The Odyssey

The composition of "The Odyssey" is attributed to Homer, a classical poet/bard about whom we know practically nothing. It is a sequel of sorts to "The Iliad" and follows the hero Odysseus on his long and often side-tracked journey home from the Trojan War. The epic appeared in written form somewhere around 700-750 BC and has proved to be one of the most enduring works of classical literature the world over. It established certain conventions for the epic genre, such as the invocation of the muse, the use of epic similes and epithets, and the technique of beginning the story in media res.

The epic abounds with figures from Greek mythology, including such gods and goddesses as:

Zeus — king of the gods and goddesses; god of thunder and justice.
Hera — queen of the gods and goddesses; wife of Zeus; goddess of marriage and motherhood.
Hades — king of the underworld; Zeus's brother.
Demeter — goddess of grain and the harvest; Zeus' sister.
Persephone — queen of the underworld; Demeter's daughter.
Poseidon — god of the sea; Zeus's brother.
Heracles — god of athletes; Zeus' son.
Hestia — goddess of the hearth; Zeus' sister.
Athena — goddess of wisdom; goddess of righteous wars, peaceful arts, and handicrafts; Zeus's daughter.
Aphrodite — goddess of love and beauty.
Eros — god of love; Aphrodite's son.
Hephaestus — god of metalworkers and artisans; god of fire; Hera's son.
Apollo — god of light and music, archery and healing; Zeus' son.
Artemis — goddess of hunting, wild things, the moon, and childbirth; Zeus's daughter, Apollo's twin sister.
Ares — god of war and thieves; son of Hera and Zeus.
Hermes — god of merchants; messenger of the gods; Zeus' son.
Dionysus — god of wine and fertility; Zeus' son.

By following the links below, you will find book-by-book synopses of "The Odyssey" (call them 'Sara's notes,' if you will); please keep in mind that they are in no way to be used as substitutes for reading the text, and reading them instead of the text will not enable you to pass the quizzes or the test on this work.
Books I - IV Books V - VIII Books IX - XI Books XII - XVI Books XVII - XX Books XXI - XXIV
Questions for close reading:

Is Odysseus a good representation of a hero? What are his heroic qualities?
What is the role of the supernatural in the tale?
What is woman's role in "The Odyssey"?
What is the function of dreams in "The Odyssey"?
How does hospitality function as a criterion of civilization in this tale?
What does Book XXIV contribute to "The Odyssey"?
How would you describe the relationship between Penélopê and Telémakhos?
How is the arrogance of power demonstrated in "The Odyssey"?
To what extent is Odysseus responsible for his fate?
What factors contibrute to Telémakhos's growth to manhood?

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