Background: The Odyssey

Background:The OdysseyAuthor: HomerEverything we know about Homer is either traditional, mythical, or based upon educated guesswork (his existence is questionable)Scholars assign Homer to the middle or late part of the eighth century BCEWas a blind bard or singer of talesOrated The Iliad and The Odyssey

Genre: Epic PoemLengthy narrative poemLots of repetitionContains details of heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nationEarly epics were told orallyThe hero generally participates in a cyclical journey or quest, faces adversaries, and returns home transformed by his adventures

This was entertainment!3Epic CharacteristicsBegins in medias res (in the middle of things)The setting is vast, covering many nations, the world or the universeBegins with an invocation to a museBegins with a statement of the themeIncludes the use of epithets (descriptive term in place of a name)Contains long lists (epic catalogue)Features long and formal speechesShows divine intervention on human affairsFeatures heroes that embody the values of the civilization

Copy these down on your own sheet of paper as you come in!The Epic SimileAnother trait of an Epic is an epic simile.An epic simile is an elaborate comparison that may extend for several lines. Epic similes may use the words like, as, just as or so to make the comparison.An epic simile is longer and more involved than a typical simile.The Epic HeroAn epic hero is a larger than life central character in an epic. This hero is a human being with characteristics a society admires and often wishes to COPY.Greek ValuesHospitalityStrength (physical & mental)LoyaltyHonorGloryFamilyReligion (relationship with gods)

SettingTimeBronze Age (approximately twelfth century BCE); the Odyssey begins where the Iliad ends and covers the ten years after the fall of TroyPlaceOdysseuss wanderings cover the Aegean and surrounding seas and eventually end in Ithaca, in northwestern Greece; Telemachus travels from Ithaca to southern GreeceMap: Ancient Greece

The Iliad

"The Procession of the Trojan Horse in Troy" by Giovanni Domenico TiepoloApple of DiscordThe goddess, Eris, was not invited to a wedding; she decided to cause discord amongst the gods in retaliationThrows an apple inscribed with the words for the fairest oneGoddesses Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite all claim the appleParis is chosen to be the judge, but is bribed (Helen) by AphroditeOne of the major events that led to the Trojan War

Eris goddess of discord, latin: Discordia11Helen of Troy

Helen of Troy by Amaranth44

Wife of King Menelaus of SpartaThe Trojan Prince, Paris, abducts HelenFace that launched a thousand shipsMenelaus stirs up support from previous suitorsThe Trojan War beginshttp://amaranth44.deviantart.com/art/Helen-of-Troy-762392212The Trojan WarAchilles Slaying Penthesile, Greek, about 540-530 BC

The war lasts 9 yearsOdysseus devises ruse to win the war: The Trojan HorseSoldiers hid in the hollow horse and attacked the Trojans while they sleptNever trust a Greek bearing giftsThis ends the war

13The OdysseyTelemachus praying to the goddess, AthenaTakes place about 20 years laterOdysseus has not returned homeWife, Penelope, must host unwanted suitorsSon, Telemachus, grows up without a father, resents suitorsAthena solicits Zeus to allow for Odysseus return home

14Going HomeIt took Odysseus 10 years to get home

So, they fought the war in Troy for 10 years, then it took Odysseus another 10 years to get home. Poseidon was angry that Odysseus showed too much hubris and didnt thank the gods for their role in the war. Poseidon controls the seas, so he makes it impossible for Odysseus to get home. Point out what is modern day Italy, Greece, Africa, and Turkey. His journey takes place throughout the Mediterranean Sea. 15Athena & Poseidon The Friend & The Enemy

I just introduce some characters that will appear in the story.

Athena is the goddess of wisdom and war. She helps Odysseus in his journey to get home.

Poseidon makes it difficult for Odysseus to get home because he controls the seas.16Penelope & TelemachusWife & Son

Everyone else has returned home from the war, except Odysseus and his crew..

Hi s wife Penelope is anxiously awaiting Odysseuss return. She is trying to hold off suitors from taking Odysseus kingdom.

