odyssey 2

Main characters for the Odyssey.

– Please identify who they are and why they are important.

Odysseus- King of Ithaca, Husband of Penelope, father of Telemachus, son of Laertes. Went to war with

Troy because of the promise he made to Menelaus regarding the protection of Helen. Had many

adventures getting home. Guilty of Hubris

Penelope- Wife of Odysseus, mother of Telemachus. Beautiful Queen of Ithaca. Fends of suitors for 3-4

years hoping Odysseus will come home.

Telemachus- son of Odysseus and Penelope. Tries to kick suitors out and fails. Is sent by Athena to see

Nestor and Menelaus to find word of Odysseus (basically her getting him out of Ithaca so the suitors

don’t kill him.

Eumaeus- Loyal swineherd, first person Odysseus sees upon returning home

Eurymachus- The manipulative suitor, smooth-talking, sneaky

Antinous- Leader of the suitors, a bully, throws a stool at Beggar Odysseus

Athena– Goddess of weaving and strategy in battle

Poseidon- God of the sea, father of the cyclopses.

Scylla- six-headed monster who lives high up on a cliff

Charybdis- whirlpool who drinks the sea down and spits it back up three times a day.

Polyphemus- cyclops who is blinded by Odysseus

Calypso- nymph who lives on Ogygia, keeps Odysseus for five/seven years.

Circe- sorceress who turns half Odysseus’s men into pigs

Nausicaa- princess of the Phaeacians, helps Odysseus by getting him a ride home

Why does Odysseus take ten years to get home from Troy? Who was against him?

He blinded the cyclops, so Poseidon is annoyed with him.

What happens on the places Odysseus lands on the way home? (Lotus Eaters, Thrinacia, Ogygia,

Aeaea, Laestrygonia, Aeolia, Isle of the Cyclops, Land of the Dead in particular).

Lotus eaters - some of the crew got trapped eating the yummy flowers

THrinacia - Island of the Sun. Cattle. Do not nom.

Ogygia - Calypso lives here. Odysseus did too for a while.

Aeaea - Circe’s home. Fresh bacon? Also, we’ll camp out for a year . Go to the underworld? Don’t

listen to the sirens? Stay close to Scylla? Don’t eat the cattle of the sun? Okay!

Laestrygonia - giants eating people. Only Odysseus’s ship escapes

Aeolia - island where Aeolis, king of the winds lives. bag of winds given to Odysseus who

conveniently forgets to tell the crew what’s in it.

Isle of the Cyclops - sheep and goats, cheese, and…wait why is that rock in the way? He’s eating

us? Here, have some wine so we can blind you when you’re passed out. BTW , my

name is Nobody. Quick, hide under sheep so we can get away. Oh, btw, did I tell

you my real name??? HAHAHAHA….oops. Your dad is who again? Oh…

Land of the Dead - Tireseus, my main man! How do I get home? Don’t eat the Cattle? Got it!

Why is Odysseus the only one from his ship who survives?

He didn’t eat the cattle of the sun.

Where did he get stuck for long periods of time? Who had him for a year? Five years?

Circe - a year, Calypso - 5-7 years.

Why was it important that Princess Nausicaa found him on the shore of Phaeacia? How does this help

him?

Her dad is a king.

‘Nough said.

Why are the suitors so sure that Odysseus is not coming home?

It’s been, like, twenty years.

What does Penelope do to stall the suitors for several years.

Weave and unweave her father-in-law’s shroud. One of her maids rats her out.

What did Odysseus use to prove to others (Eumaeus, Philoteaus, Eurycleia) who he was?

A scar on his leg made by the tusk of a wild boar .

What was the test Penelope set for the suitors?

String the bow and send an arrow through TWELVE axe heads

List 8 things from the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? that are events similar to those of the Odyssey.

How are they different/ similar to the Odyssey?

1. items will vary.