The Iliad and The Odyssey: The Back-story It’s Like a Big Deal…I mean people know this. (Psst…there’s an allusion here.)

A hint

Who wrote the Odyssey? Homer - He was a blind minstrel, or bard Wrote 2 epics: long, narrative poems The Iliad is a war epic The Odyssey is a long journey epic Odyssey = journey Both were written about 800 BC and told about events that happened in 1200 BC Here’s a pic

No, THIS Homer

What is an Epic? The oldest literary form or genre A long story poem involving: A great hero with supernatural qualities (more modern: super powers) The gods and goddesses take an active part in helping or hindering (Poseidon is Odysseus’ enemy and represents all the bad traits of O. while Athena helps O and represents all of his good traits)

Epic The fate of an entire race of ppl is often at stake Heroes found their greatest glory in battle It involves a struggle that the culture of the hero values The hero embodies the values of their culture; used to teach these values. Begins with an invocation ( prayer to the muse of poetry)

A minstrel is a entertainer who told stories and sang songs -Like Kanye without the drama Both a historian and an entertainer Minstrels BORROWED material from legends, epics and myths already known by the ppl; Used descriptions and phrases that were familiar to the people called EPITHETS They made the stories as simple as possible

Stories were told repetitively. There was no written history. Homer outshone other minstrels of his day because of his: Originality of ideas Expression and effect he had on his audience Meant to teach a lesson--EVERY SINGLE episode in the ODYSSEY is an ALLEGORY for a real life situation.

Allegory A symbolical narrative A story that represents something else The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe- life of Christ The Lord of the Rings-Life of Christ Animal Farm- WW2 Avatar - save the world!! Yay! Go green!

Two Part Story The Iliad, then the Odyssey…

The Iliad

The Iliad Tells of the war between Greece and Troy (located in present day Turkey.) Provides the background for the Odyssey and Odysseus

Iliad The War lasted ten years In reality, it possibly began because the Greeks tried to control trade routes.

The Iliad According to myth: Paris, a prince of Troy, kidnapped Helen, queen of Sparta and wife of Menelaus, king of Sparta.

The Iliad The Greek kings banded together and sent armies in 1,000 ships to attack Troy. (Helen is known as “The face that launched a thousand ships.) Gods and goddesses took sides in the war. For nine years, there was no victory.

The Iliad Finally, Odysseus devised a plan: The Trojan Horse. The Monty Python Version…

But it was probably more like this…

And then this A graveyard full of Trojans

The Iliad The Greeks conquered Troy; the Trojans were slaughtered and the city was destroyed. The Greeks set out for home in their ships. Many gods and goddesses were offended when Greeks desecrated temples and did not make offerings. (The beginning of O’s troubles.)

The Odyssey Epic poem of the long journey home that begins in media res. Greeks would have been familiar with Odysseus as a hero from the Iliad Tells of Odysseus’ adventures trying to return home to Ithaca; his wife’s trials at home; and how his son grows up without a father.

Or…the more modern version

The Odyssey It took TEN years for him to sail home… And this is why:

Typical Male… Green is war path to troy Blue is up to the land of the dead Red is from the land of the dead

Main Characters Odysseus (Ulysses): Super human hero from Ithaca Penelope: his wife Telemachus: Odysseus’ son Circe: a Witch Antinous: takes over O’s home while O is away

Gods/Goddesses Athena: Goddess of wisdom Poseidon: god of the sea She is on Odysseus’ side and represents all of his good traits: courage, loyalty, bravery Poseidon: god of the sea He is against Odysseus and represents all of his bad traits: Mouthy, reckless, prideful Zeus: King of the gods Hermes: Messenger of the gods Aeolus: god of the winds

Greek Values and Beliefs Believed it was wrong for any man to have hubris: excessive pride or arrogance The character of a man was very important: courage, loyalty to home and family Man was not the master of his own fate; he was a pawn in a chess game Could not control his own fate but he could control how he reacted to the gods’ interfering or meddling (Odyssey is all about O’s reactions…temper, temper, temper)

Questions? Save your notes to your folder. You may need these later. Go to thetree and under the Odyssey-B tab, click the Helen pages link. Follow the instructions. 1st tri or newbies work with a 2nd tri person.