1. Introduction to The Odyssey Mrs. Brown Mrs. Gorman Freshman English

2. Homer Homer (800 B.C.) the poet credited with writing the Iliad & Odyssey. He may have been one in a long line of Greek epic storytellers.

3. The archetype of an epic hero An archetype is a basic plot, character, symbol, or idea that recurs in the literature of many cultures. An epic hero is an archetype! EPIC HERO

4. Epic Hero He can do extraordinary things, both good and bad Through adventurous deeds, the epic hero demonstrates traits valued by society.

5. The Hero’s Quest The hero’s quest is a plot in which an extraordinary person (hero) goes on a difficult journey or mission The hero may search for a person, place, or object of value, the answer to a question, or some other kind of special knowledge

6. Epic Poems An epic is a long, narrative poem celebrating the heroic achievements of a hero. Combination of legendary (loosely based on fact), mythical (made up), and historical stories that originated in oral tradition.

7. The Epic Hero The ancient Greek hero is motivated by or possesses: 1. Kleos (clee-os) immortal fame; reputation outlives them 2. Tim é (teem-ah) personal honor; in others eyes, too 3. Aret é (are-a-tay) excellence or being extraordinary *Fame, honor, excellence

8. The code of hospitality Xenia: must take care of travelers, guests, beggars Zeus takes this very seriously!

9. The Epic Poem The epic poem may begin after major events ~ in media res (in the middle of things) Important action already happened! A flashback is a scene that interrupts the sequence in a narrative to relate to earlier events