who are the characters in the story of odyssey

'The Odyssey' Characters: Descriptions and Significance

Full Answer

Which character is most likely the protagonist in the Odyssey?

The protagonist of The Odyssey. Odysseus fought among the other Greek heroes at Troy and now struggles to return to his kingdom in Ithaca. Odysseus is the husband of Queen Penelope and the father of Prince Telemachus. Though a strong and courageous warrior, he is most renowned for his cunning.

Who is a dynamic character in the Odyssey?

Odysseus is a dynamic figure in the Odyssey because he evolves over time. The hero’s character changes as he encounters challenging circumstances and dire situations. Odysseus’ personality, identity, and social position develop and change throughout the story.

What are the monsters in the Odyssey?

Who are the monsters in the Odyssey?

• Calypso.
• Cyclops.
• Circe.
• The Sirens.
• The Suitors.
• The Lotus Eaters.
• Scylla.
• Charybdis.

What sort of character is Calypso in the Odyssey?

In the Odyssey, then, Calypso is generally interpreted as an egocentric and obsessive character. She may truly love Odysseus, but that love is made selfish by her lack of concern for his wants and happiness.

Who are the characters in the Odyssey?

OdysseusCircePenelopeTelemachusPolyphemusScyllaOdyssey/Characters

Who are the 5 main characters in the Odyssey?

Character ListOdysseus. The protagonist of The Odyssey. ... Telemachus. Odysseus's son. ... Penelope. Wife of Odysseus and mother of Telemachus. ... Athena. Daughter of Zeus and goddess of wisdom, purposeful battle, and the womanly arts. ... Calypso. ... Circe. ... Poseidon. ... Zeus.More items...

Who is the main character in the story of Odyssey?

The poem is the story of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, who wanders for 10 years (although the action of the poem covers only the final six weeks) trying to get home after the Trojan War. On his return, he is recognized only by his faithful dog and a nurse.

Who are the 3 main characters in the Odyssey?

The main characters of The Odyssey are Odysseus, Penelope, Telemachus, and Athena.Odysseus is a hero of the Trojan War and the king of Ithaca. ... Penelope is Odysseus's devoted wife. ... Telemachus is Odysseus's son.More items...•

How many characters are there in the Odyssey?

From this we were able to identify a total of 342 characters with 1,747 connections between them, illustrated in the diagram below.

How was Odysseus killed?

Odysseus was killed by his son Telegonus that he fathered with the witch Circe, unbeknownst to him. As Telegonus landed on the shores of Ithaca hoping to meet his father for the first time, he was attacked by Odysseus. In the ensuing battle, Odysseus died from a wound inflicted by Telegonus' poisoned spear.

Who is the king in the Odyssey?

OdysseusAccording to Homer, Odysseus was king of Ithaca, son of Laertes and Anticleia (the daughter of Autolycus of Parnassus), and father, by his wife, Penelope, of Telemachus.

What is the story of the Odyssey?

The Odyssey is Homer's epic of Odysseus' 10-year struggle to return home after the Trojan War. While Odysseus battles mystical creatures and faces the wrath of the gods, his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus stave off suitors vying for Penelope's hand and Ithaca's throne long enough for Odysseus to return.

Who is the villain in the Odyssey?

The cyclops is considered a villain because he hindered the progress of Odysseus and his men, also because he ate some of the men.

Who is Odysseus wife?

PenelopePenelope, in Greek mythology, a daughter of Icarius of Sparta and the nymph Periboea and wife of the hero Odysseus. They had one son, Telemachus. Homer's Odyssey tells the story of how, during her husband's long absence after the Trojan War, many chieftains of Ithaca and nearby islands become her suitors.

Who are the two main suitors in the Odyssey?

Two of the leading suitors, Antinoos and Eurymachos, blame Penelope for not choosing one of the suitors to be her husband; Antinoos describes how Penelope tricked them and delayed her promised decision by weaving by day - and undoing by night - a shroud for Odysseus' father, Laertes.

What is the setting of the Odyssey?

