1. Homer’s Odyssey

2. Goals / Essential Questions Goals: Goals: –Understand the narrative. –Window into the age See themes, next slide See themes, next slide How – and why - did the epic survive some 2,700 years? How – and why - did the epic survive some 2,700 years? –Why is this important today? What can we learn about the Ancient Greeks? What can we learn about the Ancient Greeks? What is the role of religion? What is the role of religion? –Different from today? Boxers or Briefs? Boxers or Briefs? Others? Others?

3. Poetics Themes Hospitality Hospitality Respect for the Gods Respect for the Gods Loyalty Loyalty Pride and Honor Pride and Honor Self-discipline Self-discipline Importance of Leadership Importance of Leadership Justice Justice Revenge Revenge Reconciliation Reconciliation Fate Fate Literary Terms Epic Epic Epic Hero Epic Hero Epithets Epithets Narrative Drift Narrative Drift Formal Speech Formal Speech Imagery Imagery Personification Personification Metaphors Metaphors Symbols Symbols

4. Homer Blind Poet Blind Poet ~750-700 BC ~750-700 BC Author of The Illiad and The Odyssey Author of The Illiad and The Odyssey Cannot pinpoint his birth. Cannot pinpoint his birth.

5. Homer’s Importance The Great Library of Alexandria The Great Library of Alexandria –Climate –Librarians cleaning house –Christians destroy Of the 1,596 scraps and fragments of literary works, nearly one-half were either about Homer, The Odyssey, or The Illiad. Of the 1,596 scraps and fragments of literary works, nearly one-half were either about Homer, The Odyssey, or The Illiad.

6. Heroic Poem Classified by Oral Poetry Classified by Oral Poetry –Composed Illiterate bards –Recited in chant –Heroic messages are sent, never written

7. Heroic Poem Important to remember it is chanted (sung) Important to remember it is chanted (sung) Follows a specific meter Follows a specific meter Bard used epithets to fit meter Bard used epithets to fit meter Not memorized, only a skeleton (like a comedian, I guess) Not memorized, only a skeleton (like a comedian, I guess) Constant repetition Constant repetition

8. The first story… The Illiad The Illiad –Story of the Trojan War –War lasted ten years Helen of Troy Helen of Troy Trojan Horse Trojan Horse Achilles / Odysseus are two of the heroes. Achilles / Odysseus are two of the heroes.

9. The Odyssey Picks up on Odysseus’s journey home Picks up on Odysseus’s journey home Odysseus and his men have some trouble – mainly from Poseidon Odysseus and his men have some trouble – mainly from Poseidon Ten years to get home Ten years to get home Epic journey Epic journey

10. One interpretation of Odyssey’s journey

11. The Odyssey We are unable to pinpoint the wanderings of Odysseus We are unable to pinpoint the wanderings of Odysseus Presently divided into 24 books Presently divided into 24 books The Bard (and later Homer) was telling a story of his own past. The Bard (and later Homer) was telling a story of his own past. The journey happens about 300 years prior to Homer (we think). The journey happens about 300 years prior to Homer (we think).