The Odyssey Homer

The Epic A physically impressive hero of national or historical importance A vast setting involving much of the known physical world and sometimes the land of the dead as well

Action such as a quest or journey taken in search of something of value Evidence of supernatural forces at work Glorification of the hero at the end Rooted in a specific culture and society The Epic

The Epic Hero A larger than life hero embodies the values of a particular society Is superhuman; is braver, stronger, smarter, and more clever than an ordinary person

The Epic Hero Is on a quest for something of great value to him or his people Villains, who try to keep the hero from his quest, are usually uglier, more evil, and more cunning than anyone we know

The Epic Hero Is often of mixed divine and human birth and possesses human weakness The gods interfere with the human world

Homer Lived in about 700 B.C. Blind poet Oral Tradition Wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey Lived in the 9 th Century B.C., but wrote about events of the 13 th or 12 th Centuries B.C.

Homer The Iliad—about the Trojan War Odysseus—hero of the Trojan War—inventor of the Trojan Horse War between the Greeks and the Trojans—1200—1180 B.C. Commercial Rivalry—most likely Romantic Story—Helen, wife of Menelaus, abducted by Paris, Prince of Troy

Homer The Odyssey—Odysseus’ journey home from the Trojan War The people from the Odyssey lived during the Bronze Age –Ruled by Tribal Chiefs –Difficult and harsh life –Character of a person was all important—The courage a person showed in a crisis/adversity was the measure of a person’s worth.

Greek Culture Greeks—Polytheistic The gods—great resemblance to humans Could connive, quarrel, play tricks on each other and on people No concept of sin—but if a person was too proud, cruel, greedy,-- then he/she would be punished by the gods