Introduction to The Odyssey by Homer

1. Introduction to The Odyssey by Homer

2. Myth • Atraditional, typically ancient story, dealing withsupernatural beings, heroes, and ancestors. • Myths are stories that shape the psychology, customs, or ideals of society

3. The Traditional Epic • The Epic Hero is superhuman – braver and stronger than ordinary people • There is some all-knowing or wise person who helps the protagonist (hero) • The story starts in the middle of the action in medias res and earlier events are introduced later on

4. Epics

5. The Traditional Epic (continued) • The setting is vast in scope – sometimes worldwide and even beyond • The hero is on a quest for something of great value to him or his people • The action of the epic involves heroic deeds and battle, often including a long journey or war

6. Epics

7. The Traditional Epic (continued) • The villains that try to keep the hero from his quest are uglier, more evil and more cunning than anything in ordinary life • The gods or other supernatural beings take an active role in the story • This means that they intervene and interact with the human characters

8. Epics

9. Archetype • An image, pattern, or character type that occurs frequently • Found in current movies, books and songs • Recognizable in many times and cultures

10. The Epic Hero

11. The Epic Hero • Great stature – larger than life • Possesses the character traits most valued by society (i.e. determination, courage, wit, wisdom)

12. The Epic Hero (continued) • Pursues his goal in the face of many setbacks • Has human traits and failings that make him seem like a real person (i.e. too curious, foolish, angry)

13. Epithets • Brief descriptive phrases • Characterizes a person or thing • Sometimes set off by commas • Used to help the person delivering the poem& listener better remember details • Task: Create an epithet for your own name. Consider what you like to do, who your parents are and what you are best known for. • Examples: • Ms. Heath, the teacher of children • Blue-eyed Ms. Heath • Ms. Heath, sarcastic of wit and avid reader

14. Epithets (continued) • Examples of Epithets: • The Strategist, Odysseus • Odysseus, master mariner • Grey-eyed Athena • Muse, daughter of Zeus • The ocean, the winedark sea • Rosy-fingered dawn

15. TASK: • Create an epithet for your own name. Consider what you like to do, who your parents are and what you are best known for. • Examples: • Ms. Flanagan, the teacher of children • Blue-eyed Ms. Flanagan • Ms. Flanagan, brown of hair and tall of stature

16. Epic Similes • Also known as the Homeric Simile • Uses like or as • Comparison between two things • An elaborate version of a regular simile

17. Epic Similes (continued) • Homer uses these similes for emphasis • Example: “Athena prevented an arrow from striking Menelaus. She brushed it away from her skin as lightly as when a mother brushes a fly away from her child who is lying in sweet sleep.” • What two things are being compared?

18. Epic Similes (continued) • Example: “And Odysseus let the bright molten tears run down his cheeks, weeping the way a wife mourns for her lord on the lost field where he has gone down fighting.” – Book 8 • What two things are being compared?

19. Foreshadowing • When the story hints at something that could happen but the reader or audience doesn’t know for sure • In the Odyssey: • Circe’s warnings about the sirens, Scylla and Charibdys and the cattle of Helios Check out the foreshadowing in this scene from Batman Begins! -

20. Dramatic Irony • When the reader or audience knows something that the characters don’t • In the Odyssey: • We know in Part I that Odysseus’s men will all die Check out the dramatic irony in this scene from The Dark Knight!-