Odyssey Terms
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Terms
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- Suitors
- Disgusting animal-like bachelors who raid the house of Telemachus like a "Wolf Pack". Ask for Penelope's hand in marriage.
- In medias res
- A term meaning "in the middle of", stories would often be told this way
- Tiresias
- Was in the underworld and informed Odysseus of his prophecy, he was blind and proved that knowledge can be attained without sight.
- Phaiakians
- Descendants of Poseidon, Ideal Homeric Society, they are "practically perfect in every way"(Mary Poppins) But not fully perfect, cockiness, challenge Odysseus to a game, Very proud peoples
- Arete
- Alkinoos' wife, questions Odysseus' clothing, Honorable
- Kalypso
- Goddess holding Odysseus captive on her island, lets him go once she is informed of Odysseus' fate
- Orestes
- Son of Agamemnon and Klytemnestra, killed his mother to avenge his father, is a parallel to Telemachus.
- Beds
- Symbolic, beds in The Odyssey, were seen throughout the epic, Flawless bed, bed of leaves, Royal bed
- Homer
- Wrote The Odyssey, he is blind
- Lex Talionis
- Law of retribution "an eye for an eye"
- Homeric Society
- An Ideal society, a flourishing civilization, all help and aid each other.
- Nestor
- Wise king of Pylos, tied the Iliad and the Odyssey together to emphasize the differences. Did not know much about Odysseus' wherabouts
- Books 5-8
- Odysseus' travels to the Phaiakians, from Kalypso's stronghold. Shows fate, Odysseus was meant to leave the island
- Theoklymenos
- Killed his brother and escaped imprisonment by going to Ithaka with Telemachus. Says the house of Odysseus will prevail.
- Telemachus
- Odysseus' only son, began as a pathetic coward but through time and help from Athena, was given confidence and grew to become more like his father.
- Menelaos
- Married to Helen, regrets his decision of leaving Agamemnon and not praying. Extremely wealthy and kind, like Nestor, shows Hospitality.
- Hubris
- Excessive pride or self-confidence that leads one to disregard a divine warning or to violate an important moral law or fate.
- Mentor
- Left behind to take care of Odysseus' house. (n.) a guide, tutor, one who helps another.
- Didactic
- Teaches a Lesson
- Pisistratus
- Nestors son, told to accompany Telemachus on his journey.
- Eurykleia
- Slave of Telemachus, had a very close bond with him like a grandmother, nursed Telemachus when he was young.
- Odysseus
- Ithaka's ruler, battled bravely in Troy and is revered by all. Gods adore him saying he is always giving.
- Xenia
- Or hospitality, one of the most important Greek customs. To aid and serve one before even knowing that one's identity. Said to be practiced by the Gods.
- Alkinoos
- King of the Phaiakians, model ruler for Odysseus, perfect parallel relation ship of father and child.
- Muses
- Show music and the arts as arts of the divine, arts were considered God-like, muse-music
- Nausikaa
- Stands up to the un-appealing image of Odysseus and offers him hospitality. Falls in love with him but Odysseus remains loyal. She is like Artemis, he had stood out like she did.
- Poseidon
- Has a grudge with Odysseus because of Polyphemus. Knows of fate of Odysseus but wants to make his journey difficult. Acts "human" rather than "godly".
- Long Narrative Poem
- Had rhythm so they were easily memorized
- Eurylokhos
- At first was Odysseus' most trusted shipmate, but later he doubted Odysseus' asking to join Kirke
- Homeric Simile
- An extremely long simile involving phrases such as "the butterfly gleamed so much, as if it were a diamond freshly cut and brought into the bright sun."
- Books 13-24
- Odysseus' coming home and defeat of the suitors
- Penelope
- Odysseus' wife, cunning, loyal, said to be deceitful to the suitors because she said she would marry whomever gave her the best gift but did not choose a suitor.
- Pylos
- Represents one of the ideal Homeric Societies. Another foil to Ithaka, becomes a part of Telemachus' education of civilization/
- Iliad
- An epic poem that extols war, war is considered excellent
- The Odyssey
- Epic poem, extols values of civilization, means "an adventure"
- Books 1-4
- Telemakhos'/Telemachus' introduction, talks to Athena, growing into a man from shy, weak, and pathetic boy
- Helen
- Absolutely beautiful, felt guilty for the trouble she caused in Troy; married to Menelaos
- Eumaios
- Odysseus' kind, noble, and loyal swineherd, offered hospitality even though he was poor
- Ajax
- (Aias) yelled at the Gods engaging hubris, Poseidon kills him
- Temptation of Immortality
- Temptation of immortality or choice to live like a God as a Human. Odysseus is offered this choice but refuses it from Kalypso.
- Books 9-12
- Odysseus' stories of his long journey and hardships