Background and Context English I ZHS Freshman Academy *

Anticipation Guide There’s no place like home. Winning isn’t everything; it’s how you play the game that counts. All’s fair in love and war. What goes around comes around. Real men don’t show their sensitive side. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. For each statement, agree or disagree with at least one piece of real world evidence Consider: Personal experience Historical events Current events Literature, film, TV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghk-nDJB3Tk - work with side to share ideas before discussion

Quickwrite: What do you know about…. 1) Greek and Roman mythology? (Think Zeus, Medusa, Hercules…) If you know a lot, summarize! If you only know a little, that’s ok too! 2) Where did you learn about it? School? T.V.? Movies? Books?

Epic Poem or Story An Epic Poem or story is a larger than life story that contains many adventures or a long journey. Ancient Greece produced two, The Iliad and The Odyssey, which are examples of epic poems. *

Homer Greek poet and writer who was said to have been blind. Called “The Teacher” of Greece Birth and death cannot be confirmed, but estimated to have lived around 8th century B.C.E. Wrote the epic Greek poems of The Iliad and The Odyssey around 760 to 710 B.C. The Iliad is his first recorded work.

- The Iliad The Iliad (Written around 800 B.C.E.)is the story of the Trojan War which might actually have taken place around 1250 B.C. and lasted for 10 years. However, this poem is a tale of myth and magic, not history. *

- Historical Background During ancient times, there may have been a real war between the Spartan Greeks (who are called Achaeans in the story of The Odyssey) and the Trojans (the Trojan city of Troy would now be located in modern day Turkey). The real cause of this war was likely over control of trading territory and rights in the Aegean Sea. (economic)

Legendary Cause: (Romantic-Helen of Troy) The beginning of the Trojan War in Homer’s Iliad According to the myth, the war started this way: Paris was a prince in the city of Troy. Three goddesses asked him to judge who among them was the most beautiful. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, offered Paris a reward if he chose her…..(Continue to next slide) *

- The myth cont.. She said he could have Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world. However, Helen was married to Menelaus, the King of Sparta, a city in Greece. When Paris visited Sparta, Aphrodite made Helen fall in love with him. Helen ran away with Paris.

The myth cont... Helen of Troy Menelaus and his brother, Agamemnon, led a Greek army against Troy to bring her back. The war that followed is called the Trojan War after the name Troy. Helen of Troy *

The Iliad takes place during the last months of the Trojan War. Its hero is Achilles, a mighty Greek warrior. The Iliad ends with the funeral of Hector, a Trojan hero who is killed by Achilles. The story tells of many heroes on both sides. One of the Greek heroes is named Odysseus. *

gods and goddesses The gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece are important characters in The Illiad and The Odyssey. Gods and goddess intervened in the war wanting the Trojans to win They take sides in the war and battles and help the human characters. Respect for the gods was essential for survival *

- The Odyssey Covers Odysseus’ homeward journey after the Trojan War The Odyssey, is named for Odysseus, a long series of wanderings or adventures, esp. when filled with notable experiences, hardships, etc.. Covers Odysseus’ homeward journey after the Trojan War Odysseus is the King of Ithaca, an island off the coast of Greece. According to the myth, Odysseus did not want to fight at Troy. He did not want to leave his wife, Penelope, and his baby son, Telemachus. *

- The Odyssey cont... Odysseus had to be tricked into joining the Greek army. Once he was involved in the fighting, however, he proved to be brave and clever. In fact, Odysseus thought of the trick that finally won the war for the Greeks (The Trojan Horse) Because Odysseus was instrumental in Troy’s destruction, he angered the gods who were sympathetic to Troy –The gods vow that he will have a long and difficult journey home. The Odyssey is mostly about Odysseus’ adventures after the Trojan War from Troy to Ithaca. The setting of the Odyssey is GREECE during 12th century B.C.E. (Bronze Age) *

Structure of The Odyssey Begins in media res “In the middle of things” 3rd person omniscient narrator 24 books Non-linear plot (not in chronological order) Layout: The Telemachy Odysseus’s wanderings The Homecoming

- Athena Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom, intelligence, and military victory. In The Odyssey, she appears to Odysseus several times to guide him on his heroic journey.

Guidelines for reading an Epic Become familiar with character and place names, but be aware that they may have different spellings depending on the translator. Look for heroic characteristics; a hero is extraordinary and his adventures are grand! Understand that Gods, goddesses, and other supernatural forces toy with the destiny of humans. They punish and reward human behavior.

More Guidelines for Reading an Epic Look for underlying cultural beliefs and values Respect for deities Code of hospitality Notice EPIC CONVENTIONS: Invocation- asking for the muse’s assistance Lengthy speeches Repetition: to make recitation easier/easier to remember

- Invocation to the Muse An INVOCATION is a call for help or support. In ancient times, poets or artists would call upon a MUSE to help them write or create. A MUSE is a person or thing that inspires you to create. Ancient poets, like Homer, would start their poems with an invocation to the Muse, or a call to help them create a great poem. *

Epithets & Epic Similes Epithets: Any word or phrase applied to a person or thing to describe an actual or attributed quality Example: “A man skilled in all ways of contending” = Odysseus Or “Grey-eyed goddess” = Athena Epic Similes: Long, drawn out similes that add detail and depth. Example: “Her mind in torment, wheeling like some lion at bay, dreading the gangs of hunters closing their cunning ring around him for the finish.”

- The Greek Virtues All Greeks were challenged to live by the virtues set by their culture. Breaking one of the Greek virtues meant angering the gods. The virtues are: Hospitality to strangers Loyalty Respect for the gods and goddesses Respect for all forms of life Courage

Themes Respect for the Gods Respect for the gods is shown through the numerous descriptions of sacrifices and offerings. Disrespect for the Gods inevitably leads to disaster; the Gods do not forget disrespect and are not easily appeased. (Poseidon, Athena, Helios.) The Importance of Lineage Almost every time we meet someone significant the narration pauses and we learn of the lineage. Many "things" we see also have a lineage or history that we are given - note Odysseus’ scar and his bow. Fate Fate is preordained by a power beyond that of even the gods. Paradoxically, it does not seem "random." A character's fate is tied up with his "character."