The Odyssey Test: Honors - Curley

Poseidon

God of the sea, father of Polyphemus (The Cyclops)

Athena

Goddess of wisdom and war, helps Odysseus throughout his journey

Odysseus

King of Ithaca, known as the most clever Greek warrior

Telemachus

Son of Odysseus and Penelope

Polyphemus

Cyclops that ate some of Odysseus men

Tiresias

A blind prophet who guides Odysseus in the underworld

Homer

Writer of the Odyssey and the Iliad

Eurylochus

Member of Odysseus' crew. Told the crew to kill the sun god's cattle. Was skeptical of Circe when they were stuck on the island.

Eumaeus

Odysseus' servant in Ithaca

Calypso

Nymph who tried to keep Odysseus captive on her island Ogygia

Laertes

Odysseus' father

Scylla

six headed monster

Charybdis

A massive whirlpool

Antinous

Leader of penelope's suitors who tries to take control of Ithaca

Eurynome

Penelope's servant

Eurymachus

Suitor who tries to blame everything on Antinous once Odysseus kills him.

Alcinous

King of the phaeacians (people who led odysseus back to Ithaca)

Circe

sorceress that turns odysseus' men into pigs

Zeus

God of the sky and king of the Gods

Helios

The sun God who owns the sacred cattle

Mythology

Story that typically involves gods, supernatural beings, and superhuman heros. Has religious and cultural topics.

Epic poem

a long narrative poem recounting heroic deeds, partially improvised, partially memorized poetry, meant to be sung or performed out loud

Invocation

a plea to one of the Nine Muses for inspiration at the beginning of an epic peom

Epic hero

a larger than life hero with great or superhuman strength and courage who takes on a difficult journey or quest

Muses

The goddesses of arts and poetry (music, poetry, storytelling, arts)

Epithet

A brief, descriptive phrase that emphasizes the important characteristics

Epic Similie

A detailed comparison that extends for several lines

"In Medias Res"

- Beginning of a story in the middle of action rather than the beginning

- Epics typically begin "in medias res", or "in the middle of things"

Hubris

Excessive pride; arrogance

Hospitality

The ancient Greek value of treating guests with respect, generosity, and kindness.

Wiles

Cunning, intelligent, and witty

Siren

An attractive but dangerous woman (a femme fatale) - definitely an archetype.

Xenia

An ancient Greek concept of hospitality, it is almost translated as 'guest-friendship' or 'ritualized friendship', it is rooted in generosity, gift exchange, and reciprocity

Plot (The Lotus Eaters)

Odysseus and his men encounter the Lotus Eaters, a people who live on a plant that makes them forget their desire to return home.

Themes (The Lotus Eaters)

Temptation, forgetfulness, loss of purpose.

Characters (The Lotus Eaters)

Odysseus, his men, the Lotus Eaters.

Symbols (The Lotus Eaters)

The lotus plant symbolizes the allure of forgetfulness and the dangers of losing one's sense of purpose.

Lesson (The Lotus Eaters)

The importance of perseverance and not being swayed by fleeting pleasures that can distract you from your goals.

Plot (The Cyclops)

Odysseus and his men are trapped by the Cyclops Polyphemus, and they must use wit and cleverness to escape.

Themes (The Cyclops)

Intelligence vs. brute strength, hospitality, the consequences of pride.

Characters (The Cyclops)

Odysseus, Polyphemus, his men.

Symbols (The Cyclops)

The cave symbolizes isolation, and the blindness of Polyphemus symbolizes ignorance and self-centeredness.

Lesson (The Cyclops)

Cleverness and resourcefulness are sometimes more valuable than strength, but hubris (excessive pride) can lead to disaster.

Plot (The Land of the Dead)

Odysseus journeys to the Underworld to seek guidance from the prophet Tiresias and encounters the spirits of the dead.

Themes (The Land of the Dead)

The inevitability of death, the importance of wisdom, the consequences of past actions.

Characters (The Land of the Dead)

Odysseus, Tiresias, the spirits of the dead

Symbols (The Land of the Dead)

The Underworld symbolizes the end of life and the realm of the unknown.

Lessons (The Land of the Dead)

Loyalty to loved ones and self-control in the face of temptation are crucial for personal growth and success.

Plot (The Sirens)

Odysseus and his men encounter the Sirens, whose singing lures sailors to their doom, but Odysseus is able to resist by having himself tied to the mast of his ship.

Themes (The Sirens)

Temptation, self-control, the dangers of desire

Characters (The Sirens)

Odysseus, the Sirens, his men.

Symbols (The Sirens)

The Sirens symbolize the dangerous allure of distractions and desires that can lead one astray.

