fbpx

KidsKonnect

The Iliad and Odyssey Facts & Worksheets

The Iliad and the Odyssey are thought to have been written by the ancient Greek poet Homer, who lived in Ionia in the ninth or eighth century BCE. "The Iliad" narrates the events of the Trojan War, focusing on the hero Achilles, while "The Odyssey" follows the adventures of Odysseus on his journey home after the war.

Search for Worksheets

Worksheets /Social Studies /The Iliad and Odyssey Facts & Worksheets

Premium
Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version   Download sample

The Iliad and the Odyssey are thought to have been written by the ancient Greek poet Homer, who lived in Ionia in the ninth or eighth century BCE. “The Iliad” narrates the events of the Trojan War, focusing on the hero Achilles, while “The Odyssey” follows the adventures of Odysseus on his journey home after the war. These epic works are foundational to Western literature and provide insights into ancient Greek culture and mythology.

See the fact file below for more information about the Iliad and Odyssey, or you can download our 26-page Iliad and Odyssey worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

OVERVIEW OF THE ILIAD AND ODYSSEY

  • The Iliad (Ancient Greek: “a poem about Ilium (Troy)”). One of the first pieces of literature still often read by contemporary audiences. The poem was composed in dactylic hexameter and is split into 24 books, just like the Odyssey. 
  • The most regularly used version has 15,693 lines. The poem describes major events in the siege’s last weeks and is set at the close of the Trojan War, a coalition of Mycenaean Greek kingdoms’ ten-year siege of Troy. 
  • It shows a particularly ferocious fight between King Agamemnon and the legendary warrior Achilles. It plays a significant role in the Epic Cycle. 
  • The poem was spoken by rhapsodes, who are expert reciters of Homer.
  • Kleos (glory), vanity, fate, and anger are important themes in the poem. The poem is commonly referred to as a heroic or male epic, particularly when compared to the Odyssey. 
  • There are fewer female characters and extensive discussions of archaic weapons and combat strategies. 
  • In the poem, the Olympian gods also have a significant role, supporting their chosen heroes in combat and interfering in interpersonal conflicts.
  • Scholars frequently examine the poem’s repetitions, similes, and epithets in terms of formal style.
  • Odyssey, on the other hand, is one of the first pieces of literature still often read by contemporary audiences. 
  • The poem is split into 24 books, like the Iliad. It follows Ithaca’s ruler and Greek hero, Odysseus, as he returns home after the Trojan War. 
  • His trip from Troy to Ithaca took ten more years after the ten-year battle, during which time he met numerous dangers, and all of his crewmates perished. Along the way, he traveled across southern Europe and Africa. 
  • Odysseus was said to be dead, so his wife Penelope and son Telemachus had to deal with a bunch of rowdy suitors vying for Penelope’s hand in marriage while he was gone.
  • The Odyssey was first written in Homeric Greek in the eighth or seventh century BCE. By the middle of the sixth century BCE, it had been accepted into the canon of Greek literature. 
  • Homer’s authorship of the poem was not contested in antiquity, but modern scholarship mostly consider that the Iliad and the Odyssey were written independently and that the tales came into being as a result of a lengthy oral tradition. 
  • The poem was recited by an aoidos or rhapsode and was more likely to be heard than read because of the prevalent illiteracy.
  • The concepts of nostos (which means “return”), wandering, xenia (which means “guest-friendship”), testing, and omens are significant topics throughout the poem. 
  • As slaves and women play a more important role in the epic than in many other ancient literary works, scholars continue to debate the narrative value of these groups in the poem. 
  • When compared to the Iliad, which centers on the accomplishments of warriors and monarchs during the Trojan War, this concentration is particularly noteworthy.

WHAT DISTINGUISHES THE ODYSSEY FROM THE ILIAD?

  • How The Iliad and The Odyssey are connected is one of the first things to comprehend while reading Homer’s epics. The Odyssey is often seen as a type of continuation of The Iliad.
  • Both epics have 24 volumes and center on a particular period of a much greater event. 
  • The Trojan War and all that took place before it were undoubtedly considerably more significant events than those described in The Iliad.
  • The account of Odysseus’ trip to Ithaca, his hometown, was likewise much longer than that presented in The Odyssey. To illustrate a point and offer a certain interpretation of the plot, Homer condensed a section of the events into each book. 
  • But there are some important distinctions between the two. Both tales have fanciful aspects, with gods making regular appearances and mythological creatures like nymphs, cyclops, and giants participating in the action. However, the Odyssey’s retelling differs from Homer’s.
  • The gods play a prominent role in The Iliad, meddling in human affairs, sending messages, and even participating in combat. Athena pilots a chariot into combat, and numerous gods are hurt during the conflict.
  • The gods adopt a considerably less complicated strategy in The Odyssey. 
  • They don’t take part in the activities. Although they occasionally step in, they never actively interfere, with the exception of when the messenger god Hermes informs Calypso that she has to free Odysseus so that he may continue his quest. 

