Major Characters of the Odyssey

Question 1

Penelope

Answer 1

Role: Wife of Odysseus, Queen of Ithaca
Description: Penelope remains faithful to Odysseus during his long absence, fending off suitors who want to marry her and claim the throne. She is known for her intelligence and patience, particularly in the way she weaves and unweaves a shroud to delay remarrying.
Key Traits: Loyalty, patience, intelligence

Question 2

Odysseus

Answer 2

Role: Protagonist, King of Ithaca
Description: Known for his cleverness and cunning, Odysseus is the hero of The Odyssey. He spends ten years trying to return home after the Trojan War, facing various trials and temptations. His loyalty to his family and his clever strategies define his journey.
Key Traits: Intelligence, perseverance, loyalty, resourcefulness

Question 3

Telemachus

Answer 3

Role: Son of Odysseus and Penelope
Description: Telemachus begins The Odyssey as a young, inexperienced prince, but grows into a more confident and capable figure as he embarks on a journey to find news of his father. His development mirrors his father’s trials, as he learns about leadership and courage.
Key Traits: Growth, determination, courage

Question 4

Athene

Answer 4

Role: Goddess of wisdom and war, protector of Odysseus
Description: Athene serves as Odysseus’s divine protector, guiding and aiding him throughout his journey. She often intervenes in human affairs, favoring Odysseus because of his intelligence and piety. She also assists Telemachus, helping him grow into his role as the heir to Ithaca.
Key Traits: Wisdom, guidance, protector

Question 5

Poseidon

Answer 5

Role: God of the sea, antagonist to Odysseus
Description: Poseidon is Odysseus’s main divine antagonist. Angered by Odysseus blinding his son, the Cyclops Polyphemus, Poseidon curses Odysseus and prolongs his journey home. He creates numerous obstacles, including shipwrecks and storms, to prevent Odysseus’s return.
Key Traits: Wrathful, vengeful, powerful

Question 6

Calypso

Answer 6

Role: Nymph, Odysseus’s captor
Description: Calypso keeps Odysseus on her island, Ogygia, for seven years, hoping to make him her husband. Though she offers him immortality, Odysseus longs to return to Ithaca. Eventually, she is ordered by the gods to let him go.
Key Traits: Seductive, possessive, divine

Question 7

Circe

Answer 7

Role: Enchantress, Odysseus’s ally
Description: Circe initially turns Odysseus’s men into swine but later becomes his ally and lover. She helps him by providing crucial advice on how to navigate the challenges ahead, such as the Sirens and Scylla and Charybdis.
Key Traits: Mysterious, powerful, wise

Question 8

Polyphemus

Answer 8

Role: Cyclops, son of Poseidon
Description: Polyphemus is a brutal one-eyed giant who traps Odysseus and his men in his cave. Odysseus blinds him in order to escape, which leads to Poseidon’s curse. Polyphemus represents brute strength and lack of civility.
Key Traits: Brutal, vengeful, uncivilized

Question 9

The Suitors

Answer 9

Role: Antagonists, men seeking Penelope’s hand
Description: The suitors, led by Antinous and Eurymachus, overrun Odysseus’s palace in Ithaca, trying to marry Penelope and claim his kingdom. They are arrogant and disrespectful, and their greed leads to their downfall when Odysseus returns.
Key Traits: Greedy, disrespectful, arrogant

Question 10

Antinous

Answer 10

Role: Leader of the suitors
Description: Antinous is the most aggressive and arrogant of Penelope’s suitors. He plots to kill Telemachus and shows no respect for the gods or for Odysseus’s household. He is the first suitor killed when Odysseus returns.
Key Traits: Arrogant, violent, disrespectful

Question 11

Eumaeus

Answer 11

Role: Loyal swineherd
Description: Eumaeus is a faithful servant of Odysseus who helps him reclaim his throne. He offers Odysseus hospitality when he returns to Ithaca in disguise and later helps in the fight against the suitors.
Key Traits: Loyalty, hospitable, humble

Question 12

Eurycleia

Answer 12

Role: Loyal nursemaid
Description: Eurycleia is the old nurse of both Odysseus and Telemachus. She recognizes Odysseus by the scar on his leg while washing his feet but keeps his identity secret. She represents loyalty to the household.
Key Traits: Loyal, nurturing, observant

Question 13

Laertes

Answer 13

Role: Father of Odysseus
Description: Laertes is the aging father of Odysseus, living in isolation on a farm. His grief over Odysseus’s absence is profound, but he is rejuvenated upon Odysseus’s return, helping in the final fight against the suitors’ families.
Key Traits: Grief-stricken, elderly, loyal

Question 14

Teiresias

Answer 14

Role: Blind prophet
Description: Tiresias is the seer whom Odysseus consults in the Underworld. He provides crucial advice on how to avoid the wrath of Poseidon and foretells the challenges that await him before he can return to Ithaca.
Key Traits: Wise, prophetic, guiding

Question 15

Nausicaa

Answer 15

Role: Princess of the Phaeacians
Description: Nausicaa is the daughter of Alcinous and Arete. She finds Odysseus washed ashore and, with kindness and respect, helps him by giving him clothes and guiding him to her parents’ palace. Her hospitality and modesty represent the ideal of Greek virtue and xenia (guest-friendship).
Key Traits: Compassionate, modest, hospitable

Question 16

Arete

Answer 16

Role: Queen of the Phaeacians
Description: Arete is the wise and influential queen of the Phaeacians, wife of Alcinous, and mother of Nausicaa. She is respected by her people and is known for her wisdom and discernment. Odysseus appeals to her for help, as her opinion carries great weight in the kingdom.
Key Traits: Wise, respected, influential

Question 17

Alcinous

Answer 17

Role: King of the Phaeacians
Description: Alcinous is the king of the Phaeacians and husband to Arete. He offers Odysseus hospitality, listens to the story of his long journey, and provides him with the means to return home to Ithaca. Alcinous represents the ideal of xenia and generosity.
Key Traits: Generous, hospitable, honorable

Question 18

Aeolus

Answer 18

Role: Keeper of the winds
Description: Aeolus gives Odysseus a bag containing all the winds except the one that will blow him home. However, Odysseus’s crew, curious about the contents, open the bag, blowing them off course.
Key Traits: Generous, helpful
Significance: Aeolus’s gift nearly brings Odysseus home, but the crew’s curiosity leads to disaster.

Question 19

Laestrygonians

Answer 19

Role: Giant cannibals
Description: The Laestrygonians attack Odysseus’s fleet, destroying most of his ships and devouring many of his men. Only Odysseus’s ship escapes.
Key Traits: Savage, monstrous
Significance: This encounter results in the loss of most of Odysseus’s fleet.

Question 20

Lotus-Eaters

Answer 20

Role: Inhabitants of the land of the Lotus
Description: The Lotus-Eaters offer Odysseus’s crew the lotus plant, which makes them forget their desire to return home. Odysseus must forcefully bring his men back to the ship.
Key Traits: Peaceful, enchanting
Significance: They represent the danger of complacency and forgetfulness.

Question 21

The Sirens

Answer 21

Role: Enchanting singers
Description: The Sirens lure sailors to their doom with their irresistible songs. Odysseus, curious to hear their song, has his men plug their ears with wax while he is tied to the mast of his ship to listen safely.
Key Traits: Seductive, dangerous, enchanting
Significance: They represent temptation and the danger of curiosity.

Question 22

Scylla

Answer 22

Role: Six-headed monster
Description: Scylla is a sea monster with six heads who devours six of Odysseus’s men as they pass through the strait between her and Charybdis.
Key Traits: Ferocious, unstoppable
Significance: A symbol of inevitable loss and danger in Odysseus’s journey.

Question 23

Charybdis

Answer 23

Role: Whirlpool
Description: Charybdis is a massive whirlpool that threatens to destroy Odysseus’s ship. Odysseus must navigate between Scylla and Charybdis, choosing to face Scylla to avoid total destruction.
Key Traits: Destructive, unavoidable
Significance: Represents the unavoidable dangers Odysseus faces.

Question 24

Melanthius

Answer 24

The goatherd that calls the disguised Odysseus a ‘plate licker’. He symbolises the corruption that has happened in the household in Odysseus’ absence.

Question 25

Melantho

Answer 25

Sister of Melanthius. Brought up by Penelope but like her brother symbolises the corruption of the household by the suitors. She is in a relationship with Eurymachus.