The Portrayal of Key Characters in Homer's Odyssey

Polyphemus

Monster and livestock keeper in the Odyssey.

Circe

Witch who hosts Odysseus and his crew.

Penelope

Odysseus' loyal wife and queen.

Telemachus

Son of Odysseus, grows into a hero.

Odysseus' slaves

Loyal servants who support Odysseus.

Zeus

King of gods, controls fate and justice.

The suitors

108 men seeking to marry Penelope.

Antinous

Ringleader of the suitors, abusive and manipulative.

Xenia

Greek concept of hospitality and guest-friendship.

Hermes

Messenger god who aids Odysseus against Circe.

Cicones

People who fought Odysseus' crew in Book 9.

Odyssey

Epic poem detailing Odysseus' journey home.

Book 9

Describes the encounter with the Cicones.

Book 10

Features Hermes helping Odysseus with Circe.

Book 19

Zeus punishes Odysseus' crew for cattle theft.

Book 21

Contest of the bow, Odysseus reveals identity.

Book 22

Odysseus confronts and defeats the suitors.

Justice

Theme associated with Zeus' role in the Odyssey.

Odysseus' journey

A quest filled with trials and divine intervention.

Divine intervention

Gods influencing human actions in the Odyssey.

Heroism

Telemachus' development as a character in the story.

Cattle of the Sun-god

Source of Zeus' punishment for Odysseus' crew.

Eurymachus

Second most important suitor, concerned about reputation.

Odysseus

Hero of the Odyssey, seeks to return home.

Leodes

Priest suitor, begs for mercy from Odysseus.

Eurylochus

Second in command, shows suspicion and reluctance.

Laestrygonians

Giant cannibals who destroy Odysseus' fleet.

Elpenor

Final crew member to die in the story.

Odysseus' Crew

Group of men led by Odysseus, largely anonymous.

Suitors

Men vying for Penelope's hand, disrespectful to Odysseus.

Magic

Superhuman powers used by gods in the narrative.

Disguise

Gods often appear in different forms to interact.

Reputation

Eurymachus values status over genuine feelings.

Mutiny

Eurylochus suggests abandoning crew members with Circe.

Irony

Eurymachus' concern contrasts with his destructive actions.

Taxing

Eurymachus raises money to maintain his power.

Odysseus' Leadership

Demonstrated through rescue of men from danger.

Human-like Gods

Gods exhibit human traits, influencing their decisions.

Godlike Strength

Eurymachus compares himself to Odysseus' superior abilities.

Crew's Mutiny

Crew's rebellion against Odysseus' decisions.

Cicones Incident

Crew's delay leads to seventy-two deaths.

Bag of Winds

Crew's action results in being blown off course.

Loyal Crew

Odysseus' men show loyalty during adventures.

Cyclops' Organization

Polyphemus maintains order in his cave.

Polyphemus' Farming Skills

He makes cheese and cares for livestock.

Contradictory Nature

Polyphemus exhibits both kindness and violence.

Men Turned to Pigs

Circe transforms Odysseus' crew into animals.

Circe's Hospitality

Offers food, shelter, and gifts to Odysseus.

Odysseus' Desperation

Expresses frustration with Polyphemus' behavior.

Polyphemus' Isolation

Lives alone, lacks contact with other Cyclopes.

Polyphemus' Beverage

Prefers milk over wine, indicating rustic lifestyle.

Brutal Actions

Polyphemus kills crew members without remorse.

Cave Environment

Polyphemus' cave is filthy and disorganized.

Odysseus' Cleverness

Uses trickery to escape from Polyphemus.

My Fine Ram

Polyphemus shows affection towards his livestock.

Odysseus' Identity

Revealing his name leads to danger.

Homer's Characterization

Creates complex characters that evoke sympathy.

Hospitality

Penelope's generous treatment of her guests.

Greek Woman's Role

Expected to support husbands, lacking authority.

Challenge of the Bow

Penelope's test for the suitors to marry her.

Living Tree Bed

Secret known only to Odysseus and Penelope.

Suppliant

A person begging from someone in authority.

Penelope's Grief

Her tears compared to a river in flood.

Odysseus' Disguise

Penelope may recognize him as the beggar.

Intelligence

Penelope's cleverness in delaying suitors' advances.

Homer

Author of the Odyssey, depicting Greek values.

Patience

Penelope's enduring wait for Odysseus' return.

Authority Shift

Telemachus becomes the leading man in the house.

Reputation Damage

Suitors harm Odysseus' household standing.

Firmness

Penelope asserts herself against suitors respectfully.

Emotional Depth

Penelope's loyalty enhances her beauty in grief.

Odyssey Book 18

Penelope hints at marriage as beggar arrives.

Melantho

Slave-girl who abuses Odysseus in Book 19.

Funeral shroud

Penelope's clever ploy to delay marriage.

Eurycleia

Loyal nurse, trusted by Odysseus and Penelope.

Bow contest

Challenge set by Penelope for suitors' marriage.

Greek woman

Expected to be modest and obedient in society.

Cunning

Penelope's trait used to outsmart the suitors.

Hero's journey

Telemachus' growth into a hero alongside Odysseus.

Authority

Telemachus asserts his right over the bow.

Amphinomus

Suitor killed by Telemachus in Book 22.

Disloyal maids

Slaves punished for betrayal of Odysseus.

Loyalty

Divided among Odysseus' slaves, with no middle ground.

Modesty

Penelope's virtue, shown by covering her face.

Grief-stricken

Penelope's emotional state due to suitors' presence.

Tentative steps

Telemachus' initial actions towards becoming a leader.

Inexperience

Telemachus shows this in battle and strategy.

Respect

Eurycleia's status among the palace's female slaves.

Spear

Weapon used by Telemachus to kill Amphinomus.

Ithaca

Home of Odysseus and Telemachus, central to their story.

Eumaeus

Swineherd loyal to Odysseus, aids in battle.

Philoetius

Cowherd loyal to Odysseus, assists in reclaiming home.

Phemius

Bard spared by Odysseus for unwillingness to perform.

Melanthius

Goat-herd who aids suitors, represents disloyalty.

Scar

Identifying mark on Odysseus, reveals his identity.

Bow of Odysseus

Symbol of kingship, used to reclaim his throne.

Household

Represents loyalty and order, disrupted by suitors.

Battle

Climactic confrontation between Odysseus and the suitors.

Fairness

Odysseus and Telemachus distinguish between loyal and disloyal.

Greek word 'melas'

Means 'black', associated with evil in Greek culture.