Study Guide for the Odyssey

The Odyssey, generally attributed to the blind bard Homer, is divided into 24 books. You can find an online English translation of the Odyssey by following the links below. The translation is the first entry for the Odyssey study guide for each of the 24 books. After the translation and the descriptive title, 4 sections follow for each book. These sections provide you with extra information and will, I hope, enhance your study of this great epic. They are:

• a summary
  
• notes on aspects of the book that may be of interest or need some explanation,
  
• the cast of major characters, and
  
• a quiz that closely follows the specific book of the Odyssey.
  

[The Iliad Translation and Notes]

1. Homer The Odyssey - Book 1

   The Gods in Council

   Odyssey Summary Book I
   Notes
   Major Characters
   Quiz on The Odyssey - Book I
   
2. Homer The Odyssey - Book 2

   Telemachus Calls the Assembly in Ithaca

   Odyssey Summary Book II
   Notes
   Major Characters
   Quiz on The Odyssey - Book II
   
3. Homer The Odyssey - Book 3

   Telemachus visits Nestor

   Odyssey Summary Book III
   Notes
   Major Characters
   Quiz on The Odyssey - Book III
   
4. Homer The Odyssey - Book 4

   Telemachus visits Helen and Menelaus

   Odyssey Summary Book IV
   Notes
   Major Characters
   Quiz on The Odyssey - Book IV
   
5. Homer The Odyssey - Book 5

   The gods tell Calypso to let Odysseus go

   Odyssey Summary Book V
   Notes
   Major Characters
   Quiz on The Odyssey - Book V
   
6. Homer The Odyssey - Book 6

   Odysseus and Nausicaa in the land of the Phaeacians

   Odyssey Summary Book VI
   Notes
   Major Characters
   Quiz on The Odyssey - Book VI
   
7. Homer The Odyssey - Book 7

   Odysseus meets the king and queen of the Phaeacians

   Odyssey Summary Book VII
   Notes
   Major Characters
   Quiz on The Odyssey - Book VII
   
8. Homer The Odyssey - Book 8

   Phaeacians provide a ship

   Odyssey Summary Book VIII
   Notes
   Major Characters
   Quiz on The Odyssey - Book VIII
   
9. Homer The Odyssey - Book 9

   Odysseus tells about his adventures

   Odyssey Summary Book IX
   Notes
   Major Characters
   Quiz on The Odyssey - Book IX
   
10. Homer The Odyssey - Book 10

    Odysseus tells of his visit to Aeolus

    Odyssey Summary Book X
    Notes
    Major Characters
    Quiz on The Odyssey - Book X
    
11. Homer The Odyssey - Book 11

    Odysseus' Nekuia

    Odyssey Summary Book XI
    Notes
    Major Characters
    Quiz on The Odyssey - Book XI
    
12. Homer The Odyssey - Book 12

    Return to Circe's island to bury Elpenor

    Odyssey Summary Book XII
    Notes
    Major Characters
    Quiz on The Odyssey - Book XII
    
13. Homer The Odyssey - Book 13

    Phaeacians give Odysseus gifts

    Odyssey Summary Book XIII
    Notes
    Major Characters
    Quiz on The Odyssey - Book XIII
    
14. Homer The Odyssey - Book 14

    In disguise, Odysseus finds his swineherd Eumaeus

    Odyssey Summary Book XIV
    Notes
    Major Characters
    Quiz on The Odyssey - Book XIV
    
15. Homer The Odyssey - Book 15

    Telemachus heads home

    Odyssey Summary Book XV
    Notes
    Major Characters
    Quiz on The Odyssey - Book XV
    
16. Homer The Odyssey - Book 16

    Telemachus and Odysseus are reunited

    Odyssey Summary Book XVI
    Notes
    Major Characters
    Quiz on The Odyssey - Book XVI
    
17. Homer The Odyssey - Book 17

    Odysseus goes to his palace

    Odyssey Summary Book XVII
    Notes
    Major Characters
    Quiz on The Odyssey - Book XVII
    
18. Homer The Odyssey - Book 18

    Odysseus, as a beggar, fights another beggar

    Odyssey Summary Book XVIII
    Notes
    Major Characters
    Quiz on The Odyssey - Book XVIII
    
19. Homer The Odyssey - Book 19

    Odysseus and Telemachus plot

    Odyssey Summary Book XIX
    Notes
    Major Characters
    Quiz on The Odyssey - Book XIX
    
20. Homer The Odyssey - Book 20

    Odysseus and Penelope take turns with insomnia

    Odyssey Summary Book XX
    Notes
    Major Characters
    Quiz on The Odyssey - Book XX
    
21. Homer The Odyssey - Book 21

    The book of the bow

    Odyssey Summary Book XXI
    Notes
    Major Characters
    Quiz on The Odyssey - Book XXI Alternate Quiz
    
22. Homer The Odyssey - Book 22

    The book of the slaughter

    Odyssey Summary Book XXII
    Notes
    Major Characters
    Quiz on The Odyssey - Book XXII
    
23. Homer The Odyssey - Book 23

    Testing and Reconciliation of Penelope and Odysseus

    Odyssey Summary Book XXIII
    Notes
    Major Characters
    Quiz on The Odyssey - Book XXIII
    
24. Homer The Odyssey - Book 24

    Peace Restored

    Odyssey Summary Book XXIV
    Notes
    Major Characters
    Quiz on The Odyssey - Book XXIV

25. footnotes
    

List of the Odyssey Quizzes