Odyssey Themes and Examples table

Xenia Nostos Pietas Cunning Heroism/ Recognition/ Gods Marriage Justice/

Kleos/ Time Revelation/ Revenge
Disguise
Bad: Book 1- Book 5- Good: Book 1- Good: Book 1- Good: Book 5- Good: Book 6- Book 1- Bad: Book 5- Book 1- Gods
Suitors Odysseus Odysseus Athene Odysseus Calypso Athena asking Odysseus has got justice
introduced as spent his days gained pietas (Mentes) showed his recognises for Odysseus’ sex with against
greedy and on Calypso’s (through introduces strength when Hermes and return Calypso Orestes for
bleeding Island looking sacrifices) for herself with a cutting the serves him though killing
Odysseus’ over the ocean Zeus, hence his fake story; like trees and nectar and unwillingly Aegisthus
resources forlornly taking pity on Odysseus does building his ambrosia – Her against their
him and later. She gives raft; focus, familiarity orders
allowing him a convincing skill, strength means she did
to go home story backed fulfil the whole
with evidence routine of
Xenia
Bad: Book 1- Book 5- Book 5- Book 5- Book 5- Book 8- Book 5- Book 6- it is Book 5-
none of the Odysseus does Odysseus with Odysseus tells Odysseus was Odysseus Athena clear Athene Poseidon got
suitors greet not want to go his last Calypso to weary of Ino’s increasingly reminding views his revenge on
Mentes home for strength fulfils swear a help, her being reveals his Zeus to let Odysseus as a Odysseus by
Penelope but Ino’s binding oath a goddess so identity Odysseus free potential creating a
simply to be instructions that she would decides to only -The crying husband; storm and
home. Calypso and throws her let him go as take her advice -The discus however, he destroying his
was more scarf back into he suspected when the -The mention reminds her ship
pretty the sea she would try whole ship had of Troy that he feels
to trick him sunk. only
platonically to
her (tree + she
will get wed)
Good: Book 1, Book 9- Says Book 7- Book 8- Book 5- Book 8- there Book 5- Ino Book 7- Arete Book 8 –
Telemachus the only place Alcinous Chooses the Odysseus stays is suggestion telling does not speak Odysseus gets
greets Mentes he wanted to proposed a parts of his afloat, that Odysseus Odysseus to until the his revenge on
despite being be was home, prayer and journey he swimming for caught a take off guests had all Euryalus for
busy nowhere could libation to does to show two days glimpse of Calypso’s left the such
ever be a nice Zeus after off his greater Athena in the clothes which banquet at disrespect
as that fulfilling the claim to kleos crowd as she would drown which point, both in his
hospitality (his cunning) announced his him and giving she asks speech about
routine and does not win him a magical Odysseus how intelligence
really bring up floatation he got her and his discus
war device clothes throw
Bad: Book 1, Book 9- Book 9- wants Book 9- Book 5- Book 9- Book 6- Book 8- the Book 9- First
Suitors chose a Odysseus do leave the Odysseus tells Odysseus had Odysseus Athene bard introduction of
deliberately takes a hard Ciccone’s Polyphemus decision made finally reveals planting the Demodocus Odysseus’ men
distressing stand and shores but they were for him to use to the idea for sings of not listening to
song for the makes sure his does not until sailors and lostIno’s help Phaeacians Nausicaa to do Aphrodite’s him and make
bard to sing crew get back they had their ship, thussince his boat who he is in her laundry affair with Ares problems with
to the ship fulfilled the diverting the was destroyed the start of the and the Cicones.
after the loss funeral rites of attention from and then had book Hephaestus’ Their deaths
of motivation the lost sailors their ship and no choice trick justified then
caused by the means of when landing and later?
