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The Odyssey. Epic Poem by Homer. Part I: The Adventures of Odysseus Summary. The Odyssey opens with the Invocation to the Muse . Homer speaks in 1 st person pov asking Calliope (muse of epic poetry) to aid him in the telling of the story.
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The Odyssey Epic Poem by Homer Melissa Biggs 2010
Part I: The Adventures of OdysseusSummary • The Odyssey opens with the Invocation to the Muse. Homer speaks in 1st person pov asking Calliope (muse of epic poetry) to aid him in the telling of the story. • Invocation sums up the action and acts as a “teaser” keeping the audience in suspense. Melissa Biggs 2010
Part I: The Adventures of OdysseusDevices and Figurative Language • “man skilled in all ways of contending” -epithet for Odysseus (l.2) • “the wanderer” – epithet for Odysseus (l.3) Melissa Biggs 2010
Part I: Sailing from TroySummary • Odysseus held captive by Calypso and Circe but longed for his wife, Penelope, in his heart. • Left Troy, landed on the shores of the Ciconians. Ravaged city and rested. • Meanwhile, survivors gathered forces and stormed the beach on horseback. • Odysseus lost many men. Melissa Biggs 2010
Part I: Sailing from TroyDevices and Figurative Language • Change in point of view from 1st person of Homer to 1st person of Odysseus. • “Laertes’ son” – epithet for Odysseus (l.18) • “loveliest among goddesses” – epithet for Calypso (l.30) • “the enchantress” – epithet for Circe (l.32) Melissa Biggs 2010
Part I: Sailing from TroyDevices and Figurative Language (cont.) • “They came with dawn over that terrain like the leaves and blades of spring.” – simile comparing leaves and grass to the soldiers of Ciconians (ll.53-55) Melissa Biggs 2010
Part I: The Lotus EatersSummary • Storm is sent by Zeus. Sail for nine days. • Land on shore and send three men to check out everything. They don’t return. • Odysseus finds them among the Lotus Eaters, a peaceful people that eat lotus and dream all day. • He must drag them back to the ship and tie them down. They have forgotten about home. Melissa Biggs 2010
Part I: The Lotus EatersDevices and Figurative Language • “lord of the cloud” – epithet for Zeus (l.70) • “…driving veils of squall moved down like night on land and sea.” – simile comparing the storm to night (ll.71-72) • “Dawn with ringlet shining…” – personification of Sun (l.39) • “honeyed plant” – epithet for Lotus (l.97) • Symbol: Lotus is like addictive drugs Melissa Biggs 2010
Part I: The CyclopsSummary • Odysseus and 12 men go to the cave because of Odysseus’ curiosity. • Polyphemus traps them in the cave and eats 2 of his men. Odysseus prays to Athena; finds an olive tree and makes it into a spear. • Upon his return, Odysseus gives him wine. • Says name is “Nobody.” They stab out his eye. Other Cyclopes do not help. Polyphemus screams,“Nobody’s hurt me!” Melissa Biggs 2010
Part I: The CyclopsSummary (cont.) • Opens the cave, tries to capture men escaping. • Odysseus has tied men beneath sheep. He rides on the belly of the prize ram. • Polyphemus talks to ram and threatens Odysseus’ life. • Sailing away, Odysseus yells back his name. Telemus has foretold Polyphemus losing his eye. • Prays to Poseidon for punishment. Melissa Biggs 2010
Part I: The CyclopsDevices and Figurative Language • “a cavern yawning” – personification (ll.122-123) • “he seemed rather a shaggy mountain” – metaphor (ll. 132-133) • “sweet scent hovered like a fume” – simile comparing the smell to a fume (l.150) • “cave man” – epithet for Polyphemus (l.172) • “who cast your lives like dice” – simile comparing the men to men of chance (ll. 199-200) • Dramatic Irony – when Odysseus lies about the ship being crashed on the rocks Melissa Biggs 2010
Part I: The CyclopsDevices and Figurative Language (cont.) • “caught two in his hands like squirming puppies”- simile comparing men being eaten to puppies (l.234) • “gaping and crunching like a mountain lion” – simile comparing Polyphemus to a mountain lion (l.237) • “lay down like a mast among his sheep” – simile comparing Polyphemus to a mast (l.243) • “young Dawn with fingertips of rose” – epithet for Dawn • “reset the stone as one would cap a quiver” – simile comparing stone to a quiver cap (l.260) • Symbolism in olive tree – Athena’s symbols Melissa Biggs 2010