His son, Telemachus, had just been born when he set off for the war in Troy. His son is now grown and sets off in search of his long lost father.17The SirensTheir sweet songs lured men to death

The Sirens are one obstacle he encounters. Their sweet songs lure men to death.

May want to reference the Pirates of the Caribbean movie with the mermaids (they have siren-like qualities)18PolyphemusThe Cyclops

Poseidons son. They blind him.19Charybdis & ScyllaThe Whirlpool and 6 Headed Monster

Two more obstacles. Odysseus loses his crew.20CalypsoBeautiful Nymph

He stays with Calypso for years . She finally releases him at the request of Zeus.21CirceThe WitchCirce is a witch who turn his men to animals. He is able to escape her with the help of Hermes.22And so It Begins

23Part I Vocabulary Words1. Plunder (v): to take (property) by force, especially in warfare.2. Valor (n): great courage, especially in battle3. Guile (n): slyness; craftiness; skillfull deception4. Ponderous (adj.): having great weight or bulkCopy these down as you enter the classroom!Odyssey Part I- QuizletWhat does Polyphemus tell the other Cyclopes when they ask him what happened? How did Odysseus and his men escape from the cave?What did Odysseus do as his ships sailed away from the Island of the Cyclopes?Which god does Polyphemus pray to and what does he ask him to do?

Odysseus is currently here, telling what happened on his journey

See What Happened WasOdyssey Part I PostcardIn Part I, we begin to get an idea of where Odysseus has been for such a long time. Naturally, he has a lot to tell his wife, Penelope and his son, Telemachus. With that in mind, write a postcard, either from Odysseus to Penelope or from Odysseus to Telemachus, explaining where he has been and what has happened so far. One catch: You must use all four of Part Is vocabulary words. Be creative and have fun with this!Postcard Requirements- 25 pointsColored illustration on blank sideAt least 6 sentences on the lined side, with all four vocabulary wordsShould sum up what we have read in Part ITimeline: Imagine Odysseus is sending this postcard after his escape from the Island of the CyclopesBe creative!

Journal Entry- April 26th Your husband/wife went off to war with a group of people, many of whom returned ten years later. Years go by and your husband/wife still hasnt returned. A group of men/women, who all assume your husband/wife must be dead, start courting you, and have proposed. You cant support yourself and your son on your own, but you havent given up hope that your husband/wife is still alive and will return. What do you do?Journal Entry- May 3rd In your reading yesterday, you saw how Odysseus and his crew had to navigate their way through a tough situation a six-headed monster on one side and a whirlpool on the other. Describe a time when you were in a tough situation like Odysseus between a rock and a hard place and describe how you got yourself out of it.Vocabulary- Part IIShun (v.): To keep away fromArdor (n.): passion; intensity of emotion; enuthusiasm Tumult (n.): commotion; uproarShroud (v.): To cover, as with a veil or burial cloth. Vocabulary- Part III- Copy down as you Enter ClassCower (v.): to crouch or shrink back in fear or shameImpudence (n.): speech or behavior that is aggressively forward or rudeGuise (n.): false appearanceRenowned (adj.): famous; widely knownAs you read Part III1 piece of characterization for Odysseus1 quote about birds1 quote about the loom/shroud1 quote about the bow

Part III Pop QuizDescribe a situation in Part III where irony is present.Are the characters mostly described using indirect or direct characterization? Give an example to support your answer.Which character displays the most Xenia (hospitality) in Part III? Support your answer.Which character displays the least Xenia (hospitality) in Part III? Support your answer.What challenge does Penelope propose and why do you think she chose that particular challenge?

Part III Pop QuizDescribe a situation in Part III where irony is present.Are the characters mostly described using indirect or direct characterization? Give an example to support your answer.Give a quotation that represents the following symbols: the loom/shroud and the bow.Give a character trait for Odysseus and a quotation to back it up.What challenge does Penelope propose and why do you think she chose that particular challenge?