have to travel home by boat, having this god angry at you in not
a good idea!
Scylla - A six headed monster that Odysseus must go by to get home. She eats six of his
men (one for each head).
Sirens - These beautiful maidens lure sailors to their deaths with an irresistible song.
Odysseus fills his crew's ears with wax to save them from temptation.
Central Themes of the Odyssey
There are three main themes which unify the plot of Homer's ODYSSEY.
The first theme is the "Wanderings of Odysseus." This motif encompasses the majority of the
epic poem. In books I-IX, Odysseus sets sail with his warriors from Troy to Ithaca, his kingdom.
On his journey home, Odysseus encounters many difficulties. He loses a portion of his crew at his
first stop, a storm then drives the crew to the land of the horrid Lotus-eaters. He then reaches the
land of the Cyclops where he loses more of his crew.
In books X-XII Odysseus comes across the land of Aeolus and later the realm of Circe.
In books XII-XIV Odysseus encounters the dangerous Sirens and later the treacherous Scylla and
the terrifying Charybdis. Odysseus concludes his travels alone on the territory of the Phaecians
where he is kindly taken in by the king.
The second theme in Homer's ODYSSEY is the "Quest of Telemachus." This motif occupies
most of books I-IV and portion of other books as well. In the beginning of the epic, Telemachus
is shown as a young man who is very much overwhelmed by the suitors of his mother, Penelope .
In books II-IV , Telemachus goes on a journey in search of information on his father. He is taken
in by King Menelaus and Helen. During the final portion of the epic, Telemachus grows up and
finally takes revenge on his mother's suitors.
This leads up to the final theme of Homer's ODYSSEY, "Odysseus' Return and
Vengeance." In books XIV-XXIV , Odysseus returns home. He cunningly conceals his identity
by disguising himself as an old beggar. Odysseus soon reveals himself to Telemachus and they
take on the suitors. The father and son team take care of all the suitors and even hang those
servants who were disloyal during the time of Odysseus' absence. These servants hang
shamefully outside as a sign of the master's return and vengeance. And thus concludes the epic's
thematic structure.