Unlike The Iliad, The Odyssey is a series of episodic adventures taking place at various islands Odysseus stops at on the way back to Ithaca. The episodic structure makes it easy for readers and listeners to enjoy without needing to know what happened before.
Major Players & Enemies
Odysseus: King of Ithaca, tactician, hero
of the Trojan War, and offender of gods.
Telemachus: O’s son, Conceived before O
left.
Penelope: O’s wife. Fends off suitors who
want the throne.
Athena: Goddess of wisdom. O is one of her
favorite mortals for his wisdom, cleverness, and prowess.
Hermes: Messenger god. Sent to help O out
of trouble.
Aeolus: Controls the winds and gives O a
bag of winds
Lotus-eaters:
Flowers keep them in a joyous state.
Polyphemos: Cyclops who lives in a cave,
herds sheep, and son of Poseidon.
Circe: Witch who transforms O’s men into
pigs.
Sirens: Sea creatures that sing
beautifully and lure ships and sailors to their destruction.
Scylla: Six-headed sea creature that eats
sailors
Charybids: A whirlpool that destroys ships.
Calypso: A nymph/goddess, daughter of
Atlas. Holds O captive on her island for seven years.
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