Part I: The CyclopsDevices and Figurative Language (cont.) • “like a mast, a lugger of twenty oars” – simile comparing the spear to a mast (l.269) • “fire’s heart” – metaphor (l.276) • Situational Irony – rams come in for the night • Dramatic Irony – Lies about his name • Situational Irony – eating him last is not a gift • “…and leaned on it as a shipwright…” epic simile comparing Odysseus to a shipwright (ll.331-337) • “red-hot… seared… hissed broiling and roots popped” – imagery (ll.338-340) • “In a smithy…just as that eyeball hissed…” epic simile comparing Odysseus to a blacksmith (ll.341-344) Melissa Biggs 2010
Part I: The CyclopsDevices and Figurative Language (cont.) • “rock roared” – personification (l.345) • “like a charm” – simile comparing the lie to a charm (l.365) • “death sat there huge” – personification (l.372) • “wooliest ram, choicest of the flock” – symbolism, Odysseus is the leader of the pack (l.383) • “Dawn spread out her fingertips of rose” – epithet for Dawn (l.388) • Dramatic Irony – Polyphemus does not know that Odysseus is under the ram’s belly • Character flaw – Boastful, Pride=HUBRIS • “Laertes’ son” “raider of cities” – epithets for Odysseus (ll.459-460) Melissa Biggs 2010
Part I: The CyclopsDevices and Figurative Language (cont.) • Situational Irony – expected someone large and fierce to take eye, not twiggy and small • Verbal Irony – Polyphemus lies and uses reverse psychology to tempt Odysseus • “blue girdler of islands” – epithet for Poseidon (l.484) • “god of earthquake” – epithet for Poseidon (l.481) • Foreshadowing – lose companions, strange sail • “Young Dawn with fingertips of rose” – epithet for Dawn (l.519) Melissa Biggs 2010
Part I: The Land of the DeadSummary • Aeolus gives Odysseus a bag of winds. Blows them back to Ithaca. • Odysseus tells men not to open; sleeps. • Men get curious and greedy, open bag and blown away from Ithaca. • Land of Laestrygonians – giant cannibals eat several men. Destroy all but 1 ship. Melissa Biggs 2010
Part I: The Land of the DeadSummary (cont.) • Island of Circe – men turned to pigs, spends a year with her. • Sails to the Land of the Dead to meet with Tieresias (blind prophet). Sees Elpenor (man who died on Circe’s island) and Anticleia (mother committed suicide). • Teiresias gives him advice about the future, warns against Helios’ cattle. Melissa Biggs 2010
Part I: The Land of the DeadDevices and Figurative Language • “singing nymph with sunbright hair” – epithet for Circe (l.533) • “son of great Laertes” “master mariner and soldier” – epithet for Odysseus (l.587) • “prince of Thebes” – epithet for Teiresias (l.620) Melissa Biggs 2010
Part I: The Land of the DeadDevices and Figurative Language cont. • “son of Laertes and the gods of old” “master of landways and seaways” – epithet for Odysseus (l. 623) • “prince of those with the gift of speech” – epithet for Teiresias (l.631) • “god who thunders on land” – epithet for Poseidon (l.634) Melissa Biggs 2010
Pt. I: The SirensSummary • Circe gives advice about the Sirens. • Odysseus plans to hear their song. Puts beeswax in mens’ ears and they bind him to the mast. • Odysseus is tempted and tries to get loose; sail past safely. Melissa Biggs 2010
Pt. I: The SirensDevices and Figurative Language • “singing nymph with sunbright hair” – epithet for Circe (l.682) • “tight as a splint” – simile comparing Odysseus as a splint (l. 695) • “lord of high noon” – epithet for Helios (l.711) • Symbolism – Sirens represent temptation Melissa Biggs 2010
Pt. I: Scylla and CharybdisSummary • Odysseus’ men fear the sounds of Charybdis. He convinces them to row on. • “Haven’t we seen fear before?” • They make it past Charybdis, but Scylla eats 6 of his best men. Melissa Biggs 2010
Pt. I: Scylla and CharybdisDevices and Figurative Language • Dramatic Irony – we know that Odysseus will make a sacrifice of six men • Symbolism – all or nothing – sacrifice • “monster of the gray rock” – epithet for Scylla (l.791) • “dire gorge of the salt sea-tide” – epithet for Charybdis (l. 798) • “fell like rain” – simile comparing the sea to rain (l.802) Melissa Biggs 2010
Pt. I: Scylla and CharybdisDevices and Figurative Language (cont.) • “rock bellowing” – personification (l.805) • Situational Irony – six of his best men are eaten • “A man surfcasting… so these were borne aloft.” – epic simile comparing Scylla to a fisherman catching fish (ll. 815-820) Melissa Biggs 2010
Pt. I: The Cattle of the Sun GodSummary • Odysseus and men land of island of Thrinacia. • Odysseus reminds men that they have enough food. After a long stay, they run out. Odysseus goes to pray. • Eurylochus gives speech encouraging them to eat cattle – die being punished by gods, not by starving. • They eat the cattle; Helios asks Zeus to avenge him. Zeus agrees. Melissa Biggs 2010
