1. The Odyssey: Crash Course
ENG 9
Deibert

2. The Odyssey – That’s EPIC!
This is one of the most famous Epics of all time!
An epic tale of a hero’s journey
It paved the way for any adventure novel or TV series you’ve ever read or watched
The originator of the phrase, “that’s epic”
This is where it all began…

3. What is an Epic?
Definition: LONG and elaborate narrative poem telling the story of an Epic Hero in heightened language.

4. Epic Characteristics Hero is a great leader
Setting is broad with supernatural realms
Hero undertakes an extraordinary journey or quest
Sometimes Gods or other supernatural beings take part in the action
Story is told in heightened and elaborate language

5. Conventions of the Epic
While characteristics of the epic are normal plot points that occur, the conventions of the epic are writing techniques that most epic authors use as a structure for their story.

6. Conventions of the Epic
Invocation  Formal plea for help/aid
Action begins IN MEDIAS RES
“in the middle of things” – Latin
After beginning in the middle, author then FLASHES BACK to events that took place before the narrator’s current time setting.

7. Epic Conventions (con’t)
Epic Similes  Elaborate and extended comparisons relating heroic events to simple, everyday events
Example:
“She brushed it away as lightly as when a mother brushes a fly away from her child who is lying in sweet sleep”

8. Epic Conventions (con’t)
Epithets  Brief, descriptive “catch phrases” to help the orator remember important characters.
“Odysseus, son of Laertes”
“Grey-eyed Athena”
“Muse, daughter of Zeus”

9. The Odyssey
The Odyssey is a tale of a hero’s long and perilous journey home. But, it is also the story of a son in need of his father and of a faithful wife waiting for her husband’s return.

10. The Epic Hero

11. Characteristics LARGER THAN LIFE – Backstreet Boys style
Undergoes a QUEST or JOURNEY
Strange creatures
Large-scale events
Treacherous weather
Lives on after death—IMMORTALITY because of deeds in life

12. Characteristics (con’t)
4. Not a Superman, but an EVERYDAY HUMAN whose aspirations and accomplishments set them set them apart 5. OVERCOMES great obstacles but maintains humanity; experiences same emotions we do but is better at controlling them

13. The Trojan War – Odyssey Background
The Iliad, Homer’s first epic, provides the background knowledge we need to understand where The Odyssey picks up.
Trojan War:
10 year war fought by an alliance of Greek Kings and the people of Troy—a city harboring the world’s most beautiful woman, Helen.
Helen left her husband, Menelaus-a Greek King, for Paris, a prince of Troy. As a result, the Greek King alliance lay siege on Troy
The Greeks won the war reducing Troy to smoldering ruins, butchered the inhabitants, except for those they took as slaves back to Greece.

14. Odysseus: Our Hero

15. KNOWN FOR HIS INTELLECT AND WIT Cunning, Inventive, and Intelligent
Odysseus: Our Hero
Trusted advisor of Agamemnon and Menelaus (Helen’s husband) during the Trojan War
Resourceful
Can be cruel and violent
Wife – Penelope
Son – Telemachus
KNOWN FOR HIS INTELLECT AND WIT
Cunning, Inventive, and Intelligent

16. The Principal Gods Cronos and Rhea were parents of
Other Olympians include
Athena (Minerva)
Ares (Mars)
Hebe (Juventas)
Hephaestus (Vulcan)
Apollo (Apollo)
Artemis (Diana)
Hermes (Mercury)
Aphrodite (Venus)
Dionysus (Bacchus)
Persephone
Cronos and Rhea were parents of
Zeus (Jupiter, Jove)
Poseidon (Neptune)
Hades (Pluto)
Hera (Juno)
Hestia (Vesta)
Demeter (Ceres)

17. Zeus Roman Name: Jupiter (also Jove) Supreme god of the Olympians.
Fathered many characters in mythology

18. Hera Roman Name: Juno Zeus’s sister and wife
Jealous protector of marriage
Punished the women Zeus fell in love with

19. Hades Roman Name: Pluto God of the Underworld/ Dead
Kidnapped Persephone

20. Poseidon Roman Name: Neptune God of the Seas and Waters
“The Earthshaker”

21. Hestia
Roman Name: Vesta
Goddess of Home
Powerful Protector

22. Demeter Roman Name: Ceres Goddess of the Harvest
A Goddess of the Earth

23. Athena Roman Name: Minerva Goddess of Wisdom and War
Sprang from Zeus’s head

24. Ares Roman Name: Mars God of War Son of Zeus and Hera
Bloodthirsty and merciless

25. Hephaestus Roman Name: Vulcan (Mulciber) God of Fire/Forge
Son of Zeus and Hera
Kind, unlike his brother

26. Apollo Roman Name: Apollo God of Light/Sun and Music
Brother of Artemis

27. Artemis
Roman Name: Diana
Goddess of the Moon/ Hunt
Sister to Apollo

28. Hermes Roman Name: Mercury Messenger of the Gods
Appears in more myths than any other character

29. Aphrodite Roman Name: Venus Goddess of Love and Beauty
Sprang from the ocean foam

30. Dionysus Roman Name: Bacchus God of Wine Patron god of the Greek stage
A God of the Earth

31. Persephone Roman Name: Proserpina Goddess of the Underworld
Daughter of Zeus and Demeter
Abducted by Hades

32. The Muses Nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne
Inspired artists of all kinds
Goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences
“He is happy whom the muses love.”
Clio, Urania, Thalia, Melpomene, Erato, Calliope, Euterpe, Terpsichore, Polyhymnia

33. The Graces Three Goddesses of Grace and Beauty
“They give life its bloom.”
Aglaia (Splendor)
Euphrosyne (Mirth)
Thalia (Good Cheer)

34. The Erinnyes (The Furies)
Roman Name: Furiae or Dirae (The Furies)
Three Goddesses of Vengeance
Tisiphone
Alecto
Megaera
They punish evildoers.

35. The Fates Roman Name: Parcae, Moirae Three sisters
Clotho (“The Spinner”)
Lachesis (“The disposer of lots”)
Atropos (“The cutter”)
They weave, measure, and cut the thread of life for humans.

36. The Satyrs Gods of the woods and mountains “Shepherd gods”
Goat men (like Pan)
Companions of Dionysus
They like to drink, dance, and chase nymphs.

37. The Gorgons Three snake-haired monsters Medusa is most well- known
Their look turns men to stone.

38. The Centaurs Half man, half horse Savage creatures (except Chiron)
Followers of Dionysus