As the story progresses, everything there is about human emotion and character is portrayed in the story love, loyalty, longing, pride, glory, courage, bravery, everything. Odysseus's quest was based on his desire to go back home to his family, and though no baser desire can ever well up from man, his journey was riddled with detours and delays, in his need for adventure and glory. .
Humans are not the only participants of this story, supernatural beings are members too. From deity, to Cyclops, to witches, these characters gave an unreal feeling to the story, yet it spices things up in a way that no outcome is certain for the hero. After all, the hero, portrayed as having few equals in battle among men, needed the challenge. Thus, this epic is filled with the involvement of the gods in destining the fate of a human life.
In terms of characterization, few other pieces of literature can equal the amount of details that portray a character. Everything about a particular person in the story in described in fine detail, from the clothes he wears to the number of strands of hair on his head. .
Homer, who is speaking as a mouthpiece, faithfully retelling the legends of the past, tells everything in the story. So when a character talks, his or her words come through Homer and the conversation tends to be in long, rather formal speeches rather than quick dialogue. The poet-narrator's eyes see past and present as equally interesting and valuable. Sometimes a dramatic scene- such as the bathing of Odysseus' feet by Eurycleia when she sees his scar and discovers his true identity will be interrupted by a long story from the past about how he got the scar.
The Odyssey I must say is one of the greatest epic poems ever written. Their narrative style, plot construction, and characterization are the backbone of European literature today as what I have read. This is truly rare and I have discovered that there are deeper meanings on certain aspects of each situation.
