# The Odyssey

**Author:** Homer
**Lexile:** 1130L
**Grade range:** Grades 9–12
**Age range:** 14–18
**First published:** -700
**Page count:** 541
**Genre:** Epic Poetry
**ISBN-13:** `9780140268867`
**ISBN-10:** `0140268863`
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/the-odyssey
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## About this book

Homer's epic follows Odysseus, king of Ithaca, during his decade-long return from the Trojan War as he faces monsters, gods, and his own patience. Teachers typically assign a modern translation (Fagles, Wilson, Fitzgerald) in 9th- or 10th-grade World Literature. A standard Common Core grade 9-10 exemplar.

## Themes

- heroism
- homecoming
- hospitality and xenia
- cunning vs force
- loyalty
- divine intervention

## Content notes

- battle violence
- graphic killing
- sexual content (mild)

Common Sense Media age recommendation: 13+

## Where this book is assigned

### Common Core State Standards (ELA)

- **recommended** · 9th grade — [source: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 9-10 exemplar (translation)](https://achievethecore.org/page/2699)
- **recommended** · 9th grade · Texas — [source: TEKS English I world literature text](https://tea.texas.gov/)

### IB Diploma Programme — English A: Literature

- **recommended** · 11th grade — [source: IB DP Literature Prescribed Reading List (in translation)](https://www.ibo.org/programmes/diploma-programme/)

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