The Odyssey

Q: Who was Homer? Generally believed to be a blind singer, or rhapsode. Rhapsode: wandering singer of tales responsible for entertaining, passing down history, and creating myths of their time. May/ may not be more than one person. May/ may not have existed.

Q: Why is Homer important? Told long tales, or epics, that related to the Trojan War: The Illiad: Chronicles events of the Trojan War. The Odyssey: Chronicles one man’s (Odysseus) journey home after the war.

Q: What is an Epic? LONG narrative poems about heroes’ adventures. a physically impressive hero of national or historical importance who reflects cultural values a vast setting encompassing much of the known physical world a quest or journey undertaken in search of something of value the involvement of supernatural forces glorification of the hero at the end

Modern Epics The Matrix Star Wars The Hobbit

Q: How is an epic different from other works of literature? Told. Improvised & changed often. Characters are larger than life. Songs. OTHERS Written. Constant & unchanging. Characters are ordinary. Novels & Short stories.

Q: Can you describe an epic? 1 minute. In your notes. Work with a partner.

Q: How were epics told? Told aloud, from memory; improvised. Sometimes accompanied by music; lyre. Homeric/ epic similes: compare heroic or epic events to simple and easily understandable everyday events. Odyssey is 11,300 lines!

Q: What was the Trojan War ? War between the people of Troy and a group of Greek Kings. Occurred in Troy, somewhere around 1200 B.C.E. Told about in Homer’s Iliad. It all began when Paris tried to steal Helen away from Spartan King Menelaus… “Judgment of Paris”

Q: Where was Troy?

Q: What took place during the Trojan War? King Menelaus was insulted by Helen’s betrayal. King Agamemnon gathered an army to attack Troy. Greeks attack, but the city was walled. Trojan Horse trick. The Hero Achilles; “Achilles’ Heel.” Agamemnon’s Spartans win & go home.

Menelaus Agamemnon Achilles

Trojan War

Q: What was the Wooden Horse trick? Odysseus’ idea. Ultimate sneak attack. Finally, the Greeks break through Troy’s walls!

Q: What does the war have to do with The Odyssey ? Framework for the story. Odysseus fought in the war. The Odyssey is the tale of his return journey/ homecoming to Ithaca.

Q: Who is Odysseus? Hero of The Odyssey. Husband of Penelope; Father of Telemachus. From Ithaca. Great, but reluctant soldier in the war; “draft-dodger.”

Unit Terms Terms you know: Imagery Conflict (ex/internal) Foreshadowing Flashback Theme Irony Terms to learn: Idiom Epic Homeric/epic simile Allusion Epithet Archetype Allegory

Your Odyssey Describe a fantastic voyage you’ve taken. Include where you went, adventures along the way, and changes you found upon return. -Or, describe an adventure you’d like to take… 6 minutes! Reg.-100 words + Honors – 150 words + Include as much imagery as possible!

Q: What did you learn today? Who is traditionally accepted as the author of The Odyssey? How is The Odyssey related to The Iliad? When & where does The Odyssey take place? Where is Odysseus’ home? What is a Homeric simile? Explain 3 ways an epic differs from other works of literature.

Q: What did you learn today? Who is traditionally accepted as the author of The Odyssey? Homer How is The Odyssey related to The Iliad? It is basically the sequel…the journey home after the war When does The Odyssey take place? 1200 B.C.E. Where is Odysseus’ home? Ithaca What is a Homeric simile? It compares heroic or epic events to simple and easily understandable everyday events. Explain 3 ways an epic differs from other works of literature. It is told It is improvised & changed often The characters are larger than life In song

Q: What is an Allusion again? Allusion: a figure of speech that makes brief reference to a historical or literary figure, event, or object. Allusions are always indirect. It seeks, by tapping the knowledge and memory of the reader, to secure a lasting emotional effect from the associations already existing in the reader’s mind.

Characters in The Odyssey Agamemnon - Former king of Mycenae, brother of Menelaus, and commander of the Achaean forces at Troy.

Characters in The Odyssey Menelaus - King of Sparta, brother of Agamemnon, and husband of Helen. Helen - Wife of Menelaus and queen of Sparta.

Characters in The Odyssey Penelope – Wife of Odysseus

Characters in The Odyssey Telemachus – Son of Odysseus. An infant when his father left for Troy. He is wholly devoted to his mother and to maintaining his father’s estate.

Characters in The Odyssey Athena -As goddess of wisdom and battle, Athena has a soft spot for Odysseus.

Characters in The Odyssey Polyphemus - One of the Cyclopes (uncivilized one-eyed giants) whose island Odysseus comes to soon after leaving Troy.

Characters in The Odyssey Circe - The beautiful witch-goddess who transforms Odysseus’s crew into swine

Characters in The Odyssey Zeus - King of gods and men, who mediates the disputes of the gods on Mount Olympus.

Characters in The Odyssey Calypso - The beautiful nymph who falls in love with Odysseus when he lands on her island-home

Characters in The Odyssey Poseidon - God of the sea.

Characters in The Odyssey Antinous - The most arrogant of Penelope’s suitors.