The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 27, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Entertainment›Literature›The Odyssey
Entertainment • Literature

The Odyssey

The Odyssey is an ancient Greek epic poem traditionally attributed to Homer.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Odyssey is an ancient Greek epic poem traditionally attributed to Homer. It follows Odysseus, king of Ithaca, as he tries to return home after the Trojan War. The poem is one of the foundational works of Western literature and is divided into 24 books.

Plot

The poem follows Odysseus as he struggles to return to Ithaca after the Trojan War. Along the way, he faces storms, monsters, divine interference, and long delays before reaching home.

Authorship and date

The Odyssey is traditionally credited to Homer, but many scholars regard the poem as the product of oral tradition and do not treat Homeric authorship as certain. It is commonly dated to the late 8th or early 7th century BC.

Structure

The Odyssey is organised into 24 books. This division is standard in modern editions and reflects ancient scholarly organisation of the text.

Literary significance

The Odyssey is considered one of the central surviving works of ancient Greek literature and a foundational text in the Western canon. It is often read as a sequel to the Iliad.

Key facts

  • The Odyssey is an epic poem traditionally attributed to Homer.
  • It tells the story of Odysseus's long journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War.
  • The poem is divided into 24 books.
  • Scholars generally date its composition to around the late 8th or early 7th century BC.
  • Modern scholarship often treats the Iliad and the Odyssey as separate works that may not have been composed by the same author.
🍁
Canadian context

The Odyssey is widely studied in Canadian schools and universities as a foundational work of ancient Greek literature and Western literary tradition.

Frequently asked questions

Who wrote The Odyssey?
It is traditionally attributed to Homer, though many scholars say its exact authorship is uncertain and that it may come from long oral traditions.
What is The Odyssey about?
It is about Odysseus’s dangerous, delayed journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War.
How long is The Odyssey?
The poem is divided into 24 books and runs to more than 12,000 lines in standard editions.
Who is the main character in The Odyssey?
The main character is Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, also known in Latin as Ulysses.
What is the difference between The Odyssey and The Iliad?
The Iliad focuses on events during the Trojan War, while The Odyssey follows Odysseus’s homecoming after the war.
When was The Odyssey written?
It is usually dated to the late 8th or early 7th century BC, with some scholars placing its composition around 725–675 BCE.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer
    Supports: Traditional attribution to Homer; scholarly uncertainty; approximate date of composition of the Iliad and Odyssey.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey
    Supports: Summary of plot, 24-book structure, Odysseus as central character, and dating.
  3. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Odyssey-epic-by-Homer
    Supports: Authorship attribution, plot summary, 24-book structure, and date range.
  4. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Homer-Greek-poet
    Supports: Homer as presumed author and general historical context.
  5. British Museum — https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/who-was-homer
    Supports: Conventional dating of the Iliad and Odyssey to the late 8th or early 7th century BC.
  6. LibreTexts — https://human.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Literature_and_Literacy/Classics/The_Odyssey_(Homer)
    Supports: Odyssey as a sequel to the Iliad, 24-book structure, and composition near the end of the 8th century BC.