The Odyssey by Homer (-790)
The Odyssey is an epic poem written by the ancient Greek poet Homer. It tells the story of Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, and his long journey home after the Trojan War. The poem begins with Odysseus being held captive on the island of Ogygia by the nymph Calypso. After seven years, the gods intervene and Odysseus is allowed to leave. He then embarks on a long and dangerous journey home, facing many obstacles along the way. He encounters the Cyclops, the Sirens, and the witch Circe, among other creatures. Eventually, Odysseus makes it back to Ithaca, where he is reunited with his wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus. He then sets out to reclaim his kingdom from the suitors who have been courting Penelope in his absence. After a long and bloody battle, Odysseus is victorious and reclaims his throne. The Odyssey is a timeless classic that has inspired countless works of literature, art, and film. It is a story of courage, perseverance, and the power of the human spirit.
By Homer · First published -790 · Genre: Epic Poetry, Mythology, Adventure · 26 chapters · 120,114 words
First lines
This translation is intended to supplement a work entitled "The Authoress of the Odyssey", which I published in 1897. I could not give the whole "Odyssey" in that book without making it unwieldy, I therefore epitomised my translation, which was already completed and which I now publish in full.
What this Textopian page supports
The Odyssey is listed on Textopian as a novel by Homer, dated 790 BCE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Homer
- Date: 790 BCE
- Language: English
- Genres: Epic Poetry, Mythology, Adventure, Fantasy, Classical Literature
- Length: 120,114 words
- Structure: 26 chapters, 989 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Odyssey by Homer
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Similar titles
- The Aeneid by Virgil
- The Rider On The White Horse by Theodor Storm
- Mark by John
- Grimms Fairy Tales by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Iliad by Homer
- Allan And The Ice Gods A Tale Of Beginnings by H. Rider Haggard
Genres
- Epic Poetry — The Odyssey is an epic poem written by Homer, and is considered one of the earliest surviving works of Western literature.
- Mythology — The Odyssey is a mythological tale, featuring gods, goddesses, and other supernatural beings.
- Adventure — The Odyssey follows the adventures of the hero Odysseus as he attempts to return home after the Trojan War.
- Fantasy — The Odyssey features fantastical elements such as the Cyclops, the Sirens, and the Land of the Dead.
Tags
Classic Literature · Classical Antiquity · Epic poetry · Epic poetry, Greek · Greek · Harvard Classics · Homer · King of Ithaca (Mythological character) · Novel · Odysseus · Odysseus, King of Ithaca (Mythological character) · Translations into English
Contents
- Book 1: Preface to First Edition
- Book 2: Preface to Second Edition
- Book 1: The Gods in Council
- Book 2: Assembly of the People of Ithaca
- Book 3: Telemachus Visits Nestor at Pylos
- Book 4: The Visit to King Menelaus, Who Tells His Story
- Book 5: Calypso--ulysses Reaches Scheria on a Raft
- Book 6: The Meeting Between Nausicaa and Ulysses
- Book 7: Reception of Ulysses at the Palace of King Alcinous
- Book 8: Banquet in the House of Alcinous
- Book 9: Ulysses Declares Himself and Begins His Story
- Book 10: Aeolus, the Laestrygones, Circe
- Book 11: The Visit to the Dead
- Book 12: The Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis, the Cattle of the Sun
- Book 13: Ulysses Leaves Scheria and Returns to Ithaca
- Book 14: Ulysses in the Hut With Eumaeus
- Book 15: Minerva Summons Telemachus from Lacedaemon
- Book 16: Ulysses Reveals Himself to Telemachus
- Book 17: Telemachus and His Mother Meet
- Book 18: The Fight With Irus
- Book 19: Telemachus and Ulysses Remove the Armour
- Book 20: Ulysses Cannot Sleep
- Book 21: The Trial of the Axes, During Which Ulysses Reveals Himself to Eumaeus and Philoetius
- Book 22: The Killing of the Suitors
- Book 23: Penelope Eventually Recognises Her Husband
- Book 24: The Ghosts of the Suitors in Hades