Lotus Eaters escape. on the
Phaeacian
shore
Good: Book 6, Book 10- Book 9- Book 9- Book 8- Book 11- The Book 1- Book 10- Book 9-
Nausicaa Odysseus Odysseus Odysseus Odysseus has realisation of Athene Agamemnon Polyphemus
offers him forgets his saved the wants to stab become a his mother’s pretending to tells Odysseus has no respect
princely nostos as he priest of him as he slept figure of myth death and his be Mentes, of his murder of Zeus and
clothes stays for a year Apollo Maron but realised, in 10 years. father’s ill tells by his wife, does not
with Circe, and his family he had to find Demodocus state drove Telemachus to Clytemnestra. observe the
 enchanted by when sacking another way sings of him at Odysseus to go to Nestor + He warns rites of guest-
her sex. Only the Cicones as they could troy get home Menelaus, Odysseus to friendship. He
when his men and was not open the lead an keep Penelope receives his
reminded him rewarded with door without Ithacan council pout of his punishment
did he leave many kind gifts the cyclops and tells him plans whether for his
that his father she be the indiscretions
was still alive murderous by losing his
type or not sight
Good: Book 6- Book 11- Book 9- Book 10- Book 8- Book 6- Book 6- Book 9- Before Book 9-
Odysseus asks Odysseus Offered some Odysseus does Odysseus cries Athene Athene makes he starts his Odysseus’
for a simple given cheese to the not tell his after hearing disguised as a Odysseus story for the sacrifice to
sack to clothe instructions gods in crew that they Demodocus’ Phaeacian more beautiful Phaeacians, Zeus of the
himself in twice on how Polyphemus’ were going to song. child gave as he bathes Odysseus biggest ram
to return cave before he the land of the Reminder of Odysseus mentions that was rejected;
home and ate them dead until they his heroism directions Circe and was this for his
given drive as had already and losses at Calypso found blaspheumy to
his father was started sailing war worthy of no way into his Poseidon
dying from so great an heart
grief outpouring of
sadness
Bad: Book 6- Book 13- Book 9- Book 12- Book 8- Book 8- Book 7- Book 17- we Book 10- The
Nausicaa Odysseus was Polyphemus Odysseus Odysseus Athene Athene get a glimpse mention of
makes anxious to get does not remembers shows his disguised as a shrouds that Odysseus Orestes after
Odysseus home and sacrifice to the Circe telling strength by herald spread Odysseus in needed to Agamemnon’s
travel by foot further gods before him about the throwing the the news of mist as he prepare to see heart
to the palace feasting was eating the fig tree which discus far the council for travels Penelope, wrenching
not very crew members he holds onto despite his Odysseus through the perhaps story reminds
welcome and Charybdis weariness. Phaeacian emotionally or that justice
spitting things town needed to was on its way
come up with for Aegisthus
 out thrice daily a detailed lie
saving himself for her
cleverness.
Good: Book 7- Book 5- Book 9- Book 13- Book 9- Book 8- Book 7- Book 18- Book 11-
Echeneus tells Odysseus says Odysseus Odysseus was Odysseus Athene Athene Odysseus’ first shows that
Arete and he is willing to sacrifices the very careful at driven by announced pretends to be sight of her in those who
Alcinous to endure more ram he first not to anger not Odysseus’ win a child and this book. sinned in their
take pity on suffering at escaped on to reveal reason tells at the discus gives Odysseus Enhanced by lives were
the guest sea if he can Zeus anything about the cyclops his directions to Athene she justly punished
go home himself to name and the palace and looked very in the
Athene and taunts him a warning of beautiful (also underworld
made up the despite his Phaeacian induced crude and those who
Cretan tales crews’ laments hostility comments behaved well
and safety not from suitors) were
yet assured rewarded
Book 8- Book 16- Book 13- Book 14- Book 10- Book 6- Book 8- Book 19- Book 12-
Euryalus Telemachus Odysseus Odysseus Odysseus is Athene Athene Odysseus as a Odysseus’
disrespects returned and prays to Zeus giving a shown to be disguised transforms beggar crew gets their
Odysseus was greeted before he set carefully false very human as Odysseus in a into a herald reassures dues for
claiming he joyously by off from the Cretan tale to he is lulled into shroud of mist to spread the Penelope that ignoring his
was not Eumaeus with Phaeacians Eumaeus sleep on the as he travelled news of the Odysseus was instructions
athletic and kisses and ship but a bad through the stranger and fine; her and eating the
attacks his embraces; leader as his town the council sharpness of divine cows;
kleos; things crew were mind was their smiting
Odysseus does Odysseus was disobedient. matched by his by Zeus was
not stand for not able to Heroes must when she justified
this! give him yet, make mistakes asked for
