The Odyssey
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Book 1 Book 2 Book 3 Book 4 Book 5 Book 6 Book 7 Book 8 Book 9 Book 10 Book 11 Book 12 Book 13 Book 14 Book 15 Book 16 Book 17 Book 18 Book 19 Book 20 Book 21 Book 22 Book 23 Book 24
Themes
All Themes Fate, the Gods, and Free Will Piety, Customs, and Justice Cunning, Disguise, and Self-Restraint Memory and Grief Glory and Honor
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Odysseus Telemachus Penelope Athena Zeus
Symbols
All Symbols Food Birds
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Allusions Dramatic Irony Foreshadowing Genre Imagery Irony Logos Metaphors Mood Motifs Oxymorons Pathos Setting Similes Situational Irony Style Tone Verbal Irony
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The Odyssey

by Homer
Upgrade to A+
Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Book 1
  • Book 2
  • Book 3
  • Book 4
  • Book 5
  • Book 6
  • Book 7
  • Book 8
  • Book 9
  • Book 10
  • Book 11
  • Book 12
  • Book 13
  • Book 14
  • Book 15
  • Book 16
  • Book 17
  • Book 18
  • Book 19
  • Book 20
  • Book 21
  • Book 22
  • Book 23
  • Book 24
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Fate, the Gods, and Free Will Theme Icon
    Fate, the Gods, and Free Will
  • Piety, Customs, and Justice Theme Icon
    Piety, Customs, and Justice
  • Cunning, Disguise, and Self-Restraint Theme Icon
    Cunning, Disguise, and Self-Restraint
  • Memory and Grief Theme Icon
    Memory and Grief
  • Glory and Honor Theme Icon
    Glory and Honor
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Odysseus
  • Telemachus
  • Penelope
  • Athena
  • Zeus
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • Food Symbol Icon
    Food
  • Birds Symbol Icon
    Birds
Lit Devices
  • All Literary Devices
  • Allusions
  • Dramatic Irony
  • Foreshadowing
  • Genre
  • Imagery
  • Irony
  • Logos
  • Metaphors
  • Mood
  • Motifs
  • Oxymorons
  • Pathos
  • Setting
  • Similes
  • Situational Irony
  • Style
  • Tone
  • Verbal Irony
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
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Zeus

The Odyssey Symbols

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Food

Food

Almost every fortune and misfortune in The Odyssey is a scene of men eating or being eaten. Every kindness culminates in a meal, and nearly every trial culminates in cannibalism or poison. Scylla… read analysis of Food

Food Symbol Icon

Birds

Several bird omens foreshadow the final battle between Odysseus's men and the suitors. Early on in the book, two eagles tear each other to death; later, an eagle kills a goose (as in Penelope's dream)… read analysis of Birds

Birds Symbol Icon
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Zeus
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Zeus
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Food
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Food

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