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Analysis Pages

Irony in The Odyssey

Dramatic irony is used throughout the story to build tension and suspense for the listening audience. Because the narrator invokes a muse at the beginning of the tale, he, and by extension his audition, are given privileged sight of Odysseus's tale. For this reason, the audition oftentimes knows things that the characters in the story cannot, creating the dramatic irony and providing tension for the story.

Irony Examples in The Odyssey:

Book Three

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"I can look goose egg of the kind..." See in text(Book Iii)

This is another example of dramatic irony since the audience knows that Telemachus is being guided by the goddess Athena, who is disguised every bit Mentor, while searching for Odysseus. This emphasizes Telemachus' slight ignorance, as well equally dependence on Athena.

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"praying heartily to Poseidon..." Meet in text(Book III)

It is ironic that Athena prays to Poseidon since she is actively working against the god who is punishing Odysseus by giving communication to his son, Telemachus.

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Book 5

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"I am going to ship you lot abroad of my own costless will..." Run across in text(Book V)

The reader knows Calypso is lying, which makes this an example of dramatic irony. She tells Odysseus that she is letting him gratis considering she still cares almost him even when he volition exist gone, and she wants him to intendance about her when he leaves.

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Book XII

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"Poseidon himself could not save you..." See in text(Book XII)

Circe doesn't necessarily understand the irony of this statement. Considering how Odysseus has offended Poseidon, information technology is highly unlikely that he would, under any circumstances, assist Odysseus.

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Volume XIII

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"may I discover my admirable wife living in peace among friends..." See in text(Book XIII)

As readers we are given the information that a large grouping of suitors has descended upon Penelope, trying to convince her Odysseus is dead and she should accept i of their easily in wedlock. By having Odysseus promise for something that directly contrasts the reality of the situation, Homer uses dramatic irony here to foreshadow farther conflict in the story.

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"I saw no more of you..." See in text(Volume XIII)

Since Odysseus did not see Athena from that twenty-four hours, he believed that she had abased him. Nevertheless, this is dramatic irony because the reader she assisted him during his unabridged journey back to Ithaca.

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Volume Fourteen

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"for I was not given to bragging..." See in text(Volume XIV)

This is a scrap of conscious or unconscious irony on Odysseus' part. His bragging has acquired many bug over the years, particularly with regards to Poseidon, who might not accept known that Odysseus was the one who blinded his son Polyphemus had he non arrogantly told Polyphemus his existent name.

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Book XV

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"and their hair always tidy..." See in text(Book XV)

Fifty-fifty among servants, Eumaeus implies, in that location's a social hierarchy, as nosotros encounter when the "upper" servants who work in the business firm look down on the swineherds and laborers. Odysseus, equally he appears in this scene, wouldn't be fit fifty-fifty to work on his own lands (an irony that cannot be overstated).

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Book XVI

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"nosotros had made sure that information technology would come up to nada..." Run into in text(Volume XVI)

The suitors had hired a boat and crew to ambush Telemachus on his way back to Ithaca from Sparta, but he left Sparta earlier than expected and avoided the deadfall, which was supposed to have taken place near Ithaca. Since they had causeless the ambush worked, the sight of Telemachus is surprising for them.

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Book XVII

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"like a human..." See in text(Book XVII)

Note the irony of this statement. Melanthius, a man of little to no means and a servant with no respect for his master, would never receive a sword or a cauldron every bit a gift, making him, by his own definition, less of a human. This further underscores how unhealthy the gender roles in ancient Greece were.

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Book 18

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"married the best human..." Come across in text(Book XVIII)

Homer uses dramatic irony to humorous effect. Antinous demands Penelope pick the "all-time man" to marry, while her husband, Odysseus, is also standing in the room unbeknownst to them.

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"of the same mind as I am..." Run into in text(Book XVIII)

Homer uses irony to emphasize Telemachus'southward cleverness. Telemachus means exactly the reverse of what he says almost Antinous and Eurymachus being "understanding", merely he is using information technology as a camouflage so that they don't interfere. His craftiness deepens the connection betwixt him and his father.

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"Irus..." Come across in text(Book XVIII)

This is another case of Homer'due south wordplay. "Irus" is a play on "Iris", a messenger goddess. Some of the townspeople nicknamed him this ironically because he is the complete reverse of whatsoever godly being: a beggar and a drunkard. He delivers messages out of dire need, not out of divine duty.

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Volume Xix

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"Bring a seat with a fleece upon information technology, for the stranger to sit down upon while he tells his story..." See in text(Book Nineteen)

Penelope, well aware of the requirements of formal hospitality (xenia) provides the beggar with the same kind of seat she is using.  By doing this, she is honoring her absent hubby, who happens to be sitting right in forepart of her--a great Homeric irony.

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Book XXI

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"still I am laughing and enjoying myself every bit though there were cypher happening..." Come across in text(Book XXI)

A rare example of verbal irony from Telemachus. Upward till now, he has been fairly somber and serious. Notwithstanding, now he is laughing not considering he feels carefree, but because he knows what is about to happen to the suitors.

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Assay Pages