| A | B |
|---|
| Homer begins the Odyssey | Oh Goddess of Inspiration, help me sing of wily Odysseus, that master of schemes! |
| epic | poem about a hero (usually a long poem) |
| Mount Olympus | home of the gods |
| Athena | goddess of war, daughter of Zeus |
| Athena also | speaks on behalf of Odysseus, who has been delayed on his return home |
| Cyclops | Odysseus is said to have put out his eye |
| God of Earthquakes | Poseidon, also the father of the Cyclops that Odysseus blinded |
| Ruler of the Sea | another role of Poseidon |
| Calypso | a nymph who has fallen in love with Odysseus and will not let him leave her island |
| Hermes | Athena asks Zeus to send him to Calypso to make her let Odysseus go |
| messenger of the gods | Hermes |
| Odysseus' son | Athena goes to help him while Hermes talks to Calypso |
| Ithaca | island home of Odysseus |
| Telemachus | son of Odysseus, who does not recognize Athena in human form (disguise) |
| gods and goddesses | often took disguises to walk among mortals, to test their hospitality |
| nobles of Ithaca and neighboring lands | assume Odysseus is dead and want to take over his property |
| suitors | seek Penelope's hand in marriage and take advantage of her hospitality by eating everything |
| guest | treated kindly by Penelope and Telemachus, Athena rewards their hospitality |
| advice of Athena to his son | warn off suitors, get a ship, find news of your father |