Lesson (The Sirens)

Self-control and discipline are essential to resist temptations that might derail your purpose.

Plot (Sylla & Charybdis)

Odysseus must navigate his ship between the monstrous Scylla (a six-headed creature) and Charybdis (a deadly whirlpool), losing some men in the process.

Themes (Sylla & Charybdis)

Sacrifice, the inevitability of hard choices, survival.

Characters (Sylla & Charybdis)

Odysseus, his men, Scylla, Charybdis.

Symbols (Sylla & Charybdis)

Scylla and Charybdis represent unavoidable dangers that require difficult decisions.

Lesson (Sylla & Charybdis)

Life often presents two bad options, and the best one may require sacrifice.

Plot (The Cattle of the Sun God)

Despite warnings, Odysseus' men kill and eat the sacred cattle of Helios, the Sun God, leading to their doom.

Themes (The Cattle of the Sun God)

Disobedience, the consequences of temptation, divine punishment.

Characters (The Cattle of the Sun God)

Odysseus, his men, Helios.

Symbols (The Cattle of the Sun God)

The cattle symbolize sacred things that should not be violated or disrespected.

Lessons (The Cattle of the Sun God)

Disobedience to divine or moral laws brings severe consequences, and temptation can be disastrous.

Plot (Odysseus' Homecoming 20 years gone)

After a long absence, Odysseus returns home to Ithaca, only to find it overrun by suitors vying for Penelope's hand.

Themes (Odysseus' Homecoming 20 years gone)

Homecoming, loyalty, justice, and restoration.

Characters (Odysseus' Homecoming 20 years gone)

Odysseus, Penelope, Telemachus, the suitors.

Symbols (Odysseus' Homecoming 20 years gone)

Ithaca represents home, stability, and identity.

Lesson (Odysseus' Homecoming 20 years gone)

The journey home is not only physical but also about reclaiming one's identity and the importance of family and loyalty.

Plot (Argus)

Argus, Odysseus' faithful dog, waits for twenty years for his master's return. He dies shortly after Odysseus' homecoming.

Themes (Argus)

Loyalty, fidelity, the passage of time.

Characters (Argus)

Odysseus, Argus

Symbols (Argus)

Argus represents unwavering loyalty and devotion.

Lesson (Argus)

Loyalty and faithfulness are powerful and enduring, even in the face of time and adversity.

Plot (The Suitors)

The suitors are a group of men who overrun Odysseus' home, trying to marry Penelope and take over his wealth.

Themes (The Suitors)

Disrespect, entitlement, and the abuse of hospitality.

Characters (The Suitors)

The suitors, Penelope, Odysseus.

Symbols (The Suitors)

The suitors symbolize the breakdown of order and respect in Odysseus' absence.

Lesson (The Suitors)

Disrespect for others' rights and the abuse of hospitality lead to ruin.

Plot (The Challenge)

Penelope devises a contest in which the suitors must string Odysseus' bow and shoot an arrow through twelve axeheads, a task only Odysseus can accomplish.

Themes (The Challenge)

The test of worthiness, justice, and recognition.

Characters (The Challenge)

Penelope, the suitors, Odysseus.

Symbols (The Challenge)

The bow symbolizes Odysseus' strength and rightful place as king.

Lesson (The Challenge)

True strength and worth are revealed through trials and tests, and justice will prevail.

Plot (Odysseus's Revenge)

Odysseus, with the help of Telemachus and a few loyal servants, kills all the suitors in a bloody confrontation to reclaim his home and restore order.

Themes (Odysseus's Revenge)

Revenge, justice, the restoration of order.

Characters (Odysseus's Revenge)

Odysseus, Telemachus, the suitors.

Symbols (Odysseus's Revenge)

The bow symbolizes Odysseus' rightful authority, and blood symbolizes vengeance and justice.

Lesson (Odysseus's Revenge)

Revenge is often necessary to restore justice, but it comes at a cost and must be measured.

Plot (Penelope's Test)

Penelope, unsure of whether the beggar is truly Odysseus, asks him to string Odysseus' bow and shoot an arrow through twelve axeheads, which only her husband could do.

Themes (Penelope's Test)

Loyalty, cleverness, testing the truth.

Characters (Penelope's Test)

Penelope, Odysseus.

Symbols (Penelope's Test)

The bow symbolizes Odysseus' strength and identity.

Lesson (Penelope's Test)

Loyalty, patience, and wisdom in testing truth are essential for recognizing what is genuine.

Xenia

Hospitality

Bravery

Courage

Willingness/Cunning

Metis

Loyalty

Faithfulness to both family and gods

Nostos

Homecoming

Hubris

Pride