The odyssey Background Information

Homer blind storyteller who drew from cultural myths and legends to create his epics blind storyteller who drew from cultural myths and legends to create his epics he lived between 800 and 850 BC he lived between 800 and 850 BC got his information for his poems from stories that were passed by word of mouth because Greece as well as other primitive cultures had an oral tradition of literature got his information for his poems from stories that were passed by word of mouth because Greece as well as other primitive cultures had an oral tradition of literature author of the two greatest epics of all time – The Odyssey and The Illiad author of the two greatest epics of all time – The Odyssey and The Illiad

traveled around the land singing stories (minstrels) to people for their entertainment and enlightenment (taught lessons about religion and society) traveled around the land singing stories (minstrels) to people for their entertainment and enlightenment (taught lessons about religion and society) put into poems with music put into poems with music based on historical fact based on historical fact The Illiad and The Odyssey are based on the Trojan War The Illiad and The Odyssey are based on the Trojan War started The Odyssey 10 years into Odysseus’ journey “in media res” (in the middle) started The Odyssey 10 years into Odysseus’ journey “in media res” (in the middle)

The Odyssey Homer’s story begins en medias res. Odysseus has been gone from his homeland, Ithaca in Greece, for 20 years. He spent 10 years fighting the Trojan War and another 10 fighting the gods to return home.

In Part one of The Odyssey, Odysseus tells his story of danger and hardship, spending 10 years trying to get home to his wife and child. In Part one of The Odyssey, Odysseus tells his story of danger and hardship, spending 10 years trying to get home to his wife and child. In Part two Odysseus arrives at his home in Ithaca to find that hundreds of men are trying to woo his wife and murder his son in order to take over his kingdom. In Part two Odysseus arrives at his home in Ithaca to find that hundreds of men are trying to woo his wife and murder his son in order to take over his kingdom.

The Epic Poem long narrative poem – tells a story long narrative poem – tells a story centered around a larger-than-life character centered around a larger-than-life character has an invocation of the muse (the divine poetry spirit) has an invocation of the muse (the divine poetry spirit) theme stated near the beginning theme stated near the beginning extensive battle scenes extensive battle scenes repeats phrases, speeches, and incidents repeats phrases, speeches, and incidents epic similes and hyperbole (exaggeration) epic similes and hyperbole (exaggeration)

tells the fate of the hero at the beginning of the poem tells the fate of the hero at the beginning of the poem refers to supernatural often refers to supernatural often contains epithets (word or phrases used to characterize someone – ex: swift-footed Achilles) contains epithets (word or phrases used to characterize someone – ex: swift-footed Achilles) has long sentences, complex words, and flashbacks has long sentences, complex words, and flashbacks on a serious subject written in a grand or elevated style on a serious subject written in a grand or elevated style “in media res” (in the middle) “in media res” (in the middle)

Homeric simile: Also called an epic simile it is a detailed comparison using “like” or “as”. The object of the comparison is usually something familiar to the audience, such as an animal or the weather. For example, in The Iliad, near the end of Book 6, Paris, returning to battle, is compared to a prancing stallion breaking out of the barn and galloping over the fields. Homeric simile: Also called an epic simile it is a detailed comparison using “like” or “as”. The object of the comparison is usually something familiar to the audience, such as an animal or the weather. For example, in The Iliad, near the end of Book 6, Paris, returning to battle, is compared to a prancing stallion breaking out of the barn and galloping over the fields.

National EPICS Greek – Illiad, Odyssey (Homer) Greek – Illiad, Odyssey (Homer) Roman – Aeneid (Virgil) Roman – Aeneid (Virgil) English – Beowulf, Paradise Lost (Milton) English – Beowulf, Paradise Lost (Milton) Spanish – El Cid (folk) Spanish – El Cid (folk) Italian – The Divine Comedy (Dante) Italian – The Divine Comedy (Dante) American – Evangeline (Longfellow) American – Evangeline (Longfellow) French – Chanson de Roland (folk) French – Chanson de Roland (folk)

The Epic Hero larger-than-life man larger-than-life man faithful to his friends, his family, and his gods faithful to his friends, his family, and his gods capable of great deeds of strength and courage capable of great deeds of strength and courage seems to have “super” powers, but does not seems to have “super” powers, but does not great warrior great warrior regarded as a national hero regarded as a national hero goes on a quest or journey which tests his endurance, courage, and cunning goes on a quest or journey which tests his endurance, courage, and cunning an imposing physical stature an imposing physical stature