1. The Odyssey
By Homer

2. Literary Terms
Epic  long, narrative poem about important events in the history or folklore of a nation or culture
Epic hero  larger-than-life central character in an epic; through adventurous deeds, the epic hero demonstrates traits that are valued by the society in which the epic originates

3. in medias res  “in the middle of things”; many epics begin this way, meaning that much of the important action in the story occurred before the point at which the poem begins
Therefore, the epic hero’s adventures are often recounted in a…
flashback  a scene that interrupts the sequence of events in a narrative to relate earlier events

4. Vocabulary Plundered – (v.) took goods by force; looted
Dispatched – (v.) finished quickly
Mammoth – (adj.) enormous
Assuage – (v.) to calm; pacify
Bereft – (adj.) deprived
Ardor – (n.) passion; enthusiasm
Insidious – (adj.) characterized by craftiness and betrayal

5. Background Information
The Trojan War
The Odyssey describes the experiences of
the Greek hero Odysseus as he made his
way home after the Trojan War. According
to legend, the Trojan War was sparked
when Paris ran off with Helen. A Greek force
attacked Troy (in modern-day Turkey) to recapture
her and was finally victorious after ten years of
fighting.

6. Modern Map of the Aegean Sea area
Ancient Map of the Aegean Sea area

7. Meet the Author: Homer
Homer is a legendary poet credited with writing the Iliad
and the Odyssey. Their length and scope, gripping stories,
imagery, and style have captured readers’ imaginations for
almost 3,000 years.
Scholars disagree about whether the Iliad or the
Odyssey were really written by Homer. According to
tradition, Homer was born in western Asia Minor and was
blind. However, many scholars feel confidant that the Iliad
and the Odyssey are the result of generations of oral poetic
composition, masterpieces to which numerous ancient
singers contributed. If Homer existed, he may have been in
a long line of Greek epic storytellers.

8. Reading/Writing Connection
In the Odyssey, Homer describes a journey
filled with amazing adventures. Write a
paragraph that tells of a journey you have
taken or imagined. Describe something
challenging or amazing that occurred. Use
at least three of these words and underline
them in your paragraph: coincide,
eliminate, encounter, highlight, interact.

9. The Adventures of Odysseus
In the opening verses, Homer addresses the muse of epic poetry. He asks
her help in telling the tale of Odysseus.
Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story
of that man skilled in all ways of contending,
the wanderer, harried for years on end,
after he plundered the stronghold
on the proud height of Troy.
He saw the townlands
And learned the minds of many distant men,
And weathered many bitter nights and days
In his deep heart at sea, while he fought only
To save his life, to bring his shipmates home.
But not by will nor valor could he save them,
For their own recklessness destroyed them all –
Children and fools, they killed and feasted on
The cattle of Lord Helios, the Sun,
And he who moves all day through heaven
Took from their eyes the dawn of their return.
Of these adventures, Muse, daughter of Zeus,
Tell use in our time, lift the great song again.
What city did
Odysseus and his men plunder?

10. Partner Reading Working with the partner I have assigned
you with, read Sailing from Troy and The
Lotus-Eaters (p )
After reading, answer the questions of the
handout that was passed out in class.