ODYSSEY Lecture Notes Review

Flashcards covering key vocabulary, characters, and plot elements from The Odyssey, based on lecture notes.

Bronze Age

The historical period from about 1600 to 1100 BCE, during which Homer set The Odyssey, when Greeks believed gods still roamed the earth.

Iron Age

The historical period from about 1200–700 BCE, elements of which Homer inserted into The Odyssey, reflecting his own time's social structure.

Achaeans

The name Homer uses in The Odyssey to refer to the Greeks, a tribe that lived in Greece throughout the Bronze Age.

in media res

A literary technique meaning 'in the middle of things,' describing how The Odyssey begins its narrative.

andra

The Greek word meaning 'man,' with which the original version of The Odyssey begins, signifying the story of a man's journey.

Odysseus (Ulysses)

The Greek hero and protagonist of The Odyssey, known for his cunning, cleverness, and arduous journey home from the Trojan War.

Zeus (Jupiter)

The king of the gods and goddesses at Mount Olympus, god of wayfarers and hospitality, and father of Athena.

Poseidon (Neptune)

The god of the sea, who holds a grudge against Odysseus for blinding his son, the Cyclops Polyphemus.

Hera (Juno)

The goddess of marriage and wife of Zeus.

Hermes (Mercury)

The messenger god, son of Zeus, who aids Odysseus on occasion.

Cronus (Saturn)

The King of the Titans and father of Zeus.

Telemachus

Odysseus's son, who embarks on his own journey of maturation from boyhood to manhood, guided by Athena.

Penelope

Odysseus's wife and Telemachus's mother, who waits 20 years for her husband's return, fending off suitors with clever deceptions.

Athena

The goddess of wisdom, battle, and war; she favors and protects Odysseus and Telemachus, often intervening on their behalf.

Achilles

A warrior friend of Odysseus who died in the Trojan War and is visited by Odysseus in the Land of the Dead.

Aeolus

A master of winds who gives Odysseus a magical pouch of seafaring winds to aid his journey.

Alcinous

The king of the Phaeacians, who hosts Odysseus and hears his stories of adventure.

Amphinomus

One of Penelope's suitors, known for his kindness and reason.

Anticleia

Odysseus's mother, who he meets in the Land of the Dead.

Antinous

The meanest and most antagonistic leader of Penelope's suitors.

Arete

The queen of the Phaeacians, wife of Alcinous and mother of Nausicaa.

Calypso

A nymph or minor goddess who kidnaps Odysseus and keeps him on her island for seven years.

Circe

A minor goddess and sorceress who falls for Odysseus and keeps him under her spell for a year, turning his men into swine.

Charybdis

A monster in the form of a whirlpool that Odysseus must face and survive.

Demodocus

A bard in Alcinous's court whose songs about the Trojan War move Odysseus to tears.

Elpenor

One of Odysseus's men who dies during the journey and requires a proper burial in Ithaca.

Eumaeus

A loyal swineherd in Ithaca who aids Odysseus in the battle against the suitors.

Eurycleia

Odysseus's childhood nurse, who recognizes him by a scar.

Eurymachus

One of Penelope's suitors who attempts to influence others through persuasion.

Halitherses

A citizen of Ithaca loyal to Odysseus, skilled in reading omens.

Laertes

Odysseus's father, deeply affected by his son's disappearance and reunited with him at the epic's end.

Menelaus

The king of Sparta, who fought with Odysseus in the Trojan War, recounting stories of Odysseus to Telemachus.

Mentor

A trusted member of Odysseus's household, entrusted with teaching and guiding Telemachus while Odysseus was at war.

Nausicaa

The princess of the Phaeacians, daughter of Alcinous, and the first to discover Odysseus in their kingdom.

Nestor

The king of Pylos, who fought with Odysseus in the Trojan War, recounting stories of Odysseus to Telemachus.

Philoetius

A loyal cowherd and servant of Odysseus who helps exact revenge on the suitors.

Polyphemus

Son of Poseidon, a one-eyed Cyclops blinded by Odysseus.

Pisistratus

Nestor's son, who accompanies Telemachus on his journey.

Scylla

A six-headed monster, another danger Odysseus must escape.

Sirens

Sea creatures disguised as women who lure sailors to their deaths with bewitching songs.

Tiresias

A blind prophet whom Odysseus meets in the Land of the Dead and who warns him of future events.

Plot Diagram (Introduction)

The initial stage of the plot diagram where the setting and main characters are introduced, and the main conflict often hinted at, as when Telemachus leaves Ithaca.

Plot Diagram (Rising Action)

The series of events in a plot diagram that builds tension and leads to the climax, involving escalating conflicts and character development.

Plot Diagram (Climax)

The turning point or moment of greatest tension in a plot diagram, often leading to a resolution of the main conflict, such as Odysseus passing Penelope's test and killing the suitors.

Plot Diagram (Falling Action)

The events in a plot diagram that occur after the climax, where the tension decreases and conflicts begin to resolve, moving towards the resolution.

Plot Diagram (Resolution)

The conclusion of the plot diagram, where the main conflicts are resolved, and a sense of normalcy is restored, such as Odysseus reconciling with Laertes.

Hubris

A theme in The Odyssey representing the hero's tragic flaw of excessive pride, which leads Odysseus to taunt the gods and incur obstacles.

Temptation

A theme in The Odyssey where characters like Odysseus and Penelope face challenges to their loyalty, such as Odysseus being lured by Sirens and goddesses.

Homecoming

A central theme in The Odyssey, culminating in Odysseus's heroic return to reclaim his kingdom, home, and family.