Gods and Goddesses

What do I need to know? Which gods and goddesses do we meet in the Odyssey? When do we see them? What do they do? What sort of relationships do they have (with mortals and each other)? How are they characterised?

Athene What does Athene do? Book 5 Book 6 Book 7 Book 10 Book 12

Poseidon What does Poseidon do? Book 5 Book 9

Hermes What does Hermes do? Book 5 Book 10

Zeus What does Zeus do? Book 5 Book 12

Ino What does Ino do? Book 5

Calypso What does Calypso do? Book 5

Circe What does Circe do? Book 10 Book 12

In what way are gods and goddesses important to the success of The Odyssey as a story? What the gods and goddesses do What they add to the story Anything else you think is important [30 marks]

In what way are gods and goddesses important to the success of The Odyssey as a story? What the gods and goddesses do What they add to the story Anything else you think is important [30 marks] The question asks ‘how are they important’? Therefore you should be discussing their importance in EVERY paragraph. This essay only requires you to talk about gods and goddesses. Which main ones should we be including?

Get Planning! God or Goddess When do we see them? What do they do? How important is this to The Odyssey? Athene Hermes Poseidon Zeus Calypso Ino Circe

See the rest of the PowerPoint Get Planning! God or Goddess When do we see them? What do they do? How important is this to The Odyssey? Athene PLOT - gets him from Calypso’s island to Phaeacia HELP – gives Odysseus practical help CHARACTERISATION – helps him to be a hero Hermes PLOT and HELP AUTHENTICITY – Greek readers would expect the involvement of the gods doing their different jobs Poseidon VILLAIN! – The idea of Poseidon as a villain helps to make Odysseus more heroic and drives the narrative. Zeus AUTHORITY/ CONTROL – creates the idea that in the poem there is some over-arching sense of justice or fate Calypso LOVE INTEREST – Shows Odysseus as desirable Ino HELP Circe LOVE INTEREST TEMPTATION – introduces the theme of temptation See the rest of the PowerPoint

You can choose one of these arguments or more than one! What’s the argument? Once you have an understanding of all the examples and their significance, you can put them together to form your argument. The gods are important to the success of The Odyssey because… They develop the plot They offer practical help to Odysseus They characterise Odysseus (make him seem heroic/ desirable) They lend authenticity to the poem They develop themes such as fate/ temptation You can choose one of these arguments or more than one!

My Essay Structure Introduction Athene (paragraph for each god) Your chosen argument Only A03 here Athene (paragraph for each god) You don’t have to include every example on this PowerPoint Make sure your examples are detailed Connect your examples to your argument Poseidon Hermes Zeus etc. Conclusion Acknowledge other arguments if you have time Your chosen argument again