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The Odyssey Background Notes

The Odyssey Background Notes. The Odyssey is an Epic Poem. A long and formal narrative poem (tells a story) that recounts the adventures of a hero who has the character traits of a nation or of a people. Characteristics of an Epic.

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The Odyssey Background Notes

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  1. The Odyssey Background Notes

  2. The Odyssey is an Epic Poem • A long and formal narrative poem (tells a story) that recounts the adventures of a hero who has the character traits of a nation or of a people.

  3. Characteristics of an Epic • Protagonist (good guy) is a hero of great stature with the virtues of bravery and wisdom. • The setting is on a grand and vast scale. • The protagonist must be noble and have almost superhuman actions. • The gods usually involve themselves in the actions of the hero. • The hero usually must travel into some kind of underworld. • Start “in media res” which means “In the middle of the action/story”. • Also starts with an invocation to a muse or goddess of poetry for inspiration.

  4. Know the following Definitions: • Epic: Went over already… • Epic Hero: Usually a morally, physically, and intellectually superior main character who is helped by the gods. • Epithet: A repeated word or phrase used to characterize or describe a person or thing. • Allusion: A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art. • Homeric simile: An elaborate (long or lengthy) comparison between unlike subjects.

  5. Dramatic Irony: A contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader knows to be true. • Myth: A fictional tale that explains the actions of gods or the causes of natural phenomena. • Oral Tradition: The passing of songs, stories, or poems from generation to generation by word of mouth. • Symbol: Something that stands for or represents something else. • Theme: A central message or insight into life revealed through the literary work.

  6. The Odyssey itself • Odysseus: Main character; King of Ithaca; goes to fight in the Trojan War. The Odyssey is about his journey to get back home. • Theme: Odysseus’ search for identity- he discovers who he is and what he values as important. • Odysseus is helped by some gods (Zeus, Athena) and hindered by others (Poseidon).

  7. The Illiad (prequel) • Helen of Troy was renowned for her beauty. She was married to Menelaus, who was the King of Sparta (in Greece). However, Aphrodite promised to Paris (of Troy) that he could marry Helen. • While Menelaus was gone, Paris came and took Helen (and M’s $) back to Troy with him. • Menelaus gets his army (led by himself, Odysseus, and Achilles) and travels to Troy to get Helen back. (Helen is known throughout history as having “the face that launched a thousand ships”.

  8. The Greek army lands in Troy. They sent a recovery team to ask for Helen’s return. The Trojans refused, a ten year war ensued. • The Greeks built the wooden horse to complete the plan to overthrow the Trojan Army. The Trojans think it is a peace offering and wheel it into the city. They think the war is over and party and celebrate. • The gods consider the destroying of Troy to be sacrilegious and punish the Greek leaders, especially Odysseus.

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