The Odyssey Final Review Reasons The Odyssey is

The Odyssey Final Review

Reasons The Odyssey is important The Odyssey was one of the first novels of this scheme which would later be known as the hero's journey. This text would be quoted and used throughout other literary works for years to come. Analyzed deep social, economic, and mythical aspects of life and greek life at this time. This is an example of an epic, which would become a popular style of storytelling. Characters, themes, tones, elements, symbols, and archetypes of this book can be seen throughout most of our modern literature. This being the root of many of them.

Characters Odysseus: king of Ithaca, commanded an army in the Trojan War, lead his army on a 20 year journey back to Ithaca but was the only one who returned Telemachus: Odysseus' son who was only an infant when Odysseus left for Troy. He goes on a journey to find his father. Athena: assists Odysseus and Telemachus with divine powers throughout the epic and speaks up for them in the councils of the gods on Mount Olympus. She appears throughout the book in disguise as Mentor, an old friend of Odysseus. Penelope: Wife of Odysseus and mother of Telemachus. She spends her days in the palace waiting for the return of Odysseus as suitors try to win her over. Poseidon: Odysseus' divine antagonist. He despises Odysseus for blinding his son, the Cyclops Polyphemus, and constantly attempts to ruin his journey home. Antinous: The most arrogant of Penelope's suitors. He leads the plan to kill Telemachus and is the first to be killed when Odysseus returns. Calypso: The beautiful nymph who falls in love with Odysseus when he lands on her island-home of Ogygia. She holds Odysseus prisoner there for 7 years

Characters Circe: The beautiful witch-goddess who transforms Odysseus' 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. Laertes: Odysseus' aging father, who resides on a farm in Ithaca Tiresias: A Theban prophet who inhabits the underworld and shows Odysseus how to get back to Ithaca and allows Odysseus to communicate with other souls. Nestor: King of Pylos and a former warrior in the Trojan War. Like Odysseus, Nestor is known as a clever speaker. Menelaus: King of Sparta, brother of Agamemnon, and husband of Helen, he helped lead the Greeks in the Trojan War. Helen: Wife of Menelaus and Queen of Sparta Alcinous: King of the Phaeacians who offers Odysseus hospitality in his island kingdom of Scheria. He hears the story of Odysseus' wanderings and provides him with safe passage back to Ithaca. Nausicaa- The beautiful daughter of King Alcinous and Queen Arete of the Phaeacians who discovers Odysseus on the beach at Scheria and ensures his

The Hero's Journey Ordinary World: king of Ithaca, husband of Penelope, and father of Telemachus Call to Adventure: Call to fight in Trojan War Refusal of Call: Odysseus tried to act crazy so he would not be sent to war Meeting Wise Mentor: Athena helps Odysseus on his journey First Threshold: Trojan War Tests, Allies, Enemies: Challenges and monsters put before him by Posiden. Supreme Ordeal: Ogygia (Calypso's Island) Revisiting the Mentor: Athena and Hermes help to free Odysseus Return with New Knowledge: Odysseus returns to Ithaca disguised as a beggar and sees how everything has changed Seizing the Prize: He kills all the suitors and gains back his palace Resurrection: He has fought off all his enemies and regained his kingdom Return with Elixir: Odysseus and his loyal followers have regained their old life and can now live in peace in Ithaca

Epithets The red-haired king: Menelaus The bewitching nymph/ lustrous goddess: Calypso Giant-killer: Hermes Bright-eyed goddess: Athena Son of Cronus: Zeus Earth-shaker / sea lord: Poseidon Swift-footed: Achilles Dawn with her rose-red fingers: Eos Gerenian charioteer: Nestor Much-enduring/ great-hearted/ man of pain: Odysseus