Much of the action in the Odyssey takes place on the sea, where Odysseus must battle against the storms of the sea god, Poseidon, but the last third of the story is set in the town and countryside of Ithaka. The setting is a geographical potpourri of what was important, mythologically, in Homer's time period.

Who are the two main suitors in the Odyssey?

Antinous and EurymachusAntinous and Eurymachus The two leading suitors, they differ in that Antinous is more physically aggressive while Eurymachus is a smooth talker. Eupithes Father of Antinous, he leads the suitors' families and friends who seek revenge for the slaughter and is killed by Laertes.

Who is the king in the Odyssey?

OdysseusAccording to Homer, Odysseus was king of Ithaca, son of Laertes and Anticleia (the daughter of Autolycus of Parnassus), and father, by his wife, Penelope, of Telemachus.

Who is Zeus in the Odyssey?

Who is Zeus in The Odyssey? Zeus role in the Odyssey was the weigher and middleman of all disputes. He was primarily the one who determined each of our characters' fates, as he held the power of life and death.

Is Achilles in the Odyssey?

The Odyssey describes a huge tomb of Achilles on the beach at Troy, and Odysseus meets Achilles during his visit to the underworld, among a group of dead heroes.

What are the main characters in the Odyssey?

The characters of The Odyssey include royalty, deities, war heroes, monsters, witches, nymphs and more, spread all over the Mediterranean Sea. All of these characters, realistic and fantastical, play significant roles in the action of the epic poem.

Who is the protagonist in The Odyssey?

Odysseus. The protagonist of The Odyssey, Odysseus, is the king of Ithaca and a Trojan War hero. He has been absent from his home for the past 20 years: the first ten spent at war, and the second ten spent at sea during his attempt to return home.

How does Penelope help Odysseus?

She helps Odysseus’ family throughout the poem, typically by disguising herself or disguising the identities of other characters. Penelope has a particular affinity to Athena, as Penelope is a weaver, an art form that Athena lords over.

What is the first word of the Odyssey?

The Odyssey is a character-focused epic poem. The first word of The Odyssey in the original Greek text is andra , which means “man.” (By contrast, the first word of The lliad is menin, meaning wrath.) The characters of The Odyssey include royalty, deities, war heroes, monsters, witches, nymphs and more, spread all over the Mediterranean Sea.

What is Odysseus' epithet?

Odysseus' epithet, which recurs more than 80 times in the poem, is “with much cunning.". Odysseus' name is etymologically associated with the concept of “trouble” and “annoyance.”. Cunning and nimble-witted, Odysseus uses clever tricks ...

Who teaches Odysseus how to summon the dead?

The Sirens are songstresses who charm and kill the sailors that dock on their island. Thanks to Circe’s advice, Odysseus is immune to their song. Princess Nausicaa helps Odysseus at the very end of his travels.

Who is the faithful swineherd of Odysseus?

Eumaeus is the faithful swineherd of Odysseus. When Odysseus arrives in Ithaca disguised as a beggar, Eumaeus does not recognize him, but still offers him his coat; this act is a sign of Eumaeus ' goodness.

Who is Odysseus' son?

Telemachus. Odysseus 's young son. Telemachus spends his youth helplessly watching the suitors corrupt his household and harass his mother Penelope, but Athena 's forceful guidance helps him mature from a nervous youth to a… read analysis of Telemachus.

Who turns Odysseus' crew into pigs?

A beautiful witch from the island Aeaea who turns Odysseus 's crew into pigs; when Odysseus (with the aid of the drug moly) proves immune to her spell, she falls in love with him and hosts him and his crew on the island.

Why did Odysseus' mother die?

Odysseus 's mother, who died of longing for her son.

How many heads does a man eating monster have?

A man-eating monster with six heads.

Who is the king of the gods?

Zeus. King of all the gods, and the god of sky and lightning. He holds assembly on Mount Olympus and negotiates the desires and grievances of the gods. He punishes Odysseus when his crew eats the… read analysis of Zeus. Get the entire The Odyssey LitChart as a printable PDF.

Who killed Menelaus' brother?

Menelaus 's brother, murdered by his wife's lover when he came home from the Trojan War.

Who is the goddess of wisdom?

