Odysseus

• book 1 - Athene's image of him pining away on Calypso's island, recollections of Mentes and Penelope's tears
• Telemachus can't confirm Odysseus is his father
• no bond between Ody and Tel
• Homer delays the meeting with him until book 5
• book 5 - see him as a broken man who can only sit and weep, yearning for Ithaca
• only redeeming factor = plaything for the gods
• a human who demands so much divine interest much be extraordinary
• so attractive that Calypso is willing to give him immortality to keep him
• devoted to his nostos and Penelope
• cunning - refuses to believe Calypso until she has sworn that she is not tricking him
• skilled and resourceful - 4 days to make himself a raft, from felling trees to sewing the sail
• cry during the storm and says it would be better to die in Troy - might seem defeatist but shows concern for his kleos
• book 6 - needs help but his is naked and disgusting after his days at sea
• only source of help is a well-brought-up young girl
• scene is something of a comedy show, as emerged from the bushes like a fierce lion, but with a torn-off branch awkwardly concealing his private parts
• clever use of flattery and intuitive understanding of what might be in Nausicaa's mind that allows him to get what he needs
• more and more aware of his ability to deceive - exploited to the full during his time with the Phaeacians
• his task is to hide his identity until he is sure that the Phaeacians will take him back to Ithaca
• he dodges Arete's direct question about his identity, shrouds himself in mystery
• displays his heroic qualities when his honour is challenged
• his sobbing at the stories about Troy is part of his cunning
• story follows is in Odysseus' own words and presents himself to the Phaeacians as he wants to be viewed
• shows himself tending to the needs of his men and using his intelligence to get out of difficult situations
• intelligence shown at primates at Ismarus, Cyclopes and Circe
• his mother talks about her heartache for her 'glorious' son and for his wise and 'gentle' ways
• gentleness is not an obvious quality in Odysseus to this point
• tears in his eyes seeing her and the pathos created by the image of trying to throw his 'loving arms' around her and 'draw comfort' from some contact
• see his manipulative nature on his return to Ithaca
• expresses his opinion about the Suitors before he has met them, with a clever 'I feel sure, my friend, that you will allow me to join in your discussion' (16)
• gains him the confidence of Eumaeus - refers to him as 'someone as shrewd as you' (17)
• starts to gather intelligence on suitors as soon as he reveals himself - 'list them for me, one by one'
• manipulates Eumaeus into taking him into palace at the time he wants to go
• creates a public incident - goads Antinous into throwing a stool at him
• Ody publicly announces that he once had a 'rich house to live in'
• new of the altercation is bound to reach Penelope - he knows this
• P summons the beggar (Ody)
• replies he will see her later - gives more time to test the Suitors
• easily defeats Irus
• uproar is enough to cause Telemachus to send the suitors home
• Ody given P even more cause to see the Suitors as thoroughly despicable