painfully to redeem evidence, so
themselves. he describes
the tunic she
 made
Odysseus in all
its fine detail
Book 8- Book 9- Book 16- Book 10- sends Book 13- Book 8- she Book 4- Book 13-
Odysseus Odysseus’ men Odysseus envoys to Athene makes Menelaus and Poseidon gets
given many forget their playing the Laestragonians pretended to Odysseus Helen have his revenge on
gifts before he wish to go role of beggar but does not be a huntress beautiful again eternal life the Phaeacians
leaves home due to well and offers go himself, not when she before the together but for
the food of the up seat to very heroic addressed council are transporting
Lotus eaters; superior Odysseus uncomfortable Odysseus
he must round Telemachus due to the home
them up to infidelity
continue his
journey
Book 9- Book 17- Book 10- Book 13- Book 8- she Book 5- Book 21- As
Polyphemus Telemachus Odysseus Athene announces Odysseus Odysseus went
asks his guests and Odysseus sends his crew through a Odysseus’ win rejected to shoot his
questions to scout out series of small at the discus Calypso’s offer arrow there
straightaway, Circe’s hut clues reveals of immortality was a sound of
not observing to Odysseus to return to thunder
proper xenia that he was in Penelope indicating the
laws Ithaca death of the
suitors was
justified
Book 9- Book 17- Book 10- Book 13- Book 9- some Book 5- Book 8-
Polyphemus Odysseus plays Odysseus kills Odysseus uses god gave Calypso thinks Aphrodite and
eats some of up his a dear for his his skills of Odysseus the it unfair that Ares got
Odysseus’ feebleness to crew to eat pretence to bravery to men could punished justly
crew (like Eumaeus by and replenish conceal his plunge the sleep with for their affair
puppies- using a stick to on emotions whomever (Aphrodite
animals for help himself being in Ithaca stake into the without must cleanse
pathos like walk and gives the cyclops’ eye punishment, and Ares had
Argos) Cretan tales but women to pay
could not reparations)
Book 9- Book 21- Book 10- He Book 13- Book 9- The Penelope
Polyphemus Penelope’s goes back to Odysseus is curse from frequently
promises to contest of the rescue his men disguised as an Polyphemus weeps for
eat Odysseus bow meant despite them old man by was fulfilled by Odysseus
last as a guest she could test asking him to Athene Poseidon
present the suitors to leave in safety
(xeninion) find the
greatest kleos
but knew that
nobody would
have been able
to do it
Book 9- Book 19- Book 11- Book 16- Book 10- Some
Odysseus Odysseus is Elpenor asks Telemachus god gave him
would not told about for kleos, to be realises the the stag to kill;
leave without Penelope’s remembered beggar was his it was very big
ensuring his secret weaving and buried father and he did it
feat against and un- with an oar (he alone
Polyphemus weaving to was a
was string along helmsman on
recognised as the suitors the ship)
his
Book 10- Book 13- Book 11- Book 17- Book 10-
Aelous gives a Athene Achilles Odysseus has Hermes
bag of wind a compliments counters kleos to deal with instructs him
Xeninion by telling abuses even
 Odysseus on Odysseus it is on his way to on how to
his cunning better to live the palace defeat Circe
without glory from
than to die Melanthius
but stays in
character
throughout
Book 10- Book 23- Book 11- Ajax Book 19- Book 10- Circe
Circe turns his Penelope uses refused to Eurycleia gives their ship
men to pigs the bed trick speak to recognises wind to
to test if it was Odysseus for Odysseus swiften the
really the kelos he (initially journey to the
Odysseus; felt he was noticing his Realm of the
asking if he owed which Dead
wants their Odysseus stole
live tree bed to from him
be moved into
the hall for
him to sleep
Book 10- Circe Book 8- The Book 11- Book 9- Greek Book 12- The
allows them to story of the Odysseus soldiers sun god asks
stay for as long Trojan horse enters and disguised in Zeus to avenge
as they needed shows how leaves the the Trojan his cows
clever underworld; a horse
Odysseus was very heroic
and paints him deed
as a hero
crucial to
Greek victory
in Troy
Book 16- Book 12- Book 13-
Odysseus Odysseus Poseidon turns
offers up his listens to the the ship to
chair to sirens stone, though
Telemachus Zeus
when he prevented a
arrived at the harsher
hut punishment
Book 13-
Athene takes
credit for the
Phaeacians
taking him in
and the gifts
they gave him
Book 13-
Athene tells
Odysseus to
hide his
treasures
Book 13-
Athene
disguises
Odysseus as an
old man
beggar
Book 16-
Athene
transforms
Odysseus into
his beautiful
self again.
Book 17-
Athene
prompts
Odysseus to
make a move
at the end of
the feast in the
palace
Book 18-
Athene makes
Odysseus
stronger under
his tunic
Book 18-
Athene gives
Penelope the
impulse to
seek
Book 23- a god
extends the
night so
Penelope and
Odysseus
could have
more time
together
Book 22-
Athene helps
Odysseus in
the final battle