Greek Values in "The Odyssey" Although the novel The Odyssey is in the form of a poem, throughout the novel the characters of the books reveal Greek values and culture. The novel includes many books within it. Each one tells more of the story of Odysseus' travels. As he travels, he talks to and encounters many Greek characters. Each character shows Greek culture and values such as respect to the Gods, hospitality, and fate. The respect to the Gods is so great that it is expressed in the first lines. When Homer calls on the muse, "Tell me, Muse, of the man of many ways…" he is respecting the goddesses