* Structure: Joyce uses the *Odyssey* as a structural framework for *Ulysses*. Each episode in *Ulysses* corresponds to a specific episode in the *Odyssey*, with the main character, Leopold Bloom, mirroring Odysseus's journey through Dublin.
* Characters: Joyce establishes parallels between characters in *Ulysses* and their Homeric counterparts. For example, Bloom can be seen as Odysseus, Stephen Dedalus as Telemachus, and Molly Bloom as Penelope.
* Themes: Both *Ulysses* and the *Odyssey* explore universal themes like the journey home, the nature of heroism, and the complexities of human relationships.
* Style: Joyce utilizes the *Odyssey* as a springboard to experiment with different literary styles, mirroring the epic's grand scope and epic language.
However, Joyce doesn't simply retell Homer's story. He reimagines it within the modern context of 20th-century Dublin, exploring themes of Irish nationalism, the struggle for identity, and the changing nature of modern life.
Therefore, it's not accurate to say that Homer was the "inspiration" for *Ulysses*. Instead, Homer's *Odyssey* serves as a complex and multifaceted source of inspiration, providing Joyce with a framework for exploring his own ideas and themes.