1. By: Homer

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)
Minstrel: a medieval singer or musician, especially one who sang or recited lyric or heroic poetry to a musical accompaniment for the nobility.

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

8. Homer
Although Homer was blind, it is believed that he once did have vision since his writings are so vivid and descriptive.

9. 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

10. Great Epics of Ancient Greece
Homer used the Olympian Gods and Goddess in most of his poems
He is most Famous for The Odyssey and The Iliad

11. 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 we have to

12. The Epic

13. Epic- a long narrative poem that relates the deeds of a hero

14. 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)

15. An epic contains the following elements:
1. Hero-
is child of a god
Has a remarkable birth or childhood
Possesses unusual strength or powers
Has traits valued by society
Conceals or does not know his identity

16. An epic contains the following elements :
2. Quest
Journey taken search of something of value

17. An epic contains the following elements:
3. Challenges- Faced by the hero during the quest

18. An epic contains the following elements:
4. Assistance- To the hero in the form of friends, animals, gods, or magical objects

19. 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.

20. (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. . .

21. (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
Qualities as valor and virtue, making up good character

22. (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

23. The Iliad and Odyssey are based on the famous Trojan War

24. Trojan War
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25. For years Menelaus tried to assemble an army, but he was unsuccessful because Greece was not unified nation
The war lasted for ten years and The Iliad begins with the last year of the Trojan War

26. Achilles is the greatest warrior of Greece and Agamemnon is the leader of the Greeks
These two argue over Achilles love for a Trojan girl and Achilles withdraws from the war- without Achilles the Trojans have an advantage
It is not until one of Achilles friends are killed that he decides to return to war

27. The man responsible for the fall of Troy is Odysseus, who left his pregnant wife, Penelope, to fight in the war

28. He had a plan to build a huge wooden horse filled with warriors and leave it outside the gates of Troy
When the Trojans are off guard, the warriors climb out of the horse and defeat the Trojan army

29. Due to Odysseus being responsible for the destruction of Troy, the gods are angry. They are sympathetic to Troy and now he has a long and difficult journey home

30. This journey, which takes Odysseus ten years, is the story of The Odyssey

31. 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
Ep a that [ep-uh-thet]

32. 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.”

33. 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

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

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

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

37. The Odyssey
Tales of Odysseus

38. The Travels of Odysseus

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

40. 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)

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

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

43. The Odyssey
A story
told in
3 stages

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

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

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

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

48. 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…