The OdysseyThe Odyssey

An IntroductionAn Introduction

Who was Homer?Who was Homer?

► No one knows for sure No one knows for sure who Homer waswho Homer was

► Greek storyteller Greek storyteller credited with putting credited with putting together thetogether the Iliad Iliad and and thethe Odyssey. Odyssey.

► IliadIliad: story of the 10 year : story of the 10 year Trojan War caused by Trojan War caused by Paris and HelenParis and Helen

►OdysseyOdyssey: story of : story of Odysseus’ long and Odysseus’ long and wayward return from the wayward return from the Trojan WarTrojan War

RhapsodesRhapsodes

► Homer was a model for a class Homer was a model for a class of storytellers called rhapsodesof storytellers called rhapsodes

► Known as “singers of tales,” Known as “singers of tales,” they were the historians and they were the historians and entertainers as well as myth-entertainers as well as myth-makers makers 

► None of these stories were None of these stories were written down. Each storyteller written down. Each storyteller would have had to memorize would have had to memorize the entire work and told it in the entire work and told it in such a way that it would be such a way that it would be part performance. part performance.

► They did not memorize the They did not memorize the story word for word but knew story word for word but knew the basic story and improvised the basic story and improvised on the spot, following a basic on the spot, following a basic rhythm of the words.rhythm of the words.

► There is a great deal of There is a great deal of repetition in the stories, which repetition in the stories, which makes it a bit simpler to tell.makes it a bit simpler to tell.

Epics and ValuesEpics and Values

► Epics: a long narrative poem that tells of the Epics: a long narrative poem that tells of the adventures of heroes across great spans of time and adventures of heroes across great spans of time and place. place. The epic contains the ideas, morals, themes and values of a The epic contains the ideas, morals, themes and values of a

culture from which it is created.culture from which it is created.► IliadIliad: :

An archetype of the war epic. An archetype of the war epic. Contains the morals and values of the Greek Contains the morals and values of the Greek society in war.society in war.

► OdysseyOdyssey: : An archetype of the adventure epic. An archetype of the adventure epic. Seen as a metaphor for living one’s lifeSeen as a metaphor for living one’s life Contains the morals, themes and values of the Greek society Contains the morals, themes and values of the Greek society

about about adventure, hardship, and life. adventure, hardship, and life.

Characteristics of an EpicCharacteristics of an Epic

► Involves an epic questionInvolves an epic question The opening lines of the poem that state the The opening lines of the poem that state the

themetheme

► A physically impressive hero of national or A physically impressive hero of national or historical importancehistorical importance

► A vast setting involving not only of the A vast setting involving not only of the known world but also the underworldknown world but also the underworld

► Action such as a quest or journey requiring Action such as a quest or journey requiring superhuman ability and couragesuperhuman ability and courage

► Evidence of supernatural forces Evidence of supernatural forces

MythsMyths

► Stories that use fantasy Stories that use fantasy to express ideas about to express ideas about life that cannot be life that cannot be expressed in realistic expressed in realistic termsterms

► Considered religious Considered religious because they are because they are concerned with the concerned with the relationship between relationship between human beings and the human beings and the unknown or spiritual unknown or spiritual realm (gods/goddesses).realm (gods/goddesses).

The MusesThe Muses

► The Muses preside over the arts and The Muses preside over the arts and sciences, inspire all artists, especially poets, sciences, inspire all artists, especially poets, philosophers, and musicians. philosophers, and musicians.

► Their name denotes “memory” or “a Their name denotes “memory” or “a reminder,” since in the poets relied on their reminder,” since in the poets relied on their memories when telling these storiesmemories when telling these stories

► The nine Muses are The nine Muses are the daughters of the the daughters of the Zeus and of MnemosyneZeus and of Mnemosyne (ni-mos-a-n(ni-mos-a-nē)ē), the goddess, the goddess of memoryof memory

The Nine MusesThe Nine Muses

► Calliope (ka-lCalliope (ka-līī--ōō-p-pēē)) the muse of epic poetry the muse of epic poetry

► Clio (kl-Clio (kl-īī--ōō)) the muse of history the muse of history

► Euterpe (yoo-tur-pEuterpe (yoo-tur-pēē)) the muse of musicthe muse of music

► Melpomene Melpomene (mel-pom-e-(mel-pom-e-nnēē))

the muse of tragedythe muse of tragedy

► Terpsichore Terpsichore (turp-sic-(turp-sic-u-ru-rē)ē) the muse of dancingthe muse of dancing

► Erato (er-e-tErato (er-e-tō)ō) the muse of love poetrythe muse of love poetry

► Polyhymnia Polyhymnia (pol-(pol-ē-him-ē-him-nē-a)nē-a)

the muse of sacred the muse of sacred poetrypoetry

► Urania (yoo-rUrania (yoo-rāā-n-nēē-a)-a) the muse of astronomythe muse of astronomy

► Thalia (the-lThalia (the-lī-a)ī-a) the muse of comedythe muse of comedy