1. The Odyssey

2. What is a hero?

4. Tells the adventures of an epic hero.
What is Epic Poetry?
A long narrative poem.
Tells the adventures of an epic hero.

5. Elements of an Epic Poem
Epic Hero
Superhuman strength, craftiness, and confidence
Helped or harmed by gods or fate
Has the qualities valued by the culture
Overcomes dangerous situations/avoids death
Epic Themes
Reflect universal concerns, such as
Courage
Loyalty
Beauty
The Fate of a Nation
Life and Death
A Homecoming
Epic Plot
Strange journey with may complications
Creatures
Treacherous weather
Divine intervention
Large-scale events
Epic Setting
Fantastic/exotic lands
Involves more than one nation or culture

6. Paris (Trojan Prince) Kidnapped Helen, the wife of the Sparta King.
Setting of the Odyssey
The Trojan War (1200 BC)
Paris (Trojan Prince) Kidnapped Helen, the wife of the Sparta King.
The king used his army to attack Troy and take back his wife. (10 years)
Odysseus & the Trojan Horse

7. Overview of the Odyssey