The Odyssey

What is an Epic? A long narrative poem about a legendary hero.

Epics often… Concern eternal human problems such as the conflict between GOOD and EVIL Are written or told on a grand scale and often in ceremonial style

Two Types of Epics 1.Folk Epic- oral compositions passed on from storyteller to storyteller and has changed over time. Ex. – Gilgamesh, Beowulf, the Iliad, and the Odyssey 2.Literary Epic- written compositions that are unchanged over time. Ex. -Aeneid and Paradise Lost

Epic Characteristics There are five main epic characteristics.

Epic Characteristic #1 The hero is a great leader who is identified strongly with a particular people or society. Example:

Epic Characteristic #2 The setting is broad and often includes supernatural realms, especially the land of the dead. Example:

Epic Characteristic #3 The hero does great deeds in battle or undertakes an extraordinary journey or quest. Example:

Epic Characteristic #4 Sometimes gods or other supernatural or fantastic beings take part in the action. Example:

Epic Characteristic #5 The story is told in heightened language Example:

The Epic Hero

What makes a “hero” Use the slips of paper on your desk to “jot thought” what you consider traits of an hero. Write one adjective per slip. (You will have 2 minutes) Use the “adjective chart” on the next slide to determine how many of you view each of the adjectives as important heroic qualities.

Adjective Chart 1 person agrees2 people agree 3 people agreeEveryone agrees

Epic Hero Characteristics The epic hero is a “LARGER THAN LIFE PERSON” who embodies the highest ideals of his culture

Epic Hero Characteristics The epic hero usually undertakes a QUEST/ JOURNEY to achieve something of great value to themselves or society

Epic Hero Characteristics Epic heroes “LIVE ON AFTER DEATH”… meaning they are forever remembered by those who live after them… achieving a type of IMMORTALITY

Epic Hero Characteristics Not a “Superman” with magical powers, but a “REGULAR” human (sometimes part god/part human) whose aspirations and accomplishments set him/her apart much like Perseus

Epic Hero Characteristics Overcomes great obstacles/opponents but maintains HUMANITY

Epic Hero Characteristics Epic hero experiences typical HUMAN EMOTIONS/ FEELINGS, yet is able to master and control these human traits to a greater degree than a typical person

Epic Hero Characteristics It is often necessary for the epic hero to connect/make contact with “LESSER” humans in order to succeed

THE HERO’S JOURNEY ARCHETYPE What do Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Homer’s “The Odyssey” all have in common?

All have heroes … that partake in a journey of significant change, that is, the “hero’s journey.” …that are truly profound for exploring the archetype of the hero in literature and in our own lives.

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 had happened between 900 and 700 B.C.E.

Illiad Story of the last year of the Trojan War War had 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

Origins of Mythology Ancient mythology belongs to the oral tradition (folklore, legends, etc.) 1. stories passed orally appealed to the non-literate 2. these stories were a form of entertainment 3. the stories enabled the passing of history and culture from one group to the next

Archetypal Myth Symbols Many cultures share myth symbols. Some of these are: 1. The great flood or fire 2. The serpent 3. Things organized into 3, 7, or The woman who brings evil into the world 5. The family “romance”

Greek Mythology 1. The Greeks were the earliest people to give their gods human forms 2. The Greeks also gave the gods human qualities and emotions 3.Greeks were able to determine proper behavior based on what would “anger the gods” or “please the gods.”

Greek Myth Categories The Greek myths fall into the following categories: a. Explanatory (Pyramus and Thisbe) b. Instructional (Daedalus and Icarus) c. Entertainment

Remember the Titans? Gaea: Earth Goddess; made the rest of the Titans by mating with her son, Uranus. Uranus: Sky god; first ruler. Dethroned by Cronus. Cronus: Fathered the first of the Olympians. Swallowed his children except for Zeus. Prometheus: “Forethought” ; Protector of man; inventor of fire. Atlas: Punished by having to hold the world on his back.

Who Were the Olympians? The offspring of the Titans Overthrew the Titans in a war to control the universe. Led by Zeus, the god of the other gods. Zeus and his brothers split territory (Zeus- earth/sky, Poseidon- the seas, Hades- the underworld)

The Twelve Olympians Aphrodite: goddess of love and beauty. Her symbols were the dove, and myrtle, a type of evergreen shrub. Her Latin name was Venus. Apollo: god of the sun and of music. His symbols were the lyre, the chariot, and the laurel tree. His Latin name was Apollo. Ares: god of war. His symbols were armor, dogs, and vultures. His Latin name was Mars.

Artemis: goddess of the hunt and of the moon. Her symbols were hunting, weapons, stags, and the crescent moon. Her Latin name was Diana. Athena: goddess of wisdom and war. Her symbols were the owl, the olive tree, and two types of armor—the breastplate and the aegis, a shield. Her Latin name was Minerva. Demeter: goddess of agriculture. Her symbols were sheaves of wheat, and the poppy. Her Latin name was Ceres.

Dionysus: god of wine and revelry. His symbols were grapes and other crops. His Latin name was Bacchus. Hephaestus: god of fire and of the forge. His symbols were the anvil and the hammer. His Latin name was Vulcan. Hera: queen of the gods. Her symbols were the peacock and the pomegranate. Her Latin name was Juno.

Hermes: messenger of the gods. His symbols were the caduceus, and a winged cap and sandals. His Latin name was Mercury. Poseidon: god of the sea. His symbols were the trident, a three pronged spear, and dolphins. His Latin name was Neptune. Zeus: king of the gods. His symbols were the thunderbolt, the eagle, and the oak tree. His Latin name was Jupiter.

Family Tree

Other Gods and Goddesses Eris - Goddess of Discord. Eros - God of Love. Helios - Personification of the Sun. Heracles - Greatest hero of the Greek myths. Iris - Personification of the Rainbow, also the messenger of Olympus along with Hermes. Morpheus - God of Dreams. Muses - Nine ladies of science and arts. Nemesis - Greek goddess of retribution. Nike - Goddess of victory.

Can you label the Gods and Goddesses on Mount Olympus?

Short Film Fill out the worksheet as you watch this video about the Greek gods and goddesses. e389uQhmo