Athena. The goddess of wisdom, justice, and courage. She takes a particular liking to Odysseus, and by extension Telemachus – perhaps because Odysseus's suffering is greater than his crimes, perhaps because he embodies the values… read analysis of Athena.

Who is the main character in The Odyssey?

The Odyssey includes an extensive cast list, both human and mythical. In this article Dr Emma Bridges gives us the lowdown on the main characters. Odysseus is the king of Ithaca, and one of the Greek heroes who joined in the Greek expedition to Troy, leaving his wife Penelope and infant son Telemachus behind.

Who is Odysseus' friend?

There Odysseus befriends the princess Nausicaa; her father, King Alcinous, offers him hospitality and he tells the Phaeacians the tale of his adventures since leaving Troy.

What is the goddess of the Odyssey?

The first four books of the Odyssey tell of his journey in search of news of his father. The goddess Athena is the daughter of Zeus and Mētis (‘Wisdom’ personified); she is associated with strategic thinking, tactical warfare and handicrafts. In the Odyssey she supports Odysseus.

Why does Poseidon hate Odysseus?

The sea-god Poseidon hates Odysseus, because Odysseus blinded Poseidon’s son, the Cyclops Polyphemus. In the Odyssey Poseidon repeatedly attempts to thwart Odysseus’ return home by whipping up storms at sea.

How long does Penelope keep Odysseus' husband?

She keeps him there for seven years and promises to make him immortal if he would become her husband. Penelope is the wife of Odysseus. She loyally awaits the return of her husband from Troy during his twenty-year absence (ten years laying siege to Troy and ten years on the journey home).

What is Odysseus' reputation for?

He has a reputation for clever speaking and cunning; the ruse of the Trojan Horse by means of which the Greeks finally sacked Troy after ten years of war is said to have been his idea. The Odyssey tells of Odysseus’ adventures on his journey home from Troy – which takes him ten more year – and his eventual reunion with his family.

Why did Penelope and Odysseus take up residence in Odysseus' palace?

The suitors of Penelope take up residence in Odysseus’ palace during his long absence in hope that Penelope will marry one of them. They behave badly, drinking Odysseus’ wine and eating him out of house and home. Upon his return Odysseus outwits and kills them with the help of his son Telemachus.

Who are the main characters in the Odyssey?

While the story focuses on Odysseus, there are plenty of other characters in the Odyssey: Penelope: Odysseus' faithful wife, Penelope is besieged by suitors, hoping to win her hand in marriage and rule Ithaca. She proves herself as cunning as her husband, devising several stratagems to delay her nuptials. She longs for Odysseus' return and remains faithful. Telemachus: Odysseus leaves for Troy shortly after his son Telemachus is born. The Prince of Ithaca despises the suitors as they despise him. He aides Odysseus in the infamous suitor slaughter. Athena: The goddess of wisdom and war favors and adores Odysseus. She advises him upon his return to Ithaca. Although she doesn’t actively participate in the slaughter of the suitors, she does transform Odysseus into a beggar so as not to be recognized initially. She establishes peace on the island when the suitors' parents react angrily.

Who aided Odysseus in the suitor slaughter?

The Prince of Ithaca despises the suitors as they despise him. He aides Odysseus in the infamous suitor slaughter. Athena: The goddess of wisdom and war favors and adores Odysseus. She advises him upon his return to Ithaca.

How did Odysseus gain fame?

He gains fame through his intellect and cunning, using both to help the Greek army destroy Troy. As with all Homeric heroes, Odysseus possesses hubris, or pride, which causes him to do really stupid things. [caption id=“attachment_130992” align=“aligncenter” width=“425”] Author of the Odyssey - Homer caption] Analysis: A larger ...

What is Poseidon's weakness?

His only weakness, other than irritating half the gods on Olympus, including Poseidon upon whose sea he returns, is his propensity for falling asleep at crucial moments. The first came as he approached Ithaca as his crew members slit open the bag that held all unfavorable winds and shot them out to sea.

Who is Poseidon's son?

