1. Homer’s Odyssey Background Information

2.  Iliad is the story of the Trojan War  Trojan War caused by Helen (most beautiful woman in world) running away with Paris (prince from Troy)

3.  Acheans (Greeks) set sail for Troy to avenge insult  Greeks fought at Troy for 10 years

4. AAfter 10 year stalemate, Odysseus devised wooden horse trick GGreeks hid in horse; Trojans brought horse into city; Greeks emerged and opened gates; Greeks destroyed Troy

5.  Other Greek soldiers arrived home long before Odysseus, who took 10 more years  Odyssey is the story of Odysseus’s journey home (island of Ithaca in Mediterranean Sea)

6.  Odysseus married Penelope, had son Telemachus, an infant when Odysseus left for Troy

7.  Odysseus pretended to be insane by plowing field/sowing with salt to avoid going to war  Agamemnon/Menelaus threw Telemachus in front of plow; Odysseus stopped plow, proved he was sane

8.  Odysseus’s greatest character trait is his cleverness and intelligence  Traits serve Odysseus well in Troy and on voyage back to Ithaca

9. Epic Poetry

10. EEpics first handed down through oral poets (rhapsodes) EEpics are long, narrative poems that tell about the adventures of a national hero

11. CCharacteristics of epic poetry: AAdventures of a physically impressive national hero who is on a quest or journey VVast setting involving much of the known world

12. CCharacteristics of epic poetry continued: BBegins with invocation to the Muse of epic poetry, Calliope BBegins in medias res (in the middle of things [the story])

13. CCharacteristics of epic poetry continued: CContains epic similes and epithets IIntervention of gods into human affairs HHero is glorified in the end

14.  Epic hero  Larger-than-life figure, usually male, who embodies the ideals of a nation or race  Takes part in long, dangerous adventures and accomplishes deeds requiring courage/strength

15.  Epic hero  Odysseus displays some of qualities honored in Greek society  Also displays human faults

16.  Epic Simile  Elaborate, more involved version of regular simile  Used for emphasis and often drawn from nature or everyday activities  Some can continue for many lines

17.  Epithet  Brief, descriptive phrases that help to characterize a particular person or thing  Example: “wine-dark sea” and “gray-eyed Athena”

18. Homer

19. PProbably born in Ionia between 850 and 750 B.C. TTraditionally characterized as blind CCredited with composing the Iliad and the Odyssey