The Odyssey Final

epithet

word or phrase used repeatedly to describe someone/something usually used to replace person’s name. characteristic of that person

homeric simile

extended comparison btwn two actions or objects

invocation

prayer of entreaty

Achilles

perspective of Iliad

in medias res

drop the reader straight into the thick of the action (”the middle of the thing”)

Muse (Calliope)

Goddess of epic poetry to whom Homer prays for guidance and inspo at the beginning

Laertes

Former King of Ithica, O’s dad who now lives in poverty on outskirts of Ithica bc of abusive suitors

Eurycleia

old faithful servant and former nurse to Telemachus. trusted and full of integrity

the suitors

Sons of lords and rulers of nearby lands who are vying for Penelope’s hand in marriage, despite her protests. Selfish, cruel, and gluttonous

Antinous

Leader of the suitors and the worst of the lot

Eurymachus

Second in command of the suitors; not quite as bad as Antinous, but still awful. Often pretends to be on Telemachus’ side

Proteus

minor god “Old Man of the Sea” who never lies. trapped by Menelaus and forced to tell him the truth abt O.

Nestor

Pylos’s king, dad of Pisistratus

Nausicaa

princess of Phaecians and helps O (clothes and advice)

Queen Arete

queen of Phaeceans; highly respected and cautious. mom of Nausicaa

King Alcinous

king of Phaeceans; even tempered, generous, kind

Aoleus

god/king of winds

Anticleia

O’s mom, died of grief

Tiresias

mortal, prophet, the seer, gives O instructions how to get home(don’t eat cattle)

Aegisthus

murders Agamemnon upon his return from the Trojan War. then rules Mycenae until Orestes, Agamemnon's son, returns to avenge his father's death

Orestes

son of Agamemnon

Eurylochus

O’s antagonist, gets his men to turn against him and makes them eat the cattle

Elpenor

the guy who drinks and falls and must be buried properly

Circe

stay with her for a year, get comfy, went form being enemies (turned men into pigs) into a friend

Scylla

has six heads

Charybdis

whirlpool

Calypso

stay with her 7 years

Laestrygonians 

Giants who destroy 11/12 of Odysseus’ fleet and murder/eat his men

Amphinomus

A suitor who acts more graciously to the disguised Odysseus after the latter beats Irus in the wrestling contest; warned of the impending vengeance of Odysseus and the gods

Irus

Another beggar who mixes with and seeks the approval of the suitors; abusive towards the disguised Odysseus

Philoetius

The cowherd; faithful servant who assists in suitors’ slaughter

Eurynome

A faithful maid servant to Penelope

Eumaeus

The “loyal swineherd” whose hospitality and sense of righteousness are held up as ideal; assists Odysseus in the battle against the suitors

Melanthius

The goatherd who is abusive towards the disguised Odysseus and works “for” the suitors

Melantho

One of Penelope’s faithless maid servants who sleeps with the suitors; hurls insults at the disguised Odysseus