The OdysseyThe Odyssey

Background InformationBackground Information

Almost 3000 years ago, people who lived in Almost 3000 years ago, people who lived in the starkly beautiful part of the world we now the starkly beautiful part of the world we now call Greece were telling stories about a call Greece were telling stories about a great wargreat war– Homer gathered these stories together telling Homer gathered these stories together telling

them as one unified epicthem as one unified epic– The IliadThe Iliad– The OdysseyThe Odyssey

Homer’s stories probably can be traced to Homer’s stories probably can be traced to historical struggles for control of the historical struggles for control of the waterway leading from the Aegean Sea to waterway leading from the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara and the Black Seathe Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea– 1200 BC (as long ago for Homer as the 1200 BC (as long ago for Homer as the

Pilgrim’s landing at Plymouth Rock is for us)Pilgrim’s landing at Plymouth Rock is for us)

Homer’s first epic was the ILIAD – tells of a Homer’s first epic was the ILIAD – tells of a 10 year war fought on the plains outside the 10 year war fought on the plains outside the walls of a great city called Troywalls of a great city called Troy– Ruins in western TurkeyRuins in western Turkey– Trojan War – the people of Troy vs an alliance Trojan War – the people of Troy vs an alliance

of Greek kingsof Greek kings– The cause of the war was jealousy: Helen The cause of the war was jealousy: Helen

abandoned her husband Menelaus (a Greek abandoned her husband Menelaus (a Greek king) and ran off with Paris (a prince of Troy)king) and ran off with Paris (a prince of Troy)

The ODYSSEY – the attempt of one Greek The ODYSSEY – the attempt of one Greek soldier, Odysseus, to get home after the soldier, Odysseus, to get home after the Trojan WarTrojan War– All epic poems in the Western world follow All epic poems in the Western world follow

these basic patternsthese basic patterns

Epics & ValuesEpics & Values

EPICS are long narrative poems that tell of EPICS are long narrative poems that tell of the adventures of heroes who in some way the adventures of heroes who in some way embody the values of their civilizationsembody the values of their civilizations– Greeks used these poems for centuries in Greeks used these poems for centuries in

schools to teach Greek virtuesschools to teach Greek virtues– Later cultures imitated the style using their own Later cultures imitated the style using their own

value systemsvalue systems

Rome – AENEIDRome – AENEID France – SONG OF ROLANDFrance – SONG OF ROLAND Italy – THE DIVINE COMEDYItaly – THE DIVINE COMEDY India – MAHABHARATA & RAMAYANAIndia – MAHABHARATA & RAMAYANA Mali - SUNDIATAMali - SUNDIATA

ILIAD – primary model for the epic of warILIAD – primary model for the epic of war ODYSSEY – the model for the epic of the ODYSSEY – the model for the epic of the

long journeylong journey– THE WIZARD OF OZTHE WIZARD OF OZ– STAR WARSSTAR WARS

– ODYSSEY is the more widely read of the two ODYSSEY is the more widely read of the two storiesstories

The War-Story Background: The War-Story Background: Violence & BrutalityViolence & Brutality

The ILIAD – set in the 10The ILIAD – set in the 10thth and final year of and final year of the Trojan Warthe Trojan War– Greeks attacked TroyGreeks attacked Troy– Greek kings banded together under the Greek kings banded together under the

leadership of Agamemnonleadership of Agamemnon– 1000 ships sailed across the Aegean Sea & laid 1000 ships sailed across the Aegean Sea & laid

siege to the walled city of Troysiege to the walled city of Troy

Greeks were eventually victoriousGreeks were eventually victorious– Gained entrance to TroyGained entrance to Troy– Reduced the city to smoldering ruinsReduced the city to smoldering ruins– Butchered all the inhabitants (took some as Butchered all the inhabitants (took some as

slaves back to Greece)slaves back to Greece)– Achilles – greatest of the Greek warriors who Achilles – greatest of the Greek warriors who

died young in the final year of the wardied young in the final year of the war– Agamemnon was murdered by his unfaithful Agamemnon was murdered by his unfaithful

wife when he returned from Troywife when he returned from Troy

OdysseusOdysseus– Subject of THE ODYSSEYSubject of THE ODYSSEY– Known as much for his brains as his strengthKnown as much for his brains as his strength

Odysseus: A Hero in TroubleOdysseus: A Hero in Trouble

Heroes were thought of as a special class of Heroes were thought of as a special class of aristocratsaristocrats– They were placed between the gods and They were placed between the gods and

ordinary human beingsordinary human beings– Experienced pain & death BUT always “on top Experienced pain & death BUT always “on top

of the world”of the world”

Odysseus is differentOdysseus is different– He is a hero in troubleHe is a hero in trouble– We can relate to OdysseusWe can relate to Odysseus

THE ODYSSEY THE ODYSSEY – Melancholy & postwar disillusionmentMelancholy & postwar disillusionment– Odysseus – great soldier in the war but the Odysseus – great soldier in the war but the

monsters he faces do not care about his war monsters he faces do not care about his war recordrecord

– Ithaca lacks respect for him when he returnsIthaca lacks respect for him when he returns

