The Odyssey Homer

Part One Supplemental Vocabulary The Odyssey by Homer Part One Supplemental Vocabulary

Epithet A word or phrase used to describe someone Zeus the lord of the cloud

Epic Simile An epic simile is an extended simile developed over several lines. Example:

Example Having a snow day is like a day at the beach. I can lounge on my sofa as if it were my multicolored stripped beach chair. I can close my eyes and listen to my favorite television shows as if it were the waves crashing upon the shore. It is total peace and relaxation as I drift to sleep to all of the sounds around me.

Invocation A serious request. A prayer asking for help. The Odyssey begins with an invocation on page 595 (blue) the poet asks for inspiration in telling the story of his hero…it also gives a brief summary of the hero’s adventures

Muse One of the goddesses who preside over the arts.

Vocabulary Seventeen words! Know them! Part One Vocabulary Seventeen words! Know them!

Formidable Adjective Very impressive Men hold me formidable.

Guile Noun Cunning Slyness Men hold me formidable for guile in peace and war.

Muster (ed) Verb To gather All ships’ companies mustered alongside for the midday meal.

Indifferent Adjective Without interest in

Victual (vital) Noun Food A wineskin full I brought along and victuals in a bag.

Civility Noun Politeness …a wild man, ignorant of civility.

Appall (ed) Adjective Horrified We cried aloud, lifting our hands to Zeus, powerless, looking at this, appalled…

Ponderous Adjective Extremely heavy thoughts …we could never move his ponderous doorway slab inside.

Lugger (lagger) Noun A small sailing vessel

Profusion Noun An abundance

Shipwright Noun Carpenter who builds or repairs ships I leaned on it turning it as a shipwright turns a drill.

Smithy Noun A workshop where metal is heated and worked In a smithy one sees a white-hot axhead or an adz.

Adz Noun An ax-like tool

Hale Adjective Strong … the way they make soft iron hale.

Mammoth Adjective Gigantic Out of the cave the mammoth Polyphemus roared in answer:

Breach Noun An opening or gap (in a wall)

Titanic Adjective Huge

Part One Vocabulary “The Sirens”, “Scylla and Charybdis”, “The Cattle of the Sun God”

Nymph Noun A nature goddess

Brace (s) Noun Rope used to swing or secure the sails of a ship

Plumb Adverb Exactly

Ardor Noun Great passion; emotional warmth

Founder (ing) Verb To sink

Comber (s) Noun Large ocean wave

Travail Noun Agony

Spume Noun Foam or froth

Blanch (ed) Verb To pale

Grapple Noun A grip

Appease Verb To satisfy

Supplication Noun A humble prayer or request

Insidious Adjective Treacherous

Entrails Noun Internal organs of humans or animals

Tripe Noun The stomach lining of cattle used as food

Overweening Adjective Overbearing

Restitution Noun The making good or paying for damage or loss

Forestay(s) Noun A rope supporting the front mast of a ship

Bilge Noun The water around the lower part of a ship

Contentious Adjective Quarrelsome; ready to argue