1. The Odyssey
Test Review

2. Archetype
A character, situation or image that is recognizable in many times and cultures.
Examples: monsters, loyal wife, suitors’ contest

3. Epic Setting
Includes fantastic or exotic lands and involves more than one nation.

4. Epic Hero Possesses superhuman strength, cleverness, and confidence
Is helped and harmed by interfering gods
Embodies ideals and values of a culture
Emerges victorious

5. Epithet
A brief descriptive phrase used to characterize a person or thing.
“son of Laertes”
“raider of cities”

6. Allusion A reference to a famous person, place, or event.
Reference to Zeus
Greeks would know this is an allusion to the ruler of the gods.

7. Epic Theme
Reflects universal concerns such as courage, loyalty, a homecoming, life and death.

8. Epic Plot
Involves a long journey, full of complications, such as strange creatures and divine intervention.

9. A comparison between two unlike things, using the word like or as.
Simile
A comparison between two unlike things, using the word like or as.

10. Epic Poem
An epic is a long, narrative poem that tells the adventures of a hero whose actions help decide the fate of a nation or a group of people.

11. Characteristics of an Epic Poem
The hero is a well-known character of high social position whose qualities represent those valuable to his or her society.
Supernatural forces play an important role in the plot.
The action in an epic involves many great deeds and is set in many locations across a wide area.
The style of an epic is formal and grand.

12. The poet Homer is given credit for writing The Odyssey.
The Odyssey was written around 700 B.C.
The poet Homer is given credit for writing The Odyssey.

13. The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus’ attempts to reach his home after the Trojan War.

14. He began his journey home with 720 men and twelve ships; ten years later he was the only survivor.

15. In Homer’s time, most Greeks believed that the gods not only took an active interest in human affairs, but also behaved in recognizably human ways, often engaging in their own trivial quarrels and petty jealousies.

16. The story of Odysseus’ return from Troy contains some instances of divine interference. Odysseus has Athena on his side, but he has displeased the gods who were on the side of Troy.

17. Odysseus’ homeland is Ithaca.

18. Myth
A traditional or legendary story, involving gods and heroes and explaining cultural practices.

19. The Functions of Myths 1. To explain natural phenomena
2. To control natural forces
3. To bind a clan, tribe or nation together
4. To record historical events
5. To give a verbal geography lesson
6. To set examples for people’s behavior
(follow the behavior of the gods)
7. To justify social structure
8. To control people
(using fear)

20. Types of Myths 6. Myths of heaven and hell 7. Hero myths 8. Fire myths
1. Creation Myths
2. Myths of the cosmos
3. Flood myths
4. End of the world myths
5. Myths of the underworld
6. Myths of heaven and hell Hero myths
8. Fire myths
9. Dismemberment myths

21. 1. Golden – no work, lived with the gods, no sadness
2. Silver – worked (farming), complained too much – Zeus killed all the people
3. First Bronze – WAR; humans killed off their own race
4. Second Bronze – age of the HERO 
5. Iron – humans are out of control – people are saved because there
are a few good people left
The Five Ages Of Man

22. STUDY!