Poseidon: Odysseus' maiming of Poseidon’s son Polyphemus angers the god of the sea who punishes Odysseus. Polyphemus: The son of Poseidon, Polyphemus is a Cyclops who feels Odysseus wronged him by poking out his eye. What he fails to mention is how he smashed the heads of several crew members and ate them for dinner.

Who is the jerk that leads the suitors to mischief?

Antinous: A jerk among jerks, Antinous leads the suitors to mischief and eventually their death. Odysseus shoots him in the throat with an arrow. Alcinous: Alcinous, the king of Phaecia, hears Odysseus' story and provides him safe passage to Ithaca.

What makes Odysseus a compelling character?

What truly makes Odysseus a compelling character is the changes he goes through in the course of the poem. In the beginning, he is quick to indulge in the search for glory, ransacking villages and taunting his enemies. By the end of the story, Odysseus has learned his lesson. He is patient, careful, observant. He does not reveal himself to the suitors despite all the abuse they put him through. And it all pays off in the end when he finally reveals himself to his enemies, and Odysseus and Telemachus proceed to kill every last one of them.

What is the character of Penelope in The Odyssey?

Penelope in The Odyssey is calm, calculating, reserved. Even after the slaughter of the suitors and the reveal of Odysseus, she remains cold. After all, it was so long that it became hard to believe her husband did return. So, being the intelligent woman that she is, Penelope organizes one final test for him. She mentions that their bed was moved in his absence. The hero immediately recognizes that this is an impossible feat, considering it is immovable – just like their love for each other. Odysseus and Penelope spend the rest of the night talking, telling each other stories of the missing twenty years.

What does Odysseus fear when he visits the Underworld?

Not surprising: he was killed by his unfaithful wife and her lover. Thus, he fears Penelope must be plotting the same. But the queen of Ithaca remains loyal to her husband, her belief in him unyielding. Even as all around her assert that he is dead, she is relentless. Her love and grief for him never fade, even in twenty long years.

How does Odysseus blind the Cyclops?

Using his cunning, Odysseus devises a trick to blind the Cyclops in his sleep by getting him drunk on wine. With his one eye gouged out, Polyphemus feels around for his sheep before letting them out of the cave. Odysseus, meanwhile, has instructed his men to tie themselves underneath the animals. The crew escapes, rushing back to their ships.

How many eyes does Scylla have?

Scylla is described as having four eyes and six long necks with six grisly heads, each containing three rows of sharp teeth. She also has twelve legs and a catlike tail, and six dog heads around her waist. Despite this horrible appearance, Circe advises Odysseus to sail closer to her than to the other monster. When his crew is distracted, she eats six men – one for each head.

What is Homer's world filled with?

Homer’s world is filled with diversity . From everyday people to magnificent heroes, from helpful gods to vile monsters – everyone has their place, their purpose. Part of the appeal of The Odyssey ’s characters is in their complexity. No one is without their flaws. Here we have provided a quick study of the main characters in The Odyssey, including quotes from the story.

Where does Odysseus meet Circe?

Odysseus encounters the sorceress Circe when he and his crew find themselves on the island of Aeaea. The gorgeous and immortal sea witch has a palace filled with animals, all previously human. She tricks Odysseus’ men into drinking wine, which turns them into pigs.

How many books are there in the Odyssey?

The Odyssey is an epic poem in 24 books traditionally attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer. The poem is the story of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, who wanders for 10 years (although the action of the poem covers only the final six weeks) trying to get home after the Trojan War.

What was the Odyssey intended for?

The Odyssey was intended for oral performance. The poem was likely transmitted through generations of oral poets well before it was written down. It’s been suggested that oral poets performed epics such as the Odyssey in song form.

Where does Odysseus land?

He suffers a shipwreck and lands on the shore of Scheria, the land of the Phaeacians. In Books IX–XII Odysseus tells the Phaeacians of his harrowing journey as he has tried to find his way home. Finally, Books XIII–XXIV, the second half of the poem, find Odysseus back in Ithaca, facing unexpected obstacles and danger.

Where does the story of Telemachus take place?

