HOMER’S THE ODYSSEY

 A Story about one man`s journey  ATHENA

home.
Goddess of wisdom, war,arts,industry,
 About a hero, Odysseus
justice and skill.
 Adventure lurks around every corner
during his long journey (20 years) Daughter of Zeus

Helps Odysseus who was well known for

his clever mind
The heroic story of odysseus
 HERMES
 Odysseus longs to return home after
10 years of fighting in the Trojan War. Messenger of Gods
 He begins the trip home with 12 ships
God of invention, commerce, and
carrying 720 men.
cunning
 The gods and goddesses creating
obstacles which delay his journey Zeus son
home, (another 10 years)
 POSEIDON
The trip home from troy God of the sea, earthquakes, and
 Athena felt wronged after the war horses
and convinced Poseidon to make
the Greek’s trip home difficult. Odysseus excessive pride angers him
 Storms blew ships in all different
directions.
Characters
BACK IN ITHACA
 ODYSSEUS
 All assumed Odysseus was dead Protagonist
except his wife, Penelope and Strong and courageous warrior, he is
Telemachus. most renowned for his cunning
 Penelope was receiving suitors at her Favorite of Athena, who often sends
door, but she stalled by claiming to him divine aid
be weaving a burial shroud which  TELEMACHUS
had to be done before she could Odysseus son
marry. He has a good heart but lacks the
 She wove during the day and poise to oppose his mother’s suitors
unwove it at night until the suitors  PENELOPE
found her out.
 Wife of Odysseus
THE ROLE OF GODS AND ANTINOUS
GODDESSES
 ZEUS Most arrogant of Penelope’s suitors
Leads the campaign to killed
Supreme ruler of Mount Olympus Telemachus
God of all Gods
 EURYMACHUS
A manipulative, deceitful suitor
His charisma and duplicity allow him
to exert some influence over the
other suitors.
 AMPHINOMUS
Decent man seeking Penelope’s hand
in marriage
 EUMAEUS
Loyal shepherd who helps Odysseus
reclaim his throne after his return to
Ithaca.
 EURYCLEIA
Aged and loyal servant
 MELANTHO
A maidservant in the Odysseus palace
Having an affair with Eurymachus
 ANTICLEA
Mother of Odysseus
She died because of grief. She drag
herself in the sea because she think her
son was dead
 TIRESIAS
A Theban prophet who unhabits the
underworld.
Shows him how to get back in Ithaca
and allows Odysseus to communicate
with the other souls in Hades
 NAUSICAA
Beautiful daughter of King Alcinous and
Queen Arete
Discovers Odysseus on the beach at
Scheria and out of budding affection for
him, ensures his warm reception

 CALYPSO  ALCINOUS

Beautiful nymph who falls inlove with King of Phaecians

Odysseus when he lands on her island
Offers Odysseus hospitality in his island.
home of Ogygia
Kingdom of Scheria
Holds him prison for 7 years until HERMES
 ARETE
persuades her to let him go.
Queen of Phaecians
 CIRCE
Intelligent and influential
Beautiful witch goddess who transforms
Odysseus crew into swine when he lands
on her island

 POLYPHEMUS

One of the cyclopes

Odysseus blinded him (main reason why

Poseidon is angry to Odysseus) through
clever ruse

 LAERTES

Odysseus aging father

Adventure of Odysseus Odysseus crew turn into swine
TROY (TROJAN WAR) Odysseus ate the plants of moly that’s
why he didn’t turn into swine
ISLAND OF CICONES

They take the women as their prizes. THE UNDERWORLD (TIRESIAS)

He loses 72 of his men Consults the prophet Tiresias to ask how
he can get home and finds his mother

ISLAND OF LOTUS EATERS

THE SIRENS
Once the Lotus is eaten, the person who
knows nothing nor cares for anything Marvelous singers whose voices would
other than eating the lotus plant. make a man forget all else

Put wax to prevent

ISLAND OF CYCLOPES (POLYPHEMUS
CAVE)
SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS
Odysseus and his men blinded
Polyphemus with a heated spear and Scylla – a 6 headed monster
the sneak Charybdis – an enormous whirl pool

GOD OF WIND, AEOLUS ISLAND OF THE SUN OF GOD

Gives Odysseus a bag of winds. He He ate the oxen of Sun of God
needs to open it after 9 days to get
back to Ithaca. He shuttered their ship

Anticlus opened it before 9 days so they

went far. OGYGIA (CALYPSO’S ISLAND)
*POLITE – Food lover She imprisoned him for 7 years

ISLAND OF LAESTRYGONIANS ISLAND OF THE PHAECIANS

Giants ate many of Odysseus men and accepts Odysseus and he explains his
destroyed 11 of 12 ships by launching 10 year journey to them during the feast
rocks from high cliffs

CIRCE’S ISLAND (LAND OF AEAEA)