Pt. I: The Cattle of the Sun GodSummary (cont.) • Zeus sends a storm and kills all men, destroys his ship. • Odysseus floats back to Charybdis, survives by holding to a branch off a cliff. • Escapes Scylla also. • Floats to Calypso’s island and is captive for seven years. Melissa Biggs 2010
Pt. I: The Cattle of the Sun GodDevices and Figurative Language • “Dawn with fingertips of rose” – epithet (l.833) • “Lord of High Noon” – epithet for Helios (l.873) • “Overlord of Noon” – epithet for Helios (l.904) • “Son of Cronus” – epithet for Zeus (l.931) • “whining from the west” – personification (l.941) • “like a diver” – simile comparing the soul of a dead man to a diver (l. 947) • “bobbing awhile like petrels on the waves” – simile comparing dead bodies to birds (ll. 952-953) Melissa Biggs 2010
Pt. I: The Cattle of the Sun GodDevices and Figurative Language (cont.) • “whirlpool drank the tide” – personification (l.969) • “catching on like a bat under a bough” – simile comparing Odysseus to a bat (l. 971) • “And, ah!... goes home to supper.” – epic simile comparing Odysseus to a merchant going home (ll.978-982) • “Father of gods and men” – epithet for Zeus (l.987) Melissa Biggs 2010
Pt. II: Twenty Years GoneSummary • Odysseus finishes his story to Alcinous, King of Phaecians. • Sails home after 10 years. • Suitors have been after his wife, land, and son (planning murder). Meanwhile, Telemachus searches for his father. • Athena disguises him as a beggar. • Eumaues (swineherd) does not recognize him. Telemachus does with disguise removed. • Plan to fight suitors – do not tell women. Melissa Biggs 2010
Pt. II: Twenty Years GoneDevices and Figurative Language • “Son of Laertes and the gods of old” – epithet for Odysseus (l.1009) • “master of landways and seaways” – epithet for Odysseus (l.1010) • “here you stand like one of the immortals” – simile comparing Odysseus to a god (l.1044) • “hope of soldiers” – epithet for Athena (l.1053) • “cries burst from both as keen… as those” – epic simile comparing tears of Odysseus and Telemachus to a hawk with babies taken (ll.1063-1065) Melissa Biggs 2010
Pt. II: ArgusSummary • Argus is Odysseus’ dog. He has been disrespected and treated badly. Sits in a pile of dung. • When he hears Odysseus’ voice, recognizes him immediately. • Wags tail, then dies. Odysseus sheds a tear. • Waited for him to return – loyalty. Melissa Biggs 2010
Pt. II: ArgusDevices and Figurative Language • Symbolism – treated like dung, lays in dung • Dramatic Irony – we know Argus recognizes Odysseus • Theme – Loyalty to master • Theme – Code of Hospitality Melissa Biggs 2010
Pt. II: The SuitorsSummary • Odysseus enters as the beggar. • Antinous, the most arrogant, yells at him and throws a stool. Will not share. • Telemachus takes down the weapons. • Eurynome comes and takes Odysseus to Penelope’s room. Melissa Biggs 2010
Pt. II: The SuitorsDevices and Figurative Language • Dramatic Irony – Odysseus is home and not a beggar. • Situational Irony – Antinous acts as if he owns the home • “like solid rock” – simile comparing Odysseus’ shoulder to a rock (l.1230) • “looking like strangers” – simile comparing the beggar to a stranger (l.1257) • “heart felt the blow” – metaphor describing how Telemachus is affected by what he saw (l.1262) Melissa Biggs 2010
Pt. II: PenelopeSummary • The beggar comes to Penelope’s room to talk and tells her that he has seen her husband. • His story tests her faithfulness and dedication. • She begins the death shroud test. They find out about it. Melissa Biggs 2010
Pt. II: Odysseus’ RevengeSummary • Penelope says she’ll marry any man that can string Odysseus’ bow. Several try and fail. • Beggar wants a turn. On first try, strings the bow, shoots arrow through 12 axe handles. • 2nd shot hits Antinous in throat and kills him; suitors believe it an accident.Reveals himself – Promises death to all. • Eurymachus attempts a bribe. • All suitors killed with help from Eumaeus, Philoetius, Telemachus and Athena. Melissa Biggs 2010
Pt. II: Penelope (Reunited)Summary • Penelope is unsure about Odysseus. Cautious, doesn’t want to be tricked. • Tests him. Asks for the bed to be moved to the hallway. • Odysseus upset. He made the bed from a tree rooted to the spot. Proves his identity. • Love each other… happily ever after. Melissa Biggs 2010