In fact, Homer refers to his protagonist throughout the epic as 'wily Odysseus.

Odysseus's most memorable quality is not his bravery or strength - though he is brave and strong - but rather his cleverness.

The extraordinary length of Odysseus' return trip, which should take a matter of weeks, is due to his many antagonists, including the god Poseidon, the many mythical creatures he encounters, and Odysseus' often greedy and lazy crewmen. The journey of Odysseus from Troy to Ithaca takes ten years - the same amount of time that the Trojan War itself lasted.And many epics, probably including The Odyssey, were written to be performed to musical accompaniment. Some epics were composed in order to be performed from memory, and so they include poetic devices to make them more memorable. The Odyssey is an epic, a very long poem on a single subject.The three most important aspects of The Odyssey: Movie Versions: Ulysses (1955) The Odyssey (1997) Major Symbols: Laertes' shroud Odysseus' bow the sea Ithaca Major Thematic Topics: hospitality loyalty perseverance vengeance appearance versus reality spiritual growth The king's old dog Argos recognizes him despite his changed appearance, and the nurse Eurycleia recognizes him by the familiar hunting scar on his knee. The next day, Eumaeus and Odysseus come to court. Main Characters: Odysseus Penelope Telemachus Athena (Pallas) Polyphemus (the Cyclops) and King Alcinous Circe and Calypso Father and son reunite and plot their revenge against the suitors. The Odyssey ends as Odysseus wins a contest to prove his identity, slaughters the suitors, and retakes the throne of Ithaca.įirst Published: probably around 700 B.C. 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. The Odyssey is Homer's epic of Odysseus' 10-year struggle to return home after the Trojan War.

The Odyssey by Homer