The Odyssey Background Information

The Odyssey The Odyssey is a special kind of poem called an EPIC. Epic- A long narrative poem about the deeds of a hero.

Homer A Greek Poet Lived between B.C. According to Legend, Homer was blind.

Homer and Oral Traditions Homer got his information from stories that were passed down “orally” or by word of mouth. Greek and other primitive cultures had an oral tradition of literature. People of these cultures were able to remember these tales because the tales were composed of poetic lines and were accompanied with stringed instruments. Rhapsodies, singers of tales, traveled about telling tales of recent events of the heroes or gods. Greek and Roman education was based on studying his works. Homer is famous because he was the first poet to combine isolated tales into a whole epic poem

Characteristics of an Epic 1.Begins in the “middle of things” ( in medias res) 2.Begins with an invocation to the Muse 3.Many references to the supernatural 4.Lengthy epic similes and hyperboles 5.Lengthy speeches-Formally introduced 6.Long sentences, complex words 7.Epithets 8.Repeats phrases, speeches, incidents and flashbacks 9.Can be folk (oral tradition) or literary (written) 10. Beginning states the theme-what will happen

Background of the Epic The background of Homer’s epic was the Trojan War. (1200 B.C.) The legend of how the war began was that 100,000 Greeks, under the leadership of Agamemnon, King Mycenae, sailed from Greece to the Asia Minor in about 1,200 ships to conquer the ancient city of Troy.

The reason for this massive invasion was for revenge because Paris, son of Priam, King of Troy, had carried off Helen, the beautiful wife of Agamemnon’s brother, Menelaus. Together the two brothers had persuaded the princes of other Greek cities to join them in recapturing Helen and redeeming their honor.

The Trojan War The Trojan War lasted 10 years, during which time many heroes emerged. Fighting for the Greeks were Achilles, Odysseus, and Ajax; for the Trojans were Hector and Aeneas. Both sides showed great courage as well as stupidity; strength as well as weakness. It was an experience to never be forgotten. Poets began to sing their heroes’ praise. In time, numerous versions of the story arose. Legends were created that told of how the gods and goddesses on Mount Olympus got involved in the battle and even chose sides.

The Iliad Homer’s first epic serves as a prelude to The Odyssey and deals with just 51 days in the 10th and last year of the war when it reaches its climax. Homer concentrated on one main hero for the Greeks, Achilles and one main opposing hero for the Trojans, Hector. As the Iliad begins, Achilles is angry with Agamemnon over a slave girl and sulking in his tent, refuses to fight. The Trojans are encouraged with Achilles’ absence from the battle and begin to beat back the Greeks. But when Hector kills Achilles’ best friend, Patroclus, Achilles becomes enraged, and returns to battle, killing Hector. Achilles is also killed by a Trojan arrow in his heel, but the Trojans can never recover from the loss of Hector, and finally, Troy falls.

The Odyssey The second of Homer’s epics tells of the return home of the Greek heroes, particularly one hero named Odysseus or Olysses (Roman Name). Odysseus had received honor for conceiving the bold plan of leaving a huge wooden horse, filled with Greek Warriors outside the gates of Troy. When the Trojans took the horse inside, Greeks crept out and opened the city gates to their own army. The gods who had sided with Troy, especially Poseidon, were angry and vowed Odysseus would have a long and difficult journey home. (In fact, it took him 10 years to get there!) Odysseus wanted to return to his wife Penelope and their son Telemachus in his home country Ithaca, but first he had to survive storms, temptations and the strategies of his enemies at home.

In The Iliad, the hero dies; in The Odyssey, the hero lives. Of the two epics, The Odyssey is the more popular. It is not only the story of a national hero, but a universal story of every human because everyone spends years trying to reach his/her own goals, peace and joy. We must endure tests, temptations and obstacles to get there. No wonder our journey through life is often called our Odyssey.

Mythology Myths are highly imaginative tales that attempt to explain the mysteries of life. Every culture has myths. Homer’s myths illustrate the character of his epic hero. The lotus-eaters myth shows Odysseus’ ability to overcome the temptations of idleness. The myth of the sirens shows us how he uses reason and will power to triumph over pleasure.