The odyssey Background Information Homer blind storyteller who

The odyssey Background Information

Homer • blind storyteller who drew from cultural myths and legends to create his epics • he lived between 800 and 850 BC • got his information for his poems from stories that were passed by word of mouth because Greece as well as other primitive cultures had an oral tradition of literature • author of the two greatest epics of all time – The Odyssey and The Illiad

• traveled around the land singing stories (minstrels) to people for their entertainment and enlightenment (taught lessons about religion and society) • put into poems with music • based on historical fact • The Illiad and The Odyssey are based on the Trojan War • started The Odyssey 10 years into Odysseus’ journey “in media res” (in the middle)

The Epic Poem • long narrative poem – tells a story • centered around a larger-than-life character • has an invocation of the muse (the divine poetry spirit) • theme stated near the beginning • extensive battle scenes • repeats phrases, speeches, and incidents • epic similes and hyperbole (exaggeration)

• tells the fate of the hero at the beginning of the poem • refers to supernatural often • contains epithets (word or phrases used to characterize someone – ex: swift-footed Achilles) • has long sentences, complex words, and flashbacks • on a serious subject written in a grand or elevated style • “in media res” (in the middle)

National EPICS • Greek – Illiad, Odyssey (Homer) • Roman – Aeneid (Virgil) • English – Beowulf, Paradise Lost (Milton) • Spanish – El Cid (folk) • Italian – The Divine Comedy (Dante) • American – Evangeline (Longfellow) • French – Chanson de Roland (folk)

The Epic Hero • larger-than-life man • faithful to his friends, his family, and his gods • capable of great deeds of strength and courage • seems to have “super” powers, but does not • great warrior • regarded as a national hero • goes on a quest or journey which tests his endurance, courage, and cunning • an imposing physical stature

The Trojan War • The abduction of Helen supposedly started the war – Paris stole Helen from her husband Menelaus, the King of Sparta • More probable that the cause was for control of the Aegean Sea • One of the most important events of Greek mythology

• The Trojan War started around 1200 BC and lasted 10 years, during which time many heroes emerged. • Greeks – Achilles, Odysseus, and Ajax • Trojans – Hector and Aeneas • Poets began to sing the heroes praises, and legends were created that told of how the gods and goddesses on Mount Olympus got involved in the battle and even chose sides.

The Odyssey trivia • 12, 110 lines long – would have taken 20 -25 hours to recite • divided into 24 books – one for each letter of the Greek alphabet • set in the Mycenaean Bronze Age (1600 -1100 BC) • a written text of The Odyssey was discovered in the 6 th century