The Odyssey An epic by Homer Who is

The Odyssey An epic by Homer

Who is Homer? • Believed to be a blind poet • Created “The Odyssey” and “Iliad” • Seen as the greatest poet in anceint Greece • When he lived is unknown • Some argue he didn’t even exist, or even write these epics.

What was Ancient Greece like? • The setting of “The • Lots of farming, Odyssey” is during the fishing, and trade Bronze Age • People valued power, • Warm and dry climate family, hospitality to others, faithfulness, • Many colonies and restraint throughout the land

Background The Wooden Horse was a tatic used by the Greeks to end the war against Troy.

Background • 10 th year of the Trojan War • Greeks tricked the enemy into bringing a colossal wooden horse within the walls of Troy. • Trojans had no idea the Greeks were hidden inside. • At night, they emerged from the wooden horse, opened the gates, and destoyed Troy. • This begins the tale of “The Odyessy”

How did the war start? • The Trojan War is of Greek Mythology • Waged against the city of Troy by the Greeks after Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus, king of Sparta. • one of the most important events in Greek mythology • narrated through many works of Greek literature

But WHY did he take Helen? ! • WELL… • At the wedding party of Peleus, the King Pithia, and the goddess of the sea, Thetis, every god and goddess was invited except Eris, the goddess of disagreement and conflict. Eris was angry at them, so she threw a golden apple into the center of the party. On the apple were the words "to the most beautiful. " More than one goddess declared that they should own the apple. Hera, Aphrodite, and Anthena all wanted it. To help decide who was the most beautiful, Paris, the King of Troy, was going to be the judge. The goddesses tempted Paris with lots of gifts like power and love. In the end Paris picked Aphrodite because she gave the most beautiful gift of all. Woman on the Earth. Everyone knew at the time that Helen was the most beautiful woman. She was married to King Menelaus of Sparta, so Aphrodite put a spell on Helen to fall in love with Paris came to visit and then Helen left with him to go back to Troy. Now Aphrodite would not have to worry about Helen being in the way, and she would be the most beautiful. As soon as King Menelaus heard the news he was furious. He sent a thousand ships to Troy to go get Helen back.

Greek Gods within “The Odyssey” • Posiedon • Zeus • Athena • Calypso Greek Gods

Poseidon • One of 12 olympian dieties • main domain is the ocean • called the "God of the Sea". • referred to as "Earth-Shaker” due to his role in causing earthquakes • He is usually depicted as an older male with curly hair and beard. Some background of Poseidon during “The Odyessey” • Doesn’t like Odyessues AT ALL • Causes a lot of problems for Odysseus

Athena Goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, just warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill. Her role in “The Odyssey” Athena assists Odysseus and Telemachus with divine powers throughout the epic, and she speaks up for them in the councils of the gods on Mount Olympus. She often appears in disguise as Mentor, an old friend of Odysseus. Calypso • A nymph in Greek mythology, who lived on the island of Ogygia, where she detained Odysseus for several years. She is generally said to be the daughter of the Titan Atlas.

Zeus • One of the 12 deities of Greek Mythology • King of the gods • Father of gods and men • God of the sky and thunder • He’s a “cheater” • Not faithful to his wife Zeus in “The Odyssey” Odysseus saved Helen, Zeus' supposed favorite daughter from Troy. Because of this, Zeus was grateful of Odysseus, and therefore would assist him on his journey throughout the Odyssey.

Achilles • A Greek hero of the Trojan War and the central character and greatest warrior of Homer's Iliad. • Achilles was said to be a demigod • Was killed by a poison arrow to the heel (hence, our achilles heel) It was his spot of vulnerability Achilles Choice: His mother told him that he could either live a long life with no glory, or a short life full of glory. It was the fate of the gods.

“The Illiad” in a nutshell • During the 10 th and final year of the Trojan war. • Greeks have been attacking Troy, but not winning. • Achilles prays to Zeus for them to have an advantage, and Zues agrees. • Odysseus thinks up the wooden horse and hot to finally defeat the city of Troy. • The wooden horse is presented as a gift, holding some of the Greeks within the horse. • They over take Troy and destroy it. • Achilles at the end defeats Hector and dies from a poisoned arrow to the heel. • This leads into the beginning of “The Odyssey” • Considered a “war epic”

The Iliad and The Odyssey • The Iliad is a war epic • The Odyssey is a journey epic

6 Elements of an Epic • 1) Plot centers around a Hero of Unbelievable Stature. The epic hero completes what everyone only attempts. In ancient epics, the hero often is either partially divine or at least protected by a god or God. • 2) Involves deeds of superhuman strength and valor. Accomplish feats no real human could. • 3) Vast Setting. The action spans not only geographical but also often cosmological space: across land, sea, into the underworld, or thru space or time etc. • 4) Involves supernatural and-or otherworldly forces. Gods, demons, angels, time/space travel, cheating death etc. • 5) Sustained elevation of style. Overwritten. Overly formal, highly stylized (poetry, lyricism (singing), exaggeration) 6) Poet remains objective and omniscient. The narrator sees and knows all and presents all perspectives. •

Epic and Epic Heroes

What is an epic? • A long story in poem form. • An epic has a hero • The epic is the story of the hero's travels and his fights with monsters.

Epic cnt’d • Epics were originally sung, often to a harp. • Epics contain information about the culture that created them: religion, dress, homes, weapons and war, roles of men and women, values and moral standards. • Epics contain clues to what the people who created them feared or did not understand; natural disasters, death, heavens, storms, etc.

What do they all have in common?

Traits of an epic hero • Has “larger than life” qualities, possibly supernatural powers.

Traits of an epic hero • Is a natural leader of men

Traits • Is appealing to the opposite sex but rarely has an extended relationship

• Defeats monsters/bad guys and/or fights gods

Traits • Has “good” on his/her side • (Ares the god of war rode along side the Trojans aiding them in battle)

Traits • Often stands alone in battle. • Beowulf fights big battles alone.

Traits of an epic hero • Is smarter than everyone else, generally a problem solver. • Odysseus tricks the Trojans by hiding inside a wooden horse and surprising them

Traits of an epic hero • Has weakness that often destroys him/her or leads to death. • Achilles was shot in his vulnerable heel and killed.

Traits of an epic hero • Making long journeys, always on the move, travels to find adventure. • Indiana Jones travels the globe in search of artifacts and adventure.

Traits of an epic hero • Always a skillful fighter