The Odyssey: Crash Course ENG 9 Deibert
The Odyssey – That’s EPIC! This is one of the most famous Epics of all time! An epic tale of a hero’s journey It paved the way for any adventure novel or TV series you’ve ever read or watched The originator of the phrase, “that’s epic” This is where it all began…
What is an Epic? Definition: LONG and elaborate narrative poem telling the story of an Epic Hero in heightened language.
Epic Characteristics Hero is a great leader Setting is broad with supernatural realms Hero undertakes an extraordinary journey or quest Sometimes Gods or other supernatural beings take part in the action Story is told in heightened and elaborate language
Conventions of the Epic While characteristics of the epic are normal plot points that occur, the conventions of the epic are writing techniques that most epic authors use as a structure for their story.
Conventions of the Epic Invocation Formal plea for help/aid Action begins IN MEDIAS RES “in the middle of things” – Latin After beginning in the middle, author then FLASHES BACK to events that took place before the narrator’s current time setting.
Epic Conventions (con’t) Epic Similes Elaborate and extended comparisons relating heroic events to simple, everyday events Example: “She brushed it away as lightly as when a mother brushes a fly away from her child who is lying in sweet sleep”
Epic Conventions (con’t) Epithets Brief, descriptive “catch phrases” to help the orator remember important characters. “Odysseus, son of Laertes” “Grey-eyed Athena” “Muse, daughter of Zeus”
The Odyssey The Odyssey is a tale of a hero’s long and perilous journey home. But, it is also the story of a son in need of his father and of a faithful wife waiting for her husband’s return.
The Epic Hero
Characteristics LARGER THAN LIFE – Backstreet Boys style Undergoes a QUEST or JOURNEY Strange creatures Large-scale events Treacherous weather Lives on after death—IMMORTALITY because of deeds in life
Characteristics (con’t) 4. Not a Superman, but an EVERYDAY HUMAN whose aspirations and accomplishments set them set them apart 5. OVERCOMES great obstacles but maintains humanity; experiences same emotions we do but is better at controlling them
The Trojan War – Odyssey Background The Iliad, Homer’s first epic, provides the background knowledge we need to understand where The Odyssey picks up. Trojan War: 10 year war fought by an alliance of Greek Kings and the people of Troy—a city harboring the world’s most beautiful woman, Helen. Helen left her husband, Menelaus-a Greek King, for Paris, a prince of Troy. As a result, the Greek King alliance lay siege on Troy The Greeks won the war reducing Troy to smoldering ruins, butchered the inhabitants, except for those they took as slaves back to Greece.
Odysseus: Our Hero
KNOWN FOR HIS INTELLECT AND WIT Cunning, Inventive, and Intelligent Odysseus: Our Hero Trusted advisor of Agamemnon and Menelaus (Helen’s husband) during the Trojan War Resourceful Can be cruel and violent Wife – Penelope Son – Telemachus KNOWN FOR HIS INTELLECT AND WIT Cunning, Inventive, and Intelligent
The Principal Gods Cronos and Rhea were parents of Other Olympians include Athena (Minerva) Ares (Mars) Hebe (Juventas) Hephaestus (Vulcan) Apollo (Apollo) Artemis (Diana) Hermes (Mercury) Aphrodite (Venus) Dionysus (Bacchus) Persephone Cronos and Rhea were parents of Zeus (Jupiter, Jove) Poseidon (Neptune) Hades (Pluto) Hera (Juno) Hestia (Vesta) Demeter (Ceres)
Zeus Roman Name: Jupiter (also Jove) Supreme god of the Olympians. Fathered many characters in mythology
Hera Roman Name: Juno Zeus’s sister and wife Jealous protector of marriage Punished the women Zeus fell in love with
Hades Roman Name: Pluto God of the Underworld/ Dead Kidnapped Persephone
Poseidon Roman Name: Neptune God of the Seas and Waters “The Earthshaker”
Hestia Roman Name: Vesta Goddess of Home Powerful Protector
Demeter Roman Name: Ceres Goddess of the Harvest A Goddess of the Earth
Athena Roman Name: Minerva Goddess of Wisdom and War Sprang from Zeus’s head
Ares Roman Name: Mars God of War Son of Zeus and Hera Bloodthirsty and merciless
Hephaestus Roman Name: Vulcan (Mulciber) God of Fire/Forge Son of Zeus and Hera Kind, unlike his brother
Apollo Roman Name: Apollo God of Light/Sun and Music Brother of Artemis
Artemis Roman Name: Diana Goddess of the Moon/ Hunt Sister to Apollo
Hermes Roman Name: Mercury Messenger of the Gods Appears in more myths than any other character
Aphrodite Roman Name: Venus Goddess of Love and Beauty Sprang from the ocean foam
Dionysus Roman Name: Bacchus God of Wine Patron god of the Greek stage A God of the Earth
Persephone Roman Name: Proserpina Goddess of the Underworld Daughter of Zeus and Demeter Abducted by Hades
The Muses Nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne Inspired artists of all kinds Goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences “He is happy whom the muses love.” Clio, Urania, Thalia, Melpomene, Erato, Calliope, Euterpe, Terpsichore, Polyhymnia
The Graces Three Goddesses of Grace and Beauty “They give life its bloom.” Aglaia (Splendor) Euphrosyne (Mirth) Thalia (Good Cheer)
The Erinnyes (The Furies) Roman Name: Furiae or Dirae (The Furies) Three Goddesses of Vengeance Tisiphone Alecto Megaera They punish evildoers.
The Fates Roman Name: Parcae, Moirae Three sisters Clotho (“The Spinner”) Lachesis (“The disposer of lots”) Atropos (“The cutter”) They weave, measure, and cut the thread of life for humans.
The Satyrs Gods of the woods and mountains “Shepherd gods” Goat men (like Pan) Companions of Dionysus They like to drink, dance, and chase nymphs.
The Gorgons Three snake-haired monsters Medusa is most well- known Their look turns men to stone.
The Centaurs Half man, half horse Savage creatures (except Chiron) Followers of Dionysus