1. H OMER ’ S O DYSSEY Definitions Background Important Characters

2. E PIC – a long story told in elevated language (usually poetry) relates the great deeds of a larger-than-life hero who embodies the values of a particular society

3. E PIC P OETRY Most epics include elements of myth, legend, folk tale, and history. They also include elements of supernatural forces at work. The tone of the epic is serious and it uses grand language. Often the hero’s quest takes place in a vast setting, often including heaven, hell, or the land of the dead.

4. E PIC P OETRY Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey are the best-known epics in Western civilization. Another well-known epic is Virgil’s Aeneid which is based on events that happen during and after the Trojan War (just like the Iliad and the Odyssey ).

5. E PIC H ERO Definition of epic hero - a larger-than-life hero who embodies the values of a particular society. An epic hero is superhuman; physically impressive. He is braver, stronger, smarter, and more clever than an ordinary person is.

6. E PIC H ERO The epic hero is on a quest for something of great value to him or his people. The villains who try to keep the hero from his quest are usually uglier, more evil, and more cunning than anyone we know in ordinary life. The epic hero is often of mixed divine and human birth and so possesses human weaknesses.

7. E PIC H ERO The gods of the divine world interfere with the human world. At the end of the quest, the hero is glorified.

8. H OMERIC SIMILE Compares heroic or epic events to simple, everyday events Uses like or as "Fear fell upon Hector as he beheld him, and he dared not stay longer where he was but fled in dismay from before the gates, while Achilles darted after him at his utmost speed. As a mountain falcon, swiftest of all birds, swoops down upon some cowering dove- the dove flies before him but the falcon with a shrill scream follows close after, resolved to have her- even so did Achilles make straight for Hector with all his might, while Hector fled under the Trojan wall as fast as his limbs could take him." - The IliadHectorAchillesTrojanThe Iliad

9. G ODS AND G ODDESSES (T HE I MMORTALS ) Aphrodite – Goddess of Love Ares – God of War

10. G ODS AND G ODDESSES (T HE I MMORTALS ) Calypso – nymph goddess who keeps Odysseus for years while he is trying to return home to his faithful wife, Penelope

11. Cheiron – The Centaur Demeter/Ceres – Goddess of the Harvest Eris – twin sister of Ares, goddess of discord G ODS AND G ODDESSES (T HE I MMORTALS ) Eris helped to cause the Trojan War by tossing her apple of discord into the guests at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis. Three of these guests then competed to win the golden apple.

12. G ODS AND G ODDESSES (T HE I MMORTALS ) Gorgon – Snake-headed Medusa Hades – God of the Underworld Heracles – the ultimate hero (Hercules)

13. Hestia – goddess of the hearth The Muses – the nine sisters who inspire all artists, especially poets, philosophers, and musicians. The Muses were the daughters of ZeusZeus G ODS AND G ODDESSES (T HE I MMORTALS )

14. Apollo – god of youthful masculinity and poetry, music, prophecy, medicine, and archery G ODS AND G ODDESSES (T HE I MMORTALS )

15. Athena – favorite daughter of Zeus ; the great goddess of wisdom and the arts of war and peace. She favored the Greeks during the Trojan War. She is often called Pallas Athena G ODS AND G ODDESSES (T HE I MMORTALS )

16. Cronus – Titan (giant god) who ruled the universe until Zeus overthrew him G ODS AND G ODDESSES (T HE I MMORTALS )

17. Helios – sun god. Helios keeps his golden cattle on the island of Thrinakia G ODS AND G ODDESSES (T HE I MMORTALS )

18. Hephaestus – god of metal- working Hermes – messenger god G ODS AND G ODDESSES (T HE I MMORTALS )

19. Poseidon – god of the sea; brother of Zeus. Called earth- shaker because he is believed to cause earthquakes. Poseidon is an enemy of Odysseus. G ODS AND G ODDESSES (T HE I MMORTALS )

20. Artemis – Goddess of the hunt, wild animals, the wilderness, childbirth, and virginity. also called Diana – of R & J’s Rosaline who had “Dian’s wit” Supporter of Troy and worshipped in Troy Twin sister of Apollo Said to have been born first and helped her mother Leto deliver her own twin brother, Apollo

21. Zeus – the most powerful god, whose home is on Olympus G ODS AND G ODDESSES (T HE I MMORTALS )

22. T HE B AD G IRLS Scylla – female monster with six serpent heads, each head having a triple row of fangs (thought to be a dangerous rock in the Strait of Messina)

23. T HE B AD G IRLS Charybdis – female monster who sucks in water three times a day to form a deadly whirlpool (thought to be a real whirlpool in the Strait of Messina)

24. T HE B AD G IRLS Circe – witch goddess who turns Odysseus’ men into swine (pigs)

25. T HE B AD G IRLS Sirens – sea nymphs whose beautiful and mysterious music lures sailors to steer their ships toward the rocks

26. T HE B AD G UYS Cyclops – aka Polyphemus – blinded by Odysseus; the son of the sea god Poseidon. Cyclopes are a race of brutish one-eyed giants who live solitary lives as shepherds, supposedly on the island of Sicily

27. P LACES IN THE O DYSSEY Aeaea – home of witch-goddess Circe

28. P LACES IN THE O DYSSEY Erebus – dark area of the underworld where the dead reside

29. P LACES IN THE O DYSSEY Phaeacia – island kingdom ruled by King Alcinous. The Phaeacians are shipbuilders and traders

30. P LACES IN THE O DYSSEY Thrinakia – island where the sun god Helios keeps his cattle

31. M ORTALS IN THE O DYSSEY Alcinous – king of Phaeacia. Odysseus tells the story of his adventures to Alcinous’ court Cicones – people living on the southwestern coast of Thrace, who battled Odysseus and his men on their journey home Eurylochus – one of Odysseus’ loyal crew

32. M ORTALS IN THE O DYSSEY Lotus Eaters – people who feed Odysseus’ men lotus plants to make them forget returning to Ithaca Teiresias – famous blind prophet from the city of Thebes. Odysseus meets him in the Land of the Dead

33. M ORTALS IN THE O DYSSEY (I N I THACA ) Antinous – one of Penelope’s leading suitors; an arrogant and mean young noble from Ithaca Eurymachus – suitor of Penelope

34. M ORTALS IN THE O DYSSEY (I N I THACA ) Eumaeus – a swineherd (pig farmer), one of Odysseus’ loyal servants Eurycleia – Odysseus’ old nurse and Penelope’s servant Eurynome – Penelope’s housekeeper Philoeteus – cowherd; one of Odysseus’ loyal servants

35. M ORTALS IN THE O DYSSEY (I N I THACA ) Penelope – Odysseus’ faithful wife Telemachus – Odysseus’ son