Dramatic Irony In Homer's Odyssey

1. Homer uses dramatic irony to keep us interested in how they are going to find out what we already know. When is that going to happen? And what will happen in consequence for them not knowing what we already know? By now, everyone knows Telemakhos has returned, and what we now know that not everyone knows is that they are trying to kill Telemakhos. Still Penelope, and the suiters do not realize Odysseus has returned.
2. When Telemakhos knows his father has returned, obviously, there is much excitement, joy, and basic emotional break down. “Salt tears rose from the wells of longing.” I think this line pretty much encompasses the feeling! “wells of longing” is probably the best way to describe that impatient, yet ever present feeling of sadness mixed with hope. Homer’s descriptions have such impact on those reading. He paints a picture with words and encompasses

I find the suiters in general very offensive. They take what is not theirs and when it is threaten they wish to eliminate the source of the threat. That is the kind of brave cowardice no one should be. They seemingly have no regard for others. They greet Telemakhos with kind words, yet plot to kill him, such hypocrisy! Also, by insulting Odysseus for returning to beg for food, they show a lack of heart for those who have nothing, and especially while they are eating food that is not their own!
4. Foreshadow is a fantastic tool in literature. It plants a seed of thought in the mind of the reader then, with a general explosion, can make their brain pop on the reveal. It also is used as a way to barrow the use of dramatic irony in the sense that we can kind of see where this is going but those in the story have no idea what’s going to happen. Homer uses foreshadowing several times in his tale, in chapter 18, he uses the “showdown” between beggar Odysseus, and Beggar Irus to show a little how the “taking down” of the suiters will go. He will reveal himself, they will be scared, and he will defeat