Character Analysis
 Protagonist · Odysseus- The story of his 20 year journey
back to Ithaca after he defeats Troy in the Trojan War.
 Major conflict · Odysseus must return home and destroy
the suitors who threaten his estate; Telemachus , his son,
must mature and secure his own reputation in Greek
society.
 Themes · The power of cunning over strength; the pitfalls
of temptation; the tension between goals and obstacles; the
misery of separation; maturation as a journey
Odysseus
• Epic Hero- Story chronicles his 20 year journey to get home to wife and
son; braver and wiser than before
Penelope
• Wife of Odysseus
• Being courted by suitors while Odysseus is away and presumed dead
Telemachus
• Son of Odysseus
• Tries to find and free his father
• Odysseus’ ailing father
Laertes
Zeus
Athena
• King of Gods and everything
• Makes all of the major decisions
• Daughter of Zeus; Goddess of wisdom, skills, and warfare
• Wants to free Odysseus from Calypso’s island and bring him home
• Changes appearance to help Odysseus
• God of the Sea; brother of Zeus and Hades
• Angry with Odysseus because of his arrogance after the Trojan War
Poseidon • Wrecks Odysseus’ ship because he stabs his son, Polyphemus, the Cyclops in the eye
Hades
• Brother of Zeus and Poseidon
• God of the Underworld
The Cicone ArmyThe crew’s bad behavior
causes a fight with their army
The Lotus-Eaters-
The Cyclops- Polyphemus
Makes the crew forget that
they want to return to Ithaca
The crew is imprisoned by
him, a one-eyed monster
CirceAeolus- God of the Winds
The Laestrygonians-
Crew opens up a sack of
winds that blows them back
to Aeolia
A race of cannibals that
destroy all of Odysseus’ ships
except the one he is sailing in
Sorceress-Goddess who
transforms crew into swine
(pigs); she falls in love with
Odysseus, and he stays for 1
year
Land of the Dead- Hades
Makes sacrifices to summon
the blind prophet Tiresias;
sees 2 other ghosts who have
died too; Tiresias gives
Odysseus advice
Circe’s Island-
Sirens-
Odysseus returns and gets
advice on how to avoid
dangers he will face
Female creatures whose
songs lure sailors to their
deaths
Wandering Rocks-
Scylia and Charybdis-
Sea rocks that destroy even
birds in flight
The Sea Monster and The
Whirlpool
Helios- The Sun God
Crew is tempted to eat the
cattle; Zeus kills the rest of
the crew
CALYPSOSea Goddess who fell in love
with Odysseus when he lands on
her island of Ogygia; held him
prisoner
NAUSICCAAfter Odysseus is freed, she
helps him get a warm reception
with her parents (King Alcinous
and Queen Arete), and they help
him return to Ithaca
ANTINUOS-
EURYMACHUS-
A suitor of Penelope;
plots to kill Telemachus,
son of Odysseus
Evil, manipulative suitor
of Penelope; has
influence over others
AMPHINOMUSOnly decent man
seeking Penelope; still
killed at the end
Eurykleia
• Odysseus’ former Nurse
• Keeps his secret from others
Eumaeus
• Loyal shepherd / swineherd of Odysseus
• Gives Odysseus food and shelter even when Odysseus is
disguised as a beggar
• Helps him to reclaim his throne
Philoetius
• a kindly and loyal herdsman who says that he has not
yet given up hope of Odysseus’s return.
• Helps Odysseus to reclaim his throne