The Odyssey Study Guide

Epic

Long narrative poem, subject: struggle for cultural values; hero: embodies cultural values

Sacred Bond of Guest and Host (xenia)

Greek convention of hospitality rights

Hubris

Excessive pride, tragic flaw of heroes

Invocation to the Muse

Poet calls upon Goddess of Creativity and Inspiration

In Medias Res

Starting a story in the middle and using flashback

Flashback

Narration goes back in time to reveal past events

Frame Narration

Story within a story

Epithet

Descriptive phrase before or after a character, fancy nickname

Odysseus

Main character of The Odyssey

Calypso

Goddess who holds Odysseus captive

Nausicaa

Princess who helps Odysseus

Circe

Sorceress who turns Odysseus' men into pigs

Scylla & Charybdis

Two sea monsters Odysseus must navigate

Telemachus

Son of Odysseus

Penelope

Wife of Odysseus

Eurylochus

One of Odysseus' crew members, disagrees with Odysseus

Polyphemus

Cyclops blinded by Odysseus