The Odyssey

1. The Odyssey By Homer

2. Background • The Odyssey is a sequel (the second book in a series). • It is the second of Homer’s two great epic poems. • Part one is called The Iliad.

3. The Iliad • The Iliad is the story of the Trojan War which might actually have taken place around 1250 B.C. • This poem is a tale of myth and magic, not history.

4. The gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece are important characters. • They take sides in the war and help the human characters.

5. According to the myth, the war started this way: Paris was a prince in the city of Troy. • Three goddesses asked him to judge who among them was the most beautiful. • Aphrodite, the goddess of love, offered Paris a reward if he chose her. • She said he could have Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world. • However, Helen was married to Menelaus, the King of Sparta, a city in Greece. • When Paris visited Sparta, Aphrodite made Helen fall in love with him. • Helen ran away with Paris.

6. Menelaus and his brother, Agamemnon, led a Greek army against Troy to bring her back. • The war that followed is called the Trojan War after the name Troy.

7. The Iliad takes place during the last months of the Trojan War. • Its hero is Achilles, a mighty Greek warrior. • The Iliad ends with the funeral of Hector, a Trojan hero who is killed by Achilles. • The story tells of many heroes on both sides. • Of the Greek heroes is named Odysseus.

8. The Odyssey • The Odyssey is named for Odysseus. • Odysseus is the King of Ithaca, and island off the coast of Greece. • According to the myth, Odysseus did not want to fight at Troy. • He did not want to leave his wife, Penelope, and his baby son, Telemachus.

9. Odysseus had to be tricked into joining the Greek army. • Once he was involved in the fighting, however, he proved to be brave and clever. • In fact, Odysseus thought of the trick that finally won the war for the Greeks. • The Odyssey is mostly about Odysseus’ adventures after the Trojan War. • In one adventure he makes an enemy of Poseidon, the Sea God. • Poseidon punishes him by making him wander the seas, never allowing him to reach home.

10. Invocation to the Muse • An INVOCATION is a call for help or support. • In ancient times, poets or artists would call upon a MUSE to help them write or create. • A MUSE is a person or thing that inspires you to create. • Ancient poets, like Homer, would start their poems with an invocation to the Muse, or a call to help them create a great poem.

11. Epic Poem or Story • An Epic Poem or story is a larger than life story that contains many adventures or a long journey.

12. Characteristics of an epic • The setting is vast, covering great nations, the world or the universe. • The action consists of deeds of great valor or requiring superhuman courage. • Supernatural forces—gods, angels, demons — interest themselves in the action.

13. Characteristics of the Epic Hero • EPIC HERO - a larger-than-life hero who embodies the values of a particular society. Characteristics: • 1. An epic hero is superhuman. He is braver, stronger, smarter, and cleverer than an ordinary person is. • 2. The epic hero is on a quest for something of great value to him or his people. • 3. The villains that try to keep the hero from his quest are usually uglier, more evil, and more cunning than anyone we know in ordinary life. • 4. The epic hero is often of mixed divine and human birth and so possesses human weaknesses. • 5. The divine world (the gods) interferes with the human world.

14. Epithet • A phrase that describes a person and connects to their name. Often seen in Homer’s Epic Poems. • Epithets describe physical traits, lineage, or personality traits. • Example: • Odysseus, son of Laertes • Sparkling-eyed Athena (Homer 7) List the epithets for the following characters: • Odysseus (page 7) • Calypso (page 7) • Poseidon (page 7) • Athena (page 17) • Menaelus (page 18)

15. Create your own Epithet • Create your own epithet on a piece of paper. • Write your name and create three epithets for yourself according to the following criteria • A physical trait • A personality trait • Lineage • Illustrate each of the epithets in a way that symbolizes the phrase within the epithet.

16. Rubric for Grading the Epithet Project: • Epithet depicts physical trait 15 • Physical traits are illustrated in a symbolic way 10 • Epithet depicts personality trait 15 • Personality traits are illustrated symbolically 10 • Epithet depicts lineage 15 • Physical traits are illustrated in a symbolic way 10 • Name is creatively written on the paper 10 85 total

17. Terms used to talk about Epics • Poet opens by stating the theme, invokes the Muse, and opens the narrative in medias res, giving necessary exposition later. • Poet includes catalogs of warriors, ships, armies, etc. • Extended formal speeches by the main characters. • Poet makes frequent use of the epic simile. • Epic simile: an elaborate comparison, involved and ornate. Also called the extended or Homeric simile.

18. The Greek Virtues • All Greeks were challenged to live by the virtues set by their culture. Breaking one of the Greek virtues meant angering the gods. The virtues are: • Loyalty • Hospitality • Respect for the gods and goddesses • Respect for all forms of life • Courage

19. Themes • Respect for the Gods Respect for the gods is shown through the numerous descriptions of sacrifices and offerings. Disrespect for the Gods inevitably leads to disaster; the Gods do not forget disrespect and are not easily appeased. (Poseidon, Athena, Helios.) • The Importance of Lineage Almost every time we met someone significant the narration pauses and we learn of the lineage. Many "things" we see also have a lineage or history that we are given - note Odysseus scar and his bow. • Fate Fate is preordained by a power beyond that of even the gods. Paradoxically, it does not seem "random." A character's fate is tied up with his "character."