1. Characters and Places “ THE ODYSSEY ”

2. MORTAL CHARACTERS Odysseus – protagonist; king of Ithaca; military leader in the Trojan War Penelope – wife of Odysseus Telemachus – son of Odysseus; born on the day Odysseus left for the Trojan War Suitors – men of Ithaca living in Odysseus’ palace who want to marry Penelope Antinous – one of Penelope’s leading suitors, very rude and mean

3. MORTAL CHARACTERS CONTINUED Helen – daughter of Zeus, wife of King Menelaus, kidnapped by Prince Paris and taken to Troy (cause of the Trojan War) King Menelaus – king of Sparta; Helen’s husband; an ally of Odysseus in the Trojan War King Nestor – wise king of Pylos; ally of Odysseus during the Trojan War

4. SUPERNATURAL BEINGS Polyphemus – Cyclops; son of Poseidon Calypso – a beautiful goddess-nymph who keeps Odysseus captive on her island for seven years Circe – witch-goddess who turns Odysseus’ men into pigs Sirens – sea nymphs whose beautiful and mysterious music lures sailors to steer their ships toward deadly rocks

5. SUPERNATURAL BEINGS CONTINUED Charybdis – a female monster who sucks in water three times a day to form a deadly whirlpool Scylla – a female monster with six serpent heads, each having a triple row of fangs; eats men as they pass near Charybdis

6. PLACES Ithaca – Greek island home of Odysseus Ogygia – island home of Calypso Pylos – kingdom of King Nestor Sparta – kingdom of King Menelaus and Helen Troy – site of the Trojan War Land of the Dead – underworld where Greek souls live after their deaths