The Odyssey

What is an Epic? The oldest literary form or genre A long story-poem involving: A great hero having supernatural qualities (but not superpowers) The gods and goddesses take an active part in helping or hindering (e.g. Poseidon is Odysseus’ enemy and Athena helps Odysseus).

The fate of an entire race of people 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. Greeks used The Iliad and The Odyssey to teach Greek culture

Greek Values and Beliefs Greeks believed it was wrong for any man to have hubris (excessive pride) The character of a man was very important One important quality to have was courage Loyalty to both home and family was the most important

Greek Values and Beliefs Man was not master of his own destiny or fate, he was like a pawn in a chess game. Man could not control his own fate, but he could control how he reacted to the gods interfering or meddling (how someone reacted was an important character quality).

Homer poet thought to be blind, but describes events as a seeing person lived around 1200 B.C.E

Homer Wrote the Illiad and the Odyssey - stories about the war between the Trojans and the Greeks which happened between 900 and 700 B.C.E.

Illiad Story of the last year of the Trojan War War lasted 10 years. Troy was defeated when Ulysses and his men were able to get inside the walls of Troy concealed within the body of the Trojan horse.

The Trojan Horse

The Odyssey The story of the journey of Ulysses and his men trying to get home after the Trojan War. 10 years an epic about humans on the journey of life overcoming temptations along the way.

Characters Ulysses or Odysseus Sirens - group of females who lured sailors by their singing

Characters Circe - goddess, enchantress, who turned men into swine Scylla - monster with 12 feet and 6 heads with 3 rows of teeth, carries off a sailor in each mouth

Characters Charybdis - 3 times a day pulls sailors into her whirlpool Hyperion - the sun (distinct from Apollo, the sun god) Jove=Zeus=Jupiter=leader of the gods Eurylochus - one of the crew members