Odysseus had married Penelope in the Odysseus had married Penelope in the years before the great waryears before the great war– Had one son, TelemachusHad one son, Telemachus– He was still a toddler when Odysseus was He was still a toddler when Odysseus was

called to warcalled to war– Odysseus did not want to go to war even Odysseus did not want to go to war even

though he was under treaty to do sothough he was under treaty to do so– Pretended to be insane to avoid going to war; Pretended to be insane to avoid going to war;

but he was quickly figured outbut he was quickly figured out

The Wooden-Horse TrickThe Wooden-Horse Trick

Odysseus performed extremely well as a Odysseus performed extremely well as a soldier & commander once in Troysoldier & commander once in Troy– He thought of the wooden-horse trick that would He thought of the wooden-horse trick that would

be the downfall of Troybe the downfall of Troy

The Ancient World & OursThe Ancient World & Ours

World of Odysseus was harsh & familiar World of Odysseus was harsh & familiar with violencewith violence– Act like pirates on their journey homeAct like pirates on their journey home– Enter towns & carry off all their worldly goodsEnter towns & carry off all their worldly goods– Pots, pans, cattle, sheepPots, pans, cattle, sheep– ““palaces” – elaborate mud and stone palaces” – elaborate mud and stone

farmhousesfarmhouses

A Search For Their Places in LifeA Search For Their Places in Life

Searching for right relationships with one Searching for right relationships with one another & with the people around themanother & with the people around them– ThemeTheme– Story begins with Telemachus who is now 20 Story begins with Telemachus who is now 20

years oldyears old– Threatened by rude, powerful men swarming Threatened by rude, powerful men swarming

about his own home, pressuring his mother to about his own home, pressuring his mother to marry one of themmarry one of them

– Men want to rob Telemachus of his inheritanceMen want to rob Telemachus of his inheritance

Odysseus is stranded on an island, longing Odysseus is stranded on an island, longing to find a way to get back to his wife, child, to find a way to get back to his wife, child, and homeand home– 10 years since Odysseus sailed from Troy10 years since Odysseus sailed from Troy– 20 years since he left Ithaca20 years since he left Ithaca– Odysseus searching for inner peace (as we are Odysseus searching for inner peace (as we are

all in search of our true selves)all in search of our true selves)

Relationships with the godsRelationships with the gods

MYTHS – traditional stories, rooted in a MYTHS – traditional stories, rooted in a particular culture, that usually explain a particular culture, that usually explain a belief, a ritual, or a mysterious natural belief, a ritual, or a mysterious natural phenomenonphenomenon– Essentially religiousEssentially religious

Homer is always concerned with the relationship Homer is always concerned with the relationship between humans and godsbetween humans and gods– Homer is religiousHomer is religious– The gods control all thingsThe gods control all things– Athena, the goddess of wisdom (always w/ Odysseus)Athena, the goddess of wisdom (always w/ Odysseus)– ALTER EGO – a reflection of a hero’s best or worst ALTER EGO – a reflection of a hero’s best or worst

qualitiesqualities– Poseidon, god of the sea – known for arrogance and a Poseidon, god of the sea – known for arrogance and a

certain brutishnesscertain brutishness– Odysseus himself can be violent & cruelOdysseus himself can be violent & cruel

Who Was Homer?Who Was Homer?

No one knows for sure!No one knows for sure!– A blind minstrel, or singer, who came from the A blind minstrel, or singer, who came from the

island of Chiosisland of Chios– Just a legend?Just a legend?– Too good to be true?Too good to be true?– Model for a class of wandering bards or Model for a class of wandering bards or

minstrels later called rhapsodesminstrels later called rhapsodes

RHAPSODES, or “singers of tales” – RHAPSODES, or “singers of tales” – historians and entertainers as well as they historians and entertainers as well as they mythmakers of their timemythmakers of their time– No written historyNo written history– No movies & no TV; no Bible or book of No movies & no TV; no Bible or book of

religious storiesreligious stories– Minstrels traveled from community to Minstrels traveled from community to

community singing of recent eventscommunity singing of recent events

How Were the Epics Told?How Were the Epics Told?

Oral epic poets are still composing today in Oral epic poets are still composing today in Eastern Europe & other parts of the worldEastern Europe & other parts of the world– ILIAD & ODYSSEY originally told aloud by ILIAD & ODYSSEY originally told aloud by

people who could not read or writepeople who could not read or write– Follow a basic story lineFollow a basic story line– Singers were very talented & worked very hardSingers were very talented & worked very hard– Audience must listen closelyAudience must listen closely

Repetition in Homeric epicsRepetition in Homeric epics

HOMERIC or EPIC SIMILESHOMERIC or EPIC SIMILES– Similes that compare heroic or epic events to Similes that compare heroic or epic events to

simple & easily understandable everyday simple & easily understandable everyday eventsevents

A story as long as THE ODYSSEY (11,300 A story as long as THE ODYSSEY (11,300 lines) would not be told at one sittinglines) would not be told at one sitting– Summarize parts & tell the rest in detailSummarize parts & tell the rest in detail

A Live PerformanceA Live Performance

Imagine a large hall full of people who are freshly Imagine a large hall full of people who are freshly bathed, rubbed with fine oils, and draped in clean bathed, rubbed with fine oils, and draped in clean tunicstunics– Smell the meat being cooked over charcoalSmell the meat being cooked over charcoal– Hear the sound of voicesHear the sound of voices– Imagine wine being freely pouredImagine wine being freely poured– See the flickering reflections of the great cooking fires & See the flickering reflections of the great cooking fires &

torches that light the roomtorches that light the room– A certain anticipation hangs in the airA certain anticipation hangs in the air– Perhaps Homer himself is in town, and will appear and Perhaps Homer himself is in town, and will appear and

entertain tonight!entertain tonight!