Epic Poem Adventure

Odyssey
Author Year Published Original Language
Homer 725-675 BCE Greek

OVERVIEW

The Long Journey Home

Odyssey is one of the oldest adventure tales,
enthralling readers with the clever hero Odysseus’s
10-year journey home after a long war in Troy.

Underworld Aeaea Island of the Cyclops

Visits dead war His crew turned to pigs by Displays his cunning
heroes and learns the witch-goddess Circe, and blinds one of
how to return to he lives in luxury with her Poseidon’s sons,
Ithaca for a year Polyphemus
2. ISMARA
2. ISMARA

13. SCHERIA

7.
8. 1. TROY
9. SIRENS 10.
12. 14.

4.

6. TELEPYLOS
5. AEOLIA

Scylla and 11. THRINACIA

Charybdis 3. ISLAND OF THE

LOTUS EATERS
Navigating between
the two monsters,
he manages to
escape destruction

Ogygia Ithaca
Held captive by the Disguised as a beggar,
alluring nymph he kills Penelope’s
Calypso in a 7-year suitors and is reunited
love affair with his wife and son

Themes

Hubris Temptation Homecoming

The hero’s tragic flaw;
excessive pride leads him to
taunt the gods, who send
obstacles to prolong his
journey.
Odysseus and Penelope both
face temptation as they try to
remain loyal; Odysseus is lured
by sirens and goddesses,
but Penelope stays true.
Stories of homecoming
throughout the tale are capped
by Odysseus’s eventual heroic
return to reclaim his kingdom,
home, and family.

Main Characters Helps Odysseus

Hinders Odysseus
Telemachus
Prince of Ithaca
and son of Odysseus
Poseidon
Penelope
God of the sea
Queen of Ithaca and
Zeus Hermes
wife of Odysseus
King of the gods Messenger of
the gods Family
Laertes
Father of Odysseus

Gods
Circe Athena
Goddess of magic Goddess of Eurycleia
wisdom Nurse
Calypso
Nymph
Odysseus
King of Ithaca
Antinous
Ithacans Suitor of Penelope

Philoetius
Cowherd
Eurymachus
Suitor of Penelope
Eumaeus
Swineherd

Odyssey
by the Numbers

HOMER
C. 9TH–8TH CENTURY BCE

Little is known about the life of the blind poet

Homer, to whom we attribute Iliad and Odyssey.
This is partially because poems were passed 20 600
down orally in Homer’s day and adapted to their Years Odysseus is away Men who set sail for
telling. Nevertheless, Homer and his work had a from Ithaca, 10 in Troy Ithaca—all perished
great influence on ancient Greek society and and 10 journeying home except Odysseus
continue to fascinate modern readers.

ing to me of the man,

Muse, the man of twists 6 “feet” 55 feet
and turns / driven time Metrical units each line Estimated length of the
has in dactylic hexameter, Ithacan ships, which were
and again off course... the meter used in the poem light and canoe-like
Book 1, Lines 1–3

Sources: BBC, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Business Insider,

The Guardian, Smithsonian Magazine, University of Pennsylvania

Copyright © 2016 Course Hero, Inc.