The Odyssey By Homer 800 B C E

The Odyssey By Homer ~800 B. C. E.

Ancient Greece • Greek civilization – with art, stories, and architecture – began around 3, 000 B. C. • Home to two major cities: Athens, a capital of culture and learning; and Sparta, a city famous for its phenomenal warriors. • Also, thousands of tiny islands in the Mediterranean Sea

Homer • Blind minstrel who lived about 2500 -3000 years ago • Considered by Greeks as their greatest and finest poet • Traveled around the land singing stories to people for entertainment

Storytelling • A favorite pastime for Greeks • A good storyteller was always a welcome guest at dinner • Stories like the Odyssey were told in poetic verse because the rhythm and rhyme helped the storyteller remember the thousands of lines that a long story contained • Paper was precious, so if a story was to be heard, people had to tell it orally

Gods & Goddesses • The ancient Greeks believed the gods and goddesses controlled their destinies, so they were fascinated by stories that featured these beings • It was important to please the gods because they could become jealous, vengeful, and angry – They built temples and statues and made sacrifices to please the gods

Parthenon: the temple of Athena

Parthenon – 2006

Acropolis

Acropolis – 2006

• Worshipping and giving offerings (an occasional slaughtered bull or pig) to the gods and goddesses was the best way to please them – Greeks who traveled the seas were especially careful to give offerings to prevent shipwrecks

Epic Poem • Long narrative poem recounting actions, travels, adventures, and heroic episodes • Epic dramas are often broadcast on television, usually shown for several hours each night for a week (ex. Roots) • Cannot be told in one sitting • Complex, revolving around several characters, spanning for many years

– Main character is “larger than life, ” a legend – Hero is presented with faults and virtues – Action reveals the more-than-human strength of the hero – Setting covers several nations, the whole world, or even the universe – Episodes may provide an explanation for some events in the history of a nation or people – Gods and divinities play an active role – All of the various adventures link to a central theme or message

Epic Hero • Able to conquer most problems he encounters, although he does not possess any “super” powers • Faithful to his family, his country, and his god • Brave but feels fear

• Responsibility is to defeat evil and allow goodness to prevail • Intelligent – must rely on his brain to get himself out of trouble • A higher force or being may help guide him on his quest but will not do things for him

The Iliad • Odysseus participated in the Trojan War – Most famous episode is the Trojan Horse • Odysseus and his men built a wooden horse and left it outside the gates of Troy as a peace offering. The Trojans accepted it and rolled it into the city. However, the Greeks had hidden inside the horse, and that night