The reader begins in the middle of the tale, learning about previous events only through Odysseus’s retelling. The first four books set the scene in Ithaca. Telemachus is searching for news of his father, who has not been heard from since he left for war nearly 20 years earlier. Telemachus seeks out two men who fought with Odysseus in ...

How many rolls did Homer have?

Given its extraordinary length, the poem may have actually occupied 24 individual rolls. Homer’s role in the writing of the poem and whether he was literate have been a source for rich scholarly debate, commonly referred to as the “Homeric Question.”. Homer.

Where was Homer's Odyssey engraved?

Homer, engraving by Hieronymus Wierix, 16th century; in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Until the 15th century all volumes of the Odyssey in circulation were in handwritten Greek. In 1488 the first printed version (still in Greek) was produced in Florence.

Is Odysseus' father still alive?

Telemachus seeks out two men who fought with Odysseus in the war at Troy, Nestor and Menelaus, and discovers that his father is, indeed, still alive. The second four books (V–VIII) introduce the main character, Odysseus, as he is being released from captivity by the nymph Calypso on the island of Ogygia.

Who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey?

Learn about "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey," two of the most enduring epic poems attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer. Study summaries of "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" to discover the biggest themes and characters in these classic epics. Updated: 10/01/2021

What happened to Odysseus after he left Troy?

What follows is Odysseus's tale: He left Troy with his men and was then washed ashore on various magical islands. One of these was the land of the Cyclopes, who are brutal one-eyed giants. One of the Cyclopes nearly killed Odysseus, but through cunning he escaped, angering Poseidon. After leaving the land of the Cyclopes, Odysseus and his men ended up stuck on Circe's island for a year. Odysseus then journeyed through the Land of the Dead, had several more adventures, and ended up losing all of his men and washing up on Calypso's island. In the final books of the poem, Odysseus is able to return at last to Ithaca. He arrives at his palace in disguise and finds a hundred suitors vying for Penelope's hand. He bests them all in an archery contest and reveals himself to Penelope, finally reclaiming his throne. He kills all of the other suitors.

What is the story of the Iliad?

The Iliad tells the story of a few weeks near the end of the Trojan War. Hector, a Trojan prince, is leading the army of Troy against the Greek forces, led by Agamemnon, king of Mycenae. Achilles refuses to fight for most of the poem, but he returns to the war after Hector kills his companion Patroclus. The Odyssey is set after the fall of Troy, when Odysseus and other survivors struggle to make it back home to Ithaca. It takes Odysseus ten years to make the journey home, though it should have taken a few months at most, because Poseidon curses him to wander the seas. Eventually, he returns to his wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus.

How long does it take for the Odyssey to start?

Rather than starting where The Iliad left off, The Odyssey begins after Achilles has died and the Greeks have won the Trojan War. In fact, it begins ten years after the war has ended, with Telemachus and Penelope longing for Odysseus to finally return to Ithaca, where he is meant to be ruling. The first four books of The Odyssey follow Telemachus as he searches for his father. Athena helps him on his quest. He visits Sparta, among other places, and speaks with the now-reunited Menelaus and Helen about his father and the war.

What is the Iliad about?

The Iliad is a retelling of the events of part of the Trojan War , a legendary war between the Greeks and the Trojans. The poem explores themes of fate, heroism, honor, and revenge.

Is the Iliad the same as the Odyssey?

The Odyssey and The Iliad are not the same thing, though they are both attributed to the same author. The Iliad is a poem about the Trojan War, while The Odyssey is a story about a survivor of the war attempting to get home.

Is the Odyssey a sequel to the Iliad?

Chronologically, The Odyssey is a sequel to The Iliad. However, the two are not directly consecutive. They also leave out important details of the myth of the Trojan War, since it was expected at the time that audiences would understand the broader context. To make sense of both works, it is important to understand the myth of the Trojan War. The war began when Paris, a Trojan prince, brought Helen, a Spartan queen, to Troy with him as his bride. Helen was already married to Menelaus, who immediately brought the Greek fleet to Troy to get her back. The war between the Greeks and the Trojans lasted for ten years, with neither side claiming a victory. The gods sometimes joined the war on one or the other side to push the outcome toward their personal desires or simply to entertain themselves.