The epic poem is 15,693 lines of hexameter, has been called this since the 5th century BCE. The author of both The Iliad and The Odyssey is Homer. The Iliad takes place during the last year of the Trojan War. At the end of the war Achilles kills Hector and drags his body around Troy for nine (9) days. He is later killed by an arrow shot to his heel.

The mortal Peleus and the goddess Thetis were to be wed. This was arranged by Zeus. They invite all of the goddess except Eris (Discord, or Strife), somewhat naturally. But she is enraged at the snub and throws a golden apple among the guests with the inscription: "for the fairest." Hera(goddess of marriage), Athena (goddess of war), and Aphrodite (goddess of love) each claims the apple to be intended for her.

During the wedding there is a pageant to determine which goddess was the fairest. There is difficulty finding a judge to decide between the three goddesses, Zeus naturally weasels out. A shepherd is brought in, who turns out to be Paris, a son of Priam, king of Troy and Hecuba. A prophecy had foretold that he would be the destruction of Troy. As an infant he was sent to Mount Ida, was saved by shepherds, and brought up in obscurity. Now, Hermes presents the vying goddesses, presenting themselves naked. Hera bribes Paris with power and the most prosperous kingdom, Athena promises glory in war, and Aphrodite promises him the most beautiful woman on earth. His choosing Aphrodite makes enemies of the other goddesses, who therefore favor the Greeks rather than the Trojans in the war.

When Helen reached marriageable age, all the greatest men in Greece courted her. Her mother's husband, King Tyndareos of Lacedaemon, was concerned about the trouble that might be caused by the disappointed suitors. Acting on the advice of Odysseus, he got all the suitors to swear that they would support the marriage rights of the successful candidate. He then settled on Menelaus to be the husband of Helen. She lived happily with Menelaus for a number of years. After a decade or so of married life, Helen was abducted by Paris, the son of King Priam of Troy while he was at a funeral in Sparta. Menelaus called on the other suitors to fulfill their oaths and help him get her back. As a result, the Greek leaders mustered the greatest army of the time, placed it under the command of Agamemnon, and set off to wage what became known as the Trojan War. The face that launched a thousand ships

Menelaus calls upon his brother, Agamemnon in Mycenae, and assorted chieftains such as Aias (Ajax), Diomedes, Nestor, Idomeneus, and others to get his wife Helen from Paris.

Odysseus was warned that he would be gone from his home in Ithaca for 20 years. He pretended to have gone mad by plowing his fields and sowing salt instead of grain. King Palamedes placed Odysseus' infant son, Telemachus, in front of the plow, and Odysseus revealed his sanity when he turned aside to avoid injuring the child.

In an attempt to protect her son, Thetis dipped him in the river Styx. The infernal waters indeed rendered Achilles' skin invulnerable to the likes of any mere Trojan arrow. But Thetis forgot that she was holding him by the heel during the dipping process, so that part was unprotected. Achilles was drafted to go to the Trojan War, but had been warned that if he went to war he would attain great glory, but die young.

Crafty Odysseus devised a plan that ultimately doomed the Trojans. Sending all the Greek ships away or into hiding, it appeared to the Trojans that the Greeks had given up. One of Odysseus’ men helped trick the Trojans into letting the horse in. However, soothsayer warned against the Greeks and their gifts. Poseidon sent a sea monster to silence the soothsayer. The Trojans then took the horse within their walls. The horse appeared to be an offering to Athena -- a peace offering. The jubilant Trojans dragged the monstrous, wheeled, wooden horse into their city to celebrate the end of the 10 years of fighting.

That night, while the Trojans were more than a little comatose from too much drinking, the Greeks slipped quietly out the trap door Odysseus had had built in the Trojan horse's belly. Killing Trojans and setting fire to the city, they quickly won the war and ended the war.

Zeus – chief of all Greek gods goddesses Athena – goddess of war and wisdom

Poseidon – god of the sea, earthquake Hermes – messenger god

All the ancient writers appeal to the Muses at the beginning of their work. Homer asks the Muses both in the Iliad and Odyssey to help him tell the story in the most proper way, and until today the Muses are symbols of inspiration and artistic creation.

Muse Clio discovered history and guitar Muse Euterpe discovered several musical instruments, courses and dialectic Muse Thalia was the protector of comedy; she discovered comedy, geometry, architectural science and agriculture Muse Melpomene was the protector of Tragedy; she invented tragedy, rhetoric speech and Melos Muse Terpsichore was the protector of dance; she invented dances, the harp and education

Muse Erato was the protector of Love and Love Poetry – as well as weddings Muse Polymnia was the protector of the divine hymns and mimic art; she invented geometry and grammar Muse Ourania was the protector of the celestial objects and stars; she invented astronomy Muse Calliope was the superior Muse. She was the protector of heroic poems and rhetoric art. According to the myth, Homer asks from Calliope to inspire him while writing The Iliad and The Odyssey, and, thus, Calliope is depicted holding laurels in one hand and the two Homeric poems in the other hand.

 King of Ithaca  Married to Penelope  A new father, Telemachus is his son  He did not want to go to war over a disloyal woman  He acted crazy to not go to war until King Palamedes threw his son in front of a plow  A fierce warrior  With the help of the goddess Athena, he built the Trojan horse, infiltrated Troy and ended the war  He did not thank the gods for helping him win the war, so he was punished by Poseidon and was unable to return home  He is clever, stubborn, and arrogant

a long narrative poem about the adventures of a hero whose actions reflect the ideals and values of a nation or race.

* Educational: * Meant to pass on the ideals, values, heritage, and history of a culture * Narrative: * Tells a story in a series of episodes * Repetition * Certain key phrases repeat (jogs the rhapsode’s memory and highlight key events or characters’ traits) * Catalogs * Lists of people, supplies, everyday objects * Rhetoric * The art of persuasion; many characters give long, formal speeches to persuade others, using reason AND emotion to make their points.

is a larger than life figure, usually a male, who embodies the ideals of a nation or race

* Represents the values of a particular culture * Is “superhuman,” possessing extraordinary talents or supernatural abilities * Epic heroes are braver, stronger, smarter, and/or better-looking than an ordinary person. * Is on a quest for something of great value to him/her or to his/her people * Pursued by villains or faced with seemingly impossible obstacles that threaten to keep him/her from his/her quest * Villains are usually uglier, more evil, and more cunning than anyone we know in ordinary life. Obstacles often are “impossible” for an ordinary human being to surmount. * Still has human weaknesses and flaws

also know as a Homeric Simile - is a long, elaborate comparison that often continues for a number of lines.  it commonly used for emphasis

are adjective or descriptive phrase/title that is used to characterize a person

 Hospitality  Fate  Loyalty  Vengeance

Hospitality The proper practices of hospitality, feasting, and praising the gods are evident in the descriptions of life in Greek life. Examples : Penelope to the suitors King Alcinous to Odysseus Fate Fate is preordained by a power beyond that of even the gods. Example : Odysseus is fated to return home, but he could not fulfill his fate if he were not who he is.

Loyalty Penelope is expected to be loyal to Odysseus even though she has not seen him in 20 years Telemachus is loyal to a father that he has never met Double Standard: Odysseus has not been loyal to Penelope. He has slept with the goddess’ Circe and Calypso Revenge/ Vengeance It is acceptable to kill or hurt those who are disloyal. Homer seems to think that revenge is well justified and people are entitled to it. Example: Odysseus' vengeance is formidable when it is directed toward the suitors and his disloyal servants