The Telemachus and Epic Conventions

The Telemachy

The first four books of the Odyssey.

Odysseus

Telemachus’s father, the missing king of Ithaca, skilled and clever, trapped on Ogygia.

Telemachus

Son of Odysseus and Penelope; embarks on a journey to find his father.

Penelope

Odysseus’s wife, Telemachus’s mother, and queen of Ithaca; yearns to see Odysseus.

Eurycleia

Loyal nurse of Telemachus and Odysseus; provides care and guidance during Telemachus’s quest.

Eurymachus

One of the suitors of Penelope; characterized by arrogance.

Antinoos

Leader of the suitors, known for his arrogance and contempt for Telemachus.

Laertes

Father of Odysseus who mourns for his son.

Calypso

A nymph who keeps Odysseus captive on Ogygia; symbolizes temptation and longing.

Athena

Goddess of wisdom and war strategy; helps Odysseus return home.

Zeus

Main god, ruler of all other gods; associated with thunder and lightning.

Poseidon

God of the sea; not in favor of Odysseus.

Menelaus

King of Sparta and husband of Helen of Troy; helps Telemachus.

Nestor

King of Pylos; assists Telemachus in his journey.

Helen of Troy

Wife of Menelaus; often referred to as the cause of the Trojan War.

Pisistraus

Son of Menelaus; helps Telemachus get to Sparta.

Agamemnon

King of Mycenae and brother of Menelaus; killed by his wife’s lover.

Clytemnestra

Wife of Agamemnon and sister of Helen.

Proteus

Old, prophetic sea god who shapeshifts; Odysseus faces him.

Medon

Faithful herald of Odysseus.

Ithaca

Home of Odysseus and Penelope; an island.

Troy

Setting for the Trojan War; besieged for 10 years.

Pylos

Ruled by King Nestor, where Telemachus visits.

Ogygia

Calypso’s island where Odysseus is held captive.

In Media Res

Narrative begins in the middle of the story’s action.

Invocation of the Muse

A call to the muse to inform the reader of the subject matter.

Stock Epithets

Adjective or phrase that describes a character.

Divine Intervention

Gods interfering with human affairs.

Epic Digressions

Recaps of known stories that are not essential to the plot.

Heroes embodying cultural values

Heroes in epics embody the dominant ideas and values of their culture.

Definitive Meter

Poetic meter consisting of one long syllable followed by two short syllables.

Homer Similes

Detailed, complex comparisons between everyday things.

Epic Battles

Long showdowns in epics.

Descent into the underworld

A pivotal moment in which the hero descends to the underworld, marking the lowest point in their journey.