The Odysseyby Homer

Projection Masters & Student Handouts

Timeline: The Iliad and The Odyssey

10 Years of War 3 Years of

Wanderings

7 Years with

Calypso

Revenge in

Ithaca

Odysseus

reluctantly agrees

to fight with the

Greeks against

Troy.

Troy is finally

defeated after

Odysseus creates

a clever battle

plan using a large

wooden horse.

Odysseus leaves

Troy with 12

ships of men but

they encounter

storms and many

dangers.

The goddess

Calypso makes

Odysseus her

prisoner and lover

until the gods make

her release him.

Odysseus returns to

Ithaca, his home.

Odysseys returns

home to face the

many ambitious men

who have been

courting Penelope,

his wife, and

planning to take over

the rule of Ithaca.

The Iliad The Odyssey

Books 6-12

The Odyssey Book 5

The Odyssey Books 13-24

*The Odyssey is traditionally divided into 24 books. Books 1-4 focus on Odysseus’ son, Telemachus, who is trying to find out

what has happened to his father.

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Use the graphic organizer below to list words and phrases that describe Odysseus’ character and journey, based on Homer’s prayer

to the Muse in the prologue of The Odyssey.

35

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Odysseus

His Journey His Character

The Odyssey The World in Greek Mythology Blackline Master

© Copyright 2013. The Johns Hopkins University. All Rights Reserved. 31

The World in Greek Mythology

Mt Olympus, home of the

gods, ruled by Zeus

Earth, home of mortal men

Oceanus, ruled by Poisedon

The Underworld, ruled by Hades

the river Styx

The Odyssey

Epic Blackline Master #1

32 © Copyright 2013. The Johns Hopkins University. All Rights Reserved.

What is an epic? An epic is a long poem that tells a story about a

hero’s deeds. Its events and characters have

some basis in history, but mostly it is composed

of myths and legends.

Additional features usually found in an epic

include

Lofty, dignified language

A central human character that

sometimes appears superhuman

A strong element of the supernatural

Episodes – many smaller stories that

make up one large, main story

Dangerous journeys and misadventures

Extended similes: long, detailed

comparisons

The Odyssey Epic Blackline Master #2

© Copyright 2013. The Johns Hopkins University. All Rights Reserved. 33

Primary and Secondary Epics

A primary epic is a long,

narrative poem that is

created and shared orally.

Many ancient cultures

created these epics. Over

time, some of these epics were written down.

Examples include Gilgamesh, Beowulf, The

Iliad, and The Odyssey.

A secondary epic is one that is

composed in writing. Examples

include Virgil’s The Aeneid and

Dante’s The Divine Comedy.

Today, a long novel or series of novels can be

referred to as an epic if it has many of the

qualities of an epic poem. Do you know of any

novels that might be called epics?

Blah!

Blah!