THE ODYSSEY AND THE ILIAD’S CHARACTER PERSPECTIVES

  • The way the stories are delivered in the Iliad and Odyssey differ significantly, although this distinction is sometimes neglected. The Odyssey is told differently from the points of view of various people, in contrast to The Iliad, which presents the story in a third-person omniscient narrative.
  • While The Odyssey is similarly written in the third person, the narrator is not omniscient. Odysseus takes on the role of narrator in books IX through XII, telling his own stories. 
  • Although the choice of narration is a minor detail, it has a significant impact on both works’ overall themes. The Iliad is an expansive story that spans the arcs of many different narrative lines.
  • The narrative of Achilles and his hubris served as the major storyline line. The fate of Troy is another storyline. Other themes include the gods’ participation and intervention, as well as the human protagonists’ attempts to defy them and triumph in combat.

GODS AND CYCLOPS AND MORTALS

  • The gods and other fantastical creatures play a significant role in both The Odyssey and The Iliad. But there is a significant distinction between them.
  • The gods take center stage in The Iliad, actively participating in the events as they happen. Along with Zeus, the Greeks are also supported by the goddesses Athena, Hera, Poseidon, and Hermes.
  • Goddess Aphrodite, God Apollo, Goddess Artemis, and Leto compose the epic Trojan lineup. Every deity makes decisions for individual reasons. The Trojan prince Paris offended Athena and Hera. 
  • He was chosen to serve as a judge between Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite.
  • He decided on Aphrodite and accepted her offer of the love of Helen of Sparta, the most beautiful lady in the entire world. 
  • In reality, Aphrodite steps in when Paris and Menelaus, Helen’s first husband, start a duel. In Chapter 4 of Book 4, Hera persuaded Zeus to pledge that Troy would be vanquished.
  • The gods appear or are active in each chapter of the novels that follow, and practically every book contains scenes of the gods debating their involvement and the results.
  • The gods are a little more distant in the Odyssey. They play a far less role in the intervention than is apparent from Odysseus’ narrative.
  • Even though Odysseus encounters several fatal dangers, loses both men and ships and endures tragedy after tragedy, the gods hardly ever directly affect his good or bad luck. Odysseus’ trip and the difficulties he would encounter are foretold in prophesies, but there isn’t much direct involvement. Odysseus, in contrast to Hector, Paris, and Achilles, is primarily by himself.

ENDINGS

  • While Homer believed that Hector’s death marked the end of The Iliad’s story arc, Odysseus’ story concludes with the ultimate regaining of his realm, making it a story of optimism.
  • The performers’ arrogance and stupidity feed the tragedy that is The Iliad. The entire poem is a series of poor choices, starting with Paris’ parents’ first choice to abandon him in the woods and ending with his removal of Helen from her own country.
  • Utilizing his access to Achilles’ armor, Patroclus acts honorably, but this results in his demise. Achilles abuses Hector’s body because of his thirst for revenge. This eventually results in his passing away, which happens after the poem’s conclusion. 
  • The Iliad comes to a close with Hector’s death, demonstrating that the epic’s tone is one of the helplessness of fate combined with the haughtiness of men.
  • In contrast, despite his losses, Odysseus maintains his composure and makes wise choices. He will be able to return home and accomplish his main objective of taking back his family and kingdom in this way.
  • The decisions made by the protagonists in the two stories are compared and contrasted, and they both illustrate the tale of human experiences—both positive and negative—that are shaped by our own decisions. 

The Iliad and Odyssey Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Iliad and Odyssey across 26 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Iliad and Odyssey. The Iliad and the Odyssey are thought to have been written by the ancient Greek poet Homer, who lived in Ionia in the ninth or eighth century BCE. “The Iliad” narrates the events of the Trojan War, focusing on the hero Achilles, while “The Odyssey” follows the adventures of Odysseus on his journey home after the war.

Iliad and Odyssey worksheets
Iliad and Odyssey worksheets
Iliad and Odyssey worksheets

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Iliad and Odyssey Facts
  2. Word Hunt
  3. Write the Summary 
  4. Mythological Creature
  5. Compare and Contrast
  6. Who is Homer?
  7. Watch and Study
  8. Reporting On Cam
  9. Story Theme
  10. Epic Writing
  11. Role-Playing

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey?

The ancient Greek poet Homer is traditionally credited with composing both the Iliad and the Odyssey.

What is the central theme of the Iliad?

The Iliad primarily focuses on the Trojan War and explores themes such as heroism, honor, and the wrath of Achilles. It begins with the anger of Achilles and follows the events of the Trojan War.

Who is the hero of the Odyssey?

Odysseus is the hero of the Odyssey. The epic poem narrates his adventures and struggles as he tries to return home after the fall of Troy.

What is the significance of the Trojan Horse in the Iliad and the Odyssey?

In the Iliad, the Trojan Horse is not mentioned. However, in the Odyssey, the Trojan Horse plays a crucial role in the downfall of Troy. The Greeks use it as a deceptive strategy to enter the city and win the war.

How does the Iliad differ from the Odyssey in terms of focus and themes?

The Iliad primarily focuses on the Trojan War and the warrior Achilles, exploring themes of honor, glory, and the consequences of war. In contrast, the Odyssey centers around the adventures of Odysseus on his journey home, emphasizing themes of cunning, perseverance, and the challenges of returning from war.

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

Link will appear as The Iliad and Odyssey Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, December 6, 2023

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

Related Resources