“The Odyssey” by Homer

Imagine… There is no TV, Internet, radio, newspapers, magazines or books. How did people entertain themselves???

What is an epic??? An epic is a story that represents a culture Ancient epics: – Originally oral tales – Entertained – Passed on the history of a place and people – Taught behavior

How do epics relate to ghost stories? Just like we enjoy hearing ghost stories especially about a place we know, people in other cultures enjoyed hearing stories about their own culture and heritage.

Modern Day: Sitting around a campfire, eating s’mores and listening to a ghost story Historical Time: Sitting around a campfire, listening to an ancient storyteller tell a story about your past This is the only way you would hear about your history.

Different Cultures, Different Oral Histories African American – Roots by Alex Haley Roots – Haley: traced his early ancestry used oral histories from West Africa Oral histories over 200 years old

Old English epic Beowulf by anonymous poet Beowulf – Beowulf, the warrior, fights against demon dragons saving the Danes (people from Denmark) – He is crowned king for his heroism and great strength – He represented his culture: Good reputation Both good warrior and good king Triumph over evil

American – Ballads = songs that tell narratives (stories) “The Wreck of Old 97”

How do our ghost stories relate to our culture?

What is the cultural connections between: – the voices of ancestors who told epics? and – The voices of ghosts in ghost stories? Ghost is La Lorona – the voice of the ghost is a cultural story, just like epics are for the culture they represent!

The Odyssey… An epic that represents its culture

What is it?

Why is it so important? “The Odyssey” represents the values of the Greek culture. Many other cultures have literature that represents it. Most likely that literature was inspired by “The Odyssey.” – For example: Beowulf

Who wrote it? The mysterious Homer

Part 1 Literary Terms Epic – Long story told in elevated language (usually poetry) which relates the great deeds of a larger- than-life hero who embodies the values of a particular society – Ex: “The Odyssey”

Epic Hero – Larger than life – Usually has the following traits: Uncommon strength Exceptional knowledge Cunning, courage, daring – Often goes on a dangerous journey or a quest for discovery – While encountering conflict he embodies the values of his society or civilization – Ex: Odysseus

Myth – Traditional story that is rooted in a particular culture – Is basically religious – Ex: “The Odyssey”, Paul Bunyon, Johnny Appleseed Paraphrasing – Restating the content in your own words Summarize – Briefly note each event in the order it occurred

Part 1 Vocabulary Copy in your notes for homework! – Adversity – Formidable – Profusion – Adversary – Tumult

Part 2 Literary Terms Epic/Homeric Simile – Compare heroic or epic events to simple and easily understandable everyday events – Ex: Line 1185 (p. 1090) – Compares Odysseus stringing bow to musician plucking a stringed instrument Epithet – Adjective or descriptive phrase that is regularly used to characterize a person, place or thing – Ex: “wine-dark sea,” “rosy-fingered dawn,” “the gray- eyed goddess Athena”

Part 2 Vocabulary Copy in your notes for homework! – Candor – Disdainful – Glowered – Lavished – Aloof