Character Descriptions
Odysseus– The main character in the Odyssey. He is the King of Ithaca, the husband of Queen Penelope, father of Prince Telemachus, and son of Laertes. He is a cunning war hero that has been trying to return home for 20 years. Poseidon delays his journey home every chance he can and Athena tries to help Odysseus return.
Penelope– Wife of Odysseus and mother of Prince Telemachus. She remains faithful to her husband after his 20 years of absence. Penelope cleverly tricks her suitors to delaying her hand in marriage as she pines for Odysseus’ return.
Telemachus– Prince of Ithaca and son of Odysseus and Penelope. Telemachus goes on a quest to find his father or learn of his father’s death with the goddess Athena’s assistance.
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Odysseus is enticed by her and remains on her island for a year.
King Menelaus– King of Sparta, and husband of Queen Helen. His wife was kidnapped by a Trojan , Paris, he led an army to Troy to retrieve his wife. Odysseus helped king Menelaus fight in the Trojan War. King Menelaus gives Telemachus some information about his father when he visits him.
Queen Helen– Queen of Sparta and wife of King Menelaus. She was taken by the Trojans and triggered the Trojan War. However, some people speculate that she willingly left with the Trojans. She gives Telemachus a wedding dress for his future bride and revealed an omen to him regarding his father.
King Alcinous– King of the Phaeacians. He offers Odysseus ships and a crew to return him home to Ithaca safely.
Eumaeus– A loyal shepard to Odysseus and helps him achieve vengeance on the suitors and reclaim his throne.
Eurycleia– A loyal servant to Odysseus, who recognizes him disguised as a beggar. She does not reveal Odysseus’s identity, but helps him with his plan to attack the suitors.
Antinous– An arrogant suitor who tries to murder
While Odysseus was on Calypso’s island living with another woman, Penelope was at home trying to fight off suitors and being loyal to her husband who was supposed to be making his way home. Penelope is clever much like Odysseus is with the Cyclops. It had been twenty years since Odysseus had left and the citizens of Ithaca wanted a new king. The suitors were trying to marry Penelope and take over the kingdom because it presumed that Odysseus had died. She said that she would choose a new king when she finished her tapestry that she had been crafting for a while.
All through The Odyssey, the characters develop in a certain way that interchanges the outcome of the book. Odysseus is able to develop knowledge and wisdom to deal with his men during the battle and the suitors who were frustrating his wife. In addition, he came back home as a hero after the Trojan War. Telemachus developed into a mature man who could deal with any problem in his father’s absence. However, based on the story, it is evident that, Telemachus demonstrates a great change basing upon the times the characters were away from Ithaca.
The odyssey, an epic told by Homer in ancient greece, has many major themes following odysseus’s adventures. While Odysseus is sentenced to never return home after the Trojan War. He is overcoming challenges to return home to his wife penelope and his son Telemachus. Throughout the story major themes of loyalty, hospitality and vengeance are hidden within the plot. The story continues to show his heroic side with three major traits.
The Odyssey by Homer is an exemplary story that teaches life lessons to those going on a journey for themselves. It illustrates how the challenges and obstacles one may face can help someone become a better leader. The Odyssey highlights one man, Odysseus, a man filled with excessive pride, experiencing the wrath of the god Poseidon. He expects to arrive at his home, Ithaca, safely to reunite with his wife, Penelope, but unfortunately faces many temptations and setbacks. Due to the challenges he faces, it prevents him from arriving home as early as he thought he would.
Athena was one who effected Odysseus in a helpful way. She gave Penelope hope that Odysseus was coming back. Athena was also the one who had the smart idea of, disguising Odysseus. Athena shows up in multiple parts of the story.
Odysseus is the king of Ithaca and is married to Penelope. He knows Helen from childhood. In “Black Ships Before Troy,” Odysseus shows many traits of a hero. Two of them are clever and honorable, and these traits make the hero of “Black Ships Before Troy.” Odysseus is clever because he comes up with elaborate plans.
She instructs him to “sail in quest of news of your long-lost father.” (86). Using her disguise, Athena reaches Telemachus and offers him wisdom. Telemachus takes this advice to heart and sets out to find his father. By offering this information about Odysseus, Athena inspires Telemachus.
These women influenced the conditions of the journey by guiding Odysseus in different directions, and aiding him crucially. Their authority showed the idea behind an old proverb, which states, “Behind every great man there’s a great woman”. Throughout The Odyssey, the women exemplified their power during the course of Odysseus’ journey. Odysseus’ wife, Penelope, bravely held down the front in Ithaca while her husband struggled to find his way back home. In Book 18, Penelope spoke to the ever-so-desperate suitors about what Odysseus “told” her before he left.
Upon Odysseus arrival to Ithaca, Athena hides his identity to help him defeat the suitors. She turns him into a very old beggar to conceal his identity from everyone, most importantly the suitors. Odysseus reveals himself to his son Telemachus, cowherd and the swine herd. The nurse Eurycleia recognizes him because of a scar he got years ago by a boar’s white tusk. Penelope doesn’t recognize Odysseus at first sight because of the disguise.
Odysseus encounters many monsters and immortals throughout his homecoming journey. He faces everything from Sea Nymphs to Sirens, from Lotus Eaters to Cyclopes, and from Enchantresses to even the Gods themselves. Because Odysseus stuck through and pursued on, he finally returned to his wife and child. When Odysseus arrives in his homeland, Athena directs him to Eumaeus’ hut where he meets his son. At first, his son refuses to believe his father has come back, but eventually convinces himself his father has truly returned.
Telemachus learns and appreciates the ways of his father, and so decides to follow the story of Orestes, and kill the suitors to take back his father’s home (3.52). Lastly, in book 4, Telemachus visits Menelaus in Sparta. In this part of the journey, we learn more details of the Trojan War, and also that Odysseus is still alive but captured by Calypso (4.71). Menelaus continues, talking of tales about Odysseus’ bravery and cunningness, educating Telemachus about the heroism is father had, which he believes he should also
When Odysseus left for Troy during the Trojan war, he left his whole life behind. He left behind his very young son, Telemachus, and his wife, Penelope. After the war, Odysseus started his journey back. Odysseus’ whole journey home was prompted by the fact that he wants to get home to his family and kingdom in Ithaca. Odysseus made it through the many trials and tribulations he was faced with to see his family.
Since the time of 8th century B.C.E., the story of the significant hero Odysseus has been told by Homer in the epic poem, The Odyssey. It is broken down into 24 books, which separate each part of the story. The first four books are called The Telemachy, where Telemachus, the son of Odysseus, struggles when suitors arrive, ill-mannered intruders who covet Penelope, Odysseus’ wife. Odysseus’ importance is shown when in his absence, problems arise such as Telemachus’ sheepish personality, an infestation of suitors, and also shown when even the Gods and other kings recognize and respect Odysseus.
A major theme in the Odyssey is reciprocity: people getting what they deserve. Reciprocity is an important theme in the Odyssey because it explains why Odysseus’ journey was very long and treacherous. Eurylochus, Antinous, and Odysseus all suffered consequences due to poorly made actions. Each of them made the wrong decisions which lead to death and a long/adventurous journey. Eurylochus was the first to be killed by Odysseus and his men due to his actions.
Telemachus: Telemachus is the son of Odysseus, the main character. His role in the epic is to mature and journey. He is kindhearted and brave and because of this he receives aid from the goddess, Athene 3. Penelope: Penelope is Odysseus’s husband and Telemachus’s mother.