Irony in The Odyssey

The reader knows Calypso is lying, which makes this an example of dramatic irony. She tells Odysseus that she is letting him free because she still cares about him even when he will be gone, and she wants him to care about her when he leaves.

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

As readers we are given the information that a large group of suitors has descended upon Penelope, trying to convince her Odysseus is dead and she should take one of their hands in marriage. By having Odysseus hope for something that directly contrasts the reality of the situation, Homer uses dramatic irony here to foreshadow further conflict in the story.

Since Odysseus did not see Athena from that day, he believed that she had abandoned him. However, this is dramatic irony because the reader she assisted him during his entire journey back to Ithaca.

This is a bit of conscious or unconscious irony on Odysseus' part. His bragging has caused many problems over the years, particularly with regards to Poseidon, who might not have known that Odysseus was the one who blinded his son Polyphemus had he not arrogantly told Polyphemus his real name.

Even among servants, Eumaeus implies, there's a social hierarchy, as we see when the "upper" servants who work in the house look down on the swineherds and laborers. Odysseus, as he appears in this scene, wouldn't be fit even to work on his own lands (an irony that cannot be overstated).

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 ambush, which was supposed to have taken place near Ithaca. Since they had assumed the ambush worked, the sight of Telemachus is surprising for them.

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 as a gift, making him, by his own definition, less of a man. This further underscores how unhealthy the gender roles in ancient Greece were.

Homer uses dramatic irony to humorous effect. Antinous demands Penelope pick the “best man” to marry, while her husband, Odysseus, is also standing in the room unbeknownst to them.

Homer uses irony to emphasize Telemachus’s cleverness. Telemachus means exactly the opposite of what he says about Antinous and Eurymachus being “understanding”, but he is using it as a cover-up so that they don’t interfere. His craftiness deepens the connection between him and his father.

This is another example of Homer’s wordplay. “Irus” is a play on “Iris”, a messenger goddess. Some of the townspeople nicknamed him this ironically because he is the complete opposite of any godly being: a beggar and a drunkard. He delivers messages out of dire need, not out of divine duty.

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 husband, who happens to be sitting right in front of her--a great Homeric irony.

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