1. Themes Vocabulary & Background Information
The Odyssey
Themes Vocabulary &
Background Information

2. World Map

3. Map of The Mediterranean Sea

4. Map Of Aegean Sea

5. Homer’s Greece

6. Homer’s view of the world

7. Homer’s View of the world

8. Homeric Galley

10. Modern Recreation

11. Homeric soldier

12. Greek spear- called a ‘dory’

13. Bronze Age Swords

14. Homeric shield

15. Cuirass (body armor)

16. Greaves (shin Guards)

17. Helmet

18. Wine bowl (Kylix) & Wine skin

19. Vocabulary
Epic- The word epic is derived from the Ancient Greek adjective, “epikos”, which means a poetic story. In literature, an epic is a long narrative poem, which is usually related to heroic deeds of a person of an unusual courage and unparalleled bravery.
Epic Hero- a brave and noble character in an epic poem, admired for great achievements or affected by grand events.
Oral Tradition- oral tradition is information passed down through the generations by word of mouth that is not written down. this includes historical and cultural traditions, literature and law.

20. Fatal flaw- Also called the tragic flaw is a literary device that can be defined as a trait in a character leading to his downfall, and the character is often the hero of the literary piece. This trait could be the lack of self-knowledge, lack of judgment, and often it is hubris (pride). Hubris (pride)- Hubris is extreme pride and arrogance shown by a character, which ultimately brings about his downfall. Hubris is a typical flaw in the personality of a character who enjoys a powerful position; as a result, he often overestimates his capabilities to such an extent that he loses contact with reality. Invocation to the Muse- A prayer or address is made to one of the nine muses of Greco-Roman mythology. The poet asks for the inspiration, skill, knowledge, or the right emotion to finish a poem worthy of his subject matter. In media res- Latin for "into the middle of things." It usually describes a narrative that begins, not at the beginning of a story, but somewhere in the middle — usually at some crucial point in the action.

21. Hero’s journey- is the common template of a broad category of tales that involve a hero who goes on an adventure, and in a decisive crisis wins a victory, and then comes home changed or transformed.
Homeric simile- Homeric Similes, also known as Epic Similes, are elaborate comparisons between two different objects using like or as. A Homeric Simile, however, is used to redirect the reader’s attention in unexpected, humorous, gruesome or heroic ways, as well as being much longer. Ex: •“I drove my weight on it from above and bored it home like a shipwright bores his beam with a shipwright’s drill that men below, whipping the strap back and forth, whirl and the drill keeps twisting, never stopping –So we seized our stake with it fiery tip and bored it round and round in the giant’s eye.”
Homeric Epithets- an epithet is an adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing mentioned. Homer uses these as mnemonic devices to help speaker and listener remember the poem. Ex: “earth-shaking Poseidon” (This will be repeated as a name/description for Poseidon throughout the poem.”

22. Patronyms- a type of epithet which is a component of a personal name based on the given name of one's father or grandfather. Ex: Calling Menelaus “Son of Atreus” or “Atrides” (which means “son of Atreus.”)
Pantheon- from the Greek “pan” meaning all and “theos” meaning gods, the pantheon referred to all the Gods in the Greek belief system (and, more universally, to all the gods of any particular belief system i.e. the Norse pantheon, the Egyptian pantheon, the Roman pantheon etc.)
Archetype- In literature, an archetype is a typical character, an action, or a situation that seems to represent universal patterns of human nature. An archetype, also known as “universal symbol,” may be a character, a theme, a symbol, or even a setting. Many literary critics are of the opinion that archetypes – which have a common and recurring representation in a particular human culture, or all humanity– shape the structure and function of a literary work.
Trickster- a character in a story (god, goddess, spirit, man, woman, or talking animal), which exhibits a great degree of intellect or secret knowledge, and uses it to play tricks or otherwise disobey normal rules and conventional behavior.

23. Divine Intervention (Deus ex Machina)- Deus ex Machina (Latin for “Machine of the Gods”) refers to incidence in a story where an implausible concept or character is brought into the story in order to make the conflict in the story resolve and to bring about a pleasing solution.
Arete (Excellence & Virtue)- in its basic sense, means "excellence of any kind". The term may also mean "moral virtue". In its earliest appearance in Greek, this notion of excellence was ultimately bound up with the notion of the fulfillment of purpose or function: the act of living up to one's full potential.
Aristeia- -is a scene in the dramatic conventions of epic poetry as in the Iliad, where a hero in battle has his finest moments (aristos = "best"). An aristeia can result in the death of the hero at the aristeia's end
Kleos (glory)- is the Greek word often translated to "renown", or "glory". It is related to the word "to hear" and carries the implied meaning of "what others hear about you". A Greek hero earns kleos through accomplishing great deeds.
Xenia (hospitality)- (“guest-friendship") is the ancient Greek concept of hospitality, the generosity and courtesy shown to those who are far from home and/or associates of the person bestowing guest- friendship.

24. Dactylic Hexameter- also known as "heroic hexameter" and "the meter of epic") is a form of meter or rhythmic scheme in poetry. It is traditionally associated with the quantitative meter of classical epic poetry in both Greek and Latin and was consequently considered to be the grand style of Western classical poetry. 12 syllable line; stressed followed by two unstressed syllables. Ex: This is the / forest prim- / eval. The / murmuring / pines and the / hemlocks,

25. Traits of an Epic Hero Hero is of noble or divine birth
Has superhuman capabilities
Is a vast traveler
Unmatched Warrior/Speaker/Leader
Battles Supernatural Foes
The hero’s courage and skill will be tested

26. Traits of an epic poem Encompass’s a country’s ‘heroic ideal.’
Takes place on a vast scale (often all over earth-even otherworldly places)
Involves superhuman deeds
Gods take an active part
Is written in a “High Speech” to reflect the grandeur of the subject matter
Invokes a muse (Greek, Late & Medieval)
Begins “in media res”
Contains a catalog of principle characters

27. Themes of an epic poem Parental Relationships Heroism
Hospitality (Moral Codes in General)
Loyalty
Leadership