Homer

About the Author

Virtually nothing is known of Homer’s life. Many people believe no such person ever existed, and that "Homer" is a pseudonym uniting the works of many authors from various time periods. Others believe that he was a blind court singer in the 8th-century BC.

LitCharts guides for works by Homer

Explore LitCharts literature guides for works by Homer. Each guide includes a full summary, detailed analysis, and helpful resources for studying Homer's writing.

The Iliad

The Iliad recounts a brief but crucial period of the Trojan War, a conflict between the city of Troy and its allies against a confederation of Greek cities, collectively known as the Achaeans. The ... view guide

The Odyssey

The story begins twenty years after Odysseus left to fight in the Trojan War, and ten years after he began his journey home to Ithaca. We enter the story in medias res – in the middle of things: Od... view guide