1. The Odyssey Review Notes
English I Pre-IB
Ms. Walden

2. Poseidon
Moody
Presides Over the Sea
Trident

3. Hermes
Mischevious
Messenger God
Winged Sandal and the Caduceus

4. Athena Goddess of Wisdom The Owl and The Olive Tree Zeus’ Daughter
Born of a Headache

5. Apollo
Sun God
“Arrows of Plague”
Lyre

6. Muses
Knowledge and Arts
Calliope

7. Greek Military History
Hoplites
Phalanx

8. Greek Politics and Society
Ekklesia, Boule, Dikasteria
Free Men and Slaves
Enslavement Rules and Methods
Role of Women

9. Greek Philosophy SPA- Socrates, Plato, Aristotle Pythagoras
Physical and Natural Sciences
Rhetoric

10. Greek Arts Pottery/ Visual Art Theater/ Comedy, Tragedy, Satire
Epic Poetry/ Oral Tradition

11. Epic Simile
Uses “LIKE” or “AS”
Lengthy

12. Epic Simile
Just as an angler poised on a jutting rock flings his treacherous bait in the offshore swell, whips his long rod—hook sheathed in an oxhorn lure— and whisks up little fish he flips on the beach- break, writhing, gasping out their lives so now they writhed, gasping as Scylla swung them up her cliff and there at her cavern’s mouth she bolted them down raw— screaming out, flinging their arms down toward me, lost in that mortal struggle . . .

13. EPIC SIMILE
Her mind in torment, wheeling like some lion at bay, dreading the gangs of hunters closing their cunning ring around him for the finish.

14. ePITHET Multi-Adjective Descriptions
Personal Characteristics/ Major Traits
Laerte’s Son
The Kingly Man
The wandering soul
The Old Soldier
The skilled and ample marksman

15. Essay Option
Consider Part 2 of the Odyssey as a set of problems and solutions. After being gone for twenty years, Odysseus has a number of problems to deal with when he returns to Ithaca. Identify three problems Odysseus faces. Explain how he solved each problem and describe the consequences of his actions.

16. Essay Option
In literature, as in life, people must decide from among alternative courses of action. Select an example from the Odyssey in which the story might have ended differently if a character had acted differently. Cite examples to support your speculation.

17. Essay Option
Homer’s Odyssey has been described as a timeless success because of its profound expression of the triumph and frustration of human life. It is not only a story of a heroic battle but also of people’s advice, questions, requests, hopes, and desires. Discuss how The Odyssey expresses the “triumph and frustration of human life.”

18. Essay Option
The character and actions of Penelope reflect ideas about the ideal woman in early Greek society. For example, she was expected to maintain her loyalty to her husband in the most difficult circumstances. Discuss some other aspects of the woman’s role as exemplified by Penelope. Then compare and contrast the woman’s role in early Greek society with that of today’s society.

19. Essay Option
As an epic hero, Odysseus embodies qualities valued by his society. Do you think Odysseus meets our society’s expectations of a hero? Develop an argument about whether or not the actions of Odysseus are compatible with contemporary American values. Support your argument with examples from the Odyssey.

20. Essay Option
Epic heroes are figures of larger-than-life stature who exemplify character traits valued by their societies. It has been said that although Odysseus is one of the greatest of Greek epic heroes, he is not perfect; he has flaws and makes mistakes. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Explain your position, supporting it with examples from the selection.

21. Essay structure INTRODUCTION— BODY CONCLUSION Hook
Clear, concise thesis
BODY
2-3 paragraphs
Strong logic and reasoning
Textual examples
CONCLUSION

22. TEST NOTES
Be sure to review the information from the notes about the Hero’s Journey and Conventions of an Epic as well!