The Odyssey Flashcards
Ithaka
Ithaka is the homeland of the hero Odysseus
Penelope
- Wife of Odysseus
- Loyal and clever
- She patiently waits for his return from the Trojan War, facing numerous challenges and suitors who seek her hand in marriage.
Telemachus
- Son of Odysseus
- He’s inexperienced because of his father’s absence
- boy to man
Telemachus’ journey
He embarks on a journey to find news of his missing father.
Fearing for his father’s fate, Telemachus travels to various lands, seeking information and guidance.
Along the way, he encounters characters like Nestor and Menelaus, learning about his father’s exploits and gaining maturity and confidence, ultimately preparing him for his role in the eventual reunion with Odysseus.
Agamemmnon
His murder is orchestrated by his wife, Clytemnestra, and her lover, Aegisthus.
He cautions Odysseus about the potential treachery of women, emphasizing the need for caution and skepticism in dealing with them.
Demodokos
A blind bard who sings for the Phaeacians.
Demodokos sings a song about the Trojan War, including Odysseus’ exploits, unaware that Odysseus is present.
The song makes Odysseus weep.
Phemios
He performed for the suitors
Spared by Telemachus when Odysseus returns home, as he was forced to perform for the suitors against his will.
Suitors
A group of over a hundred men who come to the palace of Odysseus in Ithaca to marry his wife, Penelope, believing that Odysseus is dead.
They consume his resources, disrespect his household, and compete for Penelope’s hand in marriage, contributing to the challenges faced by Odysseus upon his return.
Menelaos
He hosts Telemachus, Odysseus’s son, and recounts his experiences during the journey back from Troy, including encounters with gods and mythical creatures.
Nestor
Telemachus visits him seeking information about his father’s fate and seeking guidance on his own journey.
Zeus
Often intervenes in mortal affairs, either aiding or obstructing Odysseus on his journey home from the Trojan War.
Athena
Assists Odysseus in his journey home, providing guidance, protection, and often intervening with the other gods to ensure his success
Poseidon
Notably angered by Odysseus and prolongs his journey home after the Trojan War due to the blinding of Polyphemus, his Cyclops son
Phaeacians
Help Odysseus by providing him with a ship to return to Ithaca after hearing his tales of adventure.
Alkinoös
King of the phaeacians
arete
It is a concept that represents the qualities of a hero, such as bravery, wisdom, and skill, that contribute to their overall excellence and success
Nausikaa
A princess of the Phaeacians, encountered by Odysseus when he is shipwrecked on the island of Scheria.
She discovers him on the beach and helps him by providing clothing and guidance to the Phaeacian court, eventually aiding his journey back to Ithaca.
Achilles
Odysseus encounters the shade of Achilles in the Underworld, where Achilles expresses regret for choosing a short but glorious life over a long but ordinary one.
Calypso
A nymph who lives on the island of Ogygia.
She detains Odysseus for seven years, offering him immortality and companionship.
Circe
A powerful enchantress who turns Odysseus’s men into pigs during their journey home.
With the help of the god Hermes, Odysseus resists her magic and convinces her to transform his men back to human form.
Elpenor
In a state of drunkenness, he falls from the roof of Circe’s palace and dies.
Later, when Odysseus visits the Underworld, he encounters Elpenor’s ghost, who requests a proper burial.
This prompts Odysseus to address the matter upon his return to the living world.
Polyphemos
- A cyclops
- His role involves trapping the Greek hero and his men in his cave, devouring some of them, and posing a significant obstacle in their journey back home.
-Odysseus ultimately blinds Polyphemus, enabling his escape and earning the wrath of the Cyclops’ father, the sea god Poseidon.
Eumaios
He plays a crucial role in the epic by assisting Odysseus, who is in disguise upon his return to Ithaca.
Eumaeus is instrumental in helping Odysseus reclaim his kingdom by aiding him in his strategic plans against the suitors vying for Penelope’s hand.
Argos
Odysseus’ loyal dog.
He waits for his master’s return despite Odysseus being away for 20 years.
Sadly, Argos dies shortly after recognizing Odysseus, fulfilling his purpose of seeing his master one last time.
Eurykleia
The loyal and wise nurse of Odysseus and Telemachus.
Her role includes caring for Odysseus as a child, recognizing him upon his return, and keeping his identity a secret.
Laertes
The father of Odysseus.
His role is most prominent towards the end of the epic when Odysseus returns home.
He is involved in the battle against the suitors who have overrun Odysseus’ palace and, in the end, is reunited with his son.
time traps
Enchantments or magical phenomena that distort the passage of time.
EX: the island of circe
xenia
A concept of ancient Greek hospitality, emphasizing the reciprocal relationship between hosts and guests
Nostos
The theme of the hero’s journey home.
It encapsulates Odysseus’ prolonged and arduous voyage back to Ithaca after the Trojan War, exploring the challenges and adventures he faces on his way home.
the contest of the bow
A challenge set by Penelope to find a worthy suitor.
The task involves stringing Odysseus’s massive bow and shooting an arrow through twelve axeheads.
Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, completes the challenge, revealing his true identity and proving himself as the rightful king of Ithaca.
the ‘poly-tropos’ hero
means “many-turning” or “versatile.”
homeric simile
Descriptions where something is compared by expressing what it is not rather than what it is.
This literary device is used by Homer to create vivid and memorable images by highlighting the dissimilarity of the subject to other known objects or concepts.
ex: Odysseus as a vanquished woman; Penelope as a shipwrecked sailor
homophrosyne
The unity and harmony between Penelope and Odysseus.
It represents their shared understanding, loyalty, and mutual respect, highlighting the ideal marital relationship in ancient Greek literature
