2. A long time ago in a place far, far away…
There was a man named Homer…

3. …and his epic called the Odyssey

4. An Introduction to Homer’s Odyssey

5. Homer:
The Man of Mystery

6. Who was HOMER?
Homer was a blind minstrel (he told stories to entertain and to make his living); audiences had to listen carefully (this is “oral tradition” so there was a lot of repetition and improvisation used)

7. Other traveling poets (called rhapsodes) memorized and recited these epics in the banquet halls of kings and noble families

8. History is vague on Homer’s identity; some say he is just a legend, others say that a whole series of rhapsodes composed various parts of the epics
The epics were not originally written--the Greek alphabet didn’t appear until 725 BC

9. Cultural Capital:
common knowledge that a group of people from same culture shares
Cultural Capital knowledge can come from:
Literature
Stories/ History
Religion
Famous People
Media

10. Why do we read The Odyssey?
The Odyssey is part of our cultural capital as Westerners
Birthplace of Western civilization:
Greece-Rome-Europe-Americas
Great adventure story!
Has stood the test of time—a classic!
Follows the Hero’s Journey pattern!
AND because it's part of our cultural capital as Westerners.

11. GREEK VALUES These values help explain characters’ motivations
Important to understand some of the main Greek values of the time because….
These values help explain characters’ motivations

12. (explains characters’ motivations)
Greek Values
(explains characters’ motivations)
Reciprocity:
Mutual exchange between two people
You give to me, I give to you
You help me, later I have to help you

13. (explains characters’ motivations)
Greek Values
(explains characters’ motivations)
Hospitality:
Treat all guests with respect
Be nice first, ask questions later
A stranger could be a god in disguise!
Be our guest,
be our guest,
put our service
to the test. . .

14. (explains characters’ motivations)
Greek Values
(explains characters’ motivations)
Arete:
Greek idea of excellence, an ideal of human perfection
Intelligence (be smart and cunning)
Strength
Courage
Duty

15. (explains characters’ motivations)
Greek Values
(explains characters’ motivations)
Religion:
Actions should please the gods
Fate controlled by the god
Humans need the gods (man, without the gods, is nothing) [Odysseus’ revelation]
Humans should honor gods through sacrifices, asking gods for help, and giving credit to gods

16. Epics and Heroes What is Hubris?
Hubris is extreme arrogance or self-pride. Often in Greek tragedies, hubris would be the fatal flaw of the main character, often resulting in their downfall. In Mythology, humans sometimes demonstrated hubris, which angered the gods.
Tony Stark (Iron Man)

17. MYTH AND EPIC
“Myth” is a story that uses fantasy to express ideas about life not easily done in realistic terms (it also stresses the relationship of human beings to a higher, spiritual realm)

18. The Epic

19. Characteristics of the Epic:
Long, narrative poem
Reflects values of a nation or race
Addresses universal concerns
Focuses on the adventures of a historical or legendary hero

20. 5. The supernatural plays an important role
6. Story is set in many locations
7. Hero against the odds – strong and courageous
8. Story is simple and written in formal language

21. EPICS Things you will discover once you have read an Epic:
Classical Allusions: references to mythology
Example: She had the face that launched a thousand ships—Refers to Helen of Troy from The Illiad.
You will find these allusions in other literature, movies, everyday conversations, and even in modern day advertising.
Example: Percy Jackson series, Honda Odyssey van, Venus razors, Good Year tires with Hermes wings, etc.

22. EPICS Things you will discover once you have read an Epic:
The Hero’s Journey Pattern:
Most epic heroes go on some sort of quest. Look
for examples of the Separation, Transformation, and Return. Be able to chart Odysseus’ Hero’s Journey through the 8 stages and apply the HJ concepts to his journey. How does Odysseus change?

23. Conventions of the Epic

24. A brief descriptive phrase
Epithet
A brief descriptive phrase
Characterizes a person, place or thing
Gives story-teller a “breather”
Helps with rhyming or meter
Examples:
rosy-fingered dawn
gray-eyed Athena
The blue-maned god who makes the islands tremble
Son of Laertes and gods of old, master mariner and soldier

25. Compares epic events to everyday events
Homeric Simile
Compares epic events to everyday events
“…in one stride he clutched at my companions and caught two in his hands like squirming puppies to beat their brains out, spattering the floor.”

26. In Medias Res in the middle
In Medias Res: literary technique in which the plot sequence is out of order; Latin for “in the middle,” the story begins in the middle of the action, flashes back to the beginning to catch up, then skips to the end
Example: Forrest Gump
Odysseus' Timeline

27. (composed between 900 & 700 BC!)
Homer’s Epics
(composed between 900 & 700 BC!)
First there was…
The Iliad

28. The Iliad Primary model for the epic of war
Set in 10th and final year of the Trojan War
Achilles’ role and eventual end

29. After The Iliad (Aneid by Virgil)
Odysseus’ wooden horse trick
Greeks defeat the Trojans
Odysseus heads for home

30. The Odyssey
Tales of Odysseus

31. The Travels of Odysseus

32. The Odyssey
Primary model for the epic of the long journey home

33. THE ODYSSEY
Meaning: a long journey with many adventures or a spiritual or intellectual quest
The word “odyssey” derives from the name Odysseus, the main character from the Odyssey (he is also referred to as Ulysses in classic literature)

34. The Odyssey Involves 3 Sets of Characters:
The Greek GODS
Humans
Supernatural monsters and creatures

35. Post War Trauma Long, exhausting, brutal war (10 years)
Odysseus heads for home with
nothing but ships and crew

36. The Odyssey
A story
told in
3 stages

37. PART ONE
A story of what happens in Ithaca to Odysseus’ wife (Penelope) and son (Telemachus) as they await his return

38. PART TWO
A story of Odysseus’ wanderings after the Trojan War (the war lasted 10 years and his wanderings lasted another 10 years!)

39. PART THREE
A story of how Odysseus returns home to Ithaca and joins forces with his son to destroy his enemies

40. Why does it take Odysseus 10 years to get home?
Read and find out!

41. And so the epic begins… Meanwhile…there’s trouble at home!
In Ithaca, Odysseus is suspected to be dead
Suitors have invaded the palace
Penelope, Odysseus’ wife, is in an awkward position and must trick the men into leaving her alone
Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, resents the imposing situation
And so the epic begins…

48. Works Cited Althouse. 3/3/06. <www.althouse.blogspot.com>
Auburn University. 3/4/06 .<
Clipart.com. 3/4/06. <