The Odyssey Book I0 (1224 - 1225)

Circe a sorceress, the daughter of Helios, the sun god, and an ocean nymph  able to change humans into wolves, lions, and swine (pigs) Odysseus visited her island with his crew, and she changed his men into pigs Odysseus was protected by a magical herb (a gift from Hermes), and he convinced her to turn them back into humans he stayed with her for one year before resuming his journey home

Did you… -add at least 2 character traits with evidence taken from the text? Remember to cite your evidence correctly! Example: (10.34-40) -add to your poetic devices? -complete the summary box for Book 10?

BOOK 11 (1226 – 1229)

Death & the Underworld Hades – the name for the kingdom of the dead as well as the god who ruled it. Hades was divided into two regions: Erebus – where a person’s spirit passed at death, and Tartarus – separated from the land of the living by the river Styx, the dead would be transported across the river to hades by an old boatman named Charon. Hades was also guarded by a three- headed dog named Cerberus.

Allusion: Book 11 In lines 17-20, Odysseus makes a sacrifice to “sovereign death,” or Hades, and “pale Persephone,” his bride, who was kidnapped and forced to live with him for six months every year. Her mother, goddess of the harvest, grieves during that time, causing winter to fall. What does this background information tell you about Hades? How does this information impact your understanding of the underworld?

Book 12 (1230 – 1236)

The Sirens The Sirens were creatures who were half bird and half woman. They lured sailors to destruction by their beautiful singing.

Scylla & Charybdis Scylla was a supernatural female creature, with 12 feet and 6 heads on long, snaky necks, each head having a triple row of shark like teeth. From her lair in a cave she devoured whatever ventured within reach. Charybdis existed on the opposite shore of a very narrow water passageway. She drank down and spit forth the waters three times a day and was often fatal to ships passing by. Her character was most likely the personification of a whirlpool. 

Free Write: Representations of Women in the Odyssey How would you describe the following female characters in the Odyssey? Pick a trait or characteristic for each of the ones listed below. Circe Calypso The Sirens Scylla Charybdis Persephone Looking at the Odyssey as a reflection of its time…what does this say to us about how the Ancient Greeks thought of women? Write a statement arguing for how you would analyze the portrayal of women in the Odyssey.

Imagery Activity: Pick a passage of about 4 lines that shows imagery, and draw the passage as it appears in your mind. Use the white paper provided, and neatly write the passage somewhere on the paper, citing the lines correctly. Add your first & last name and class period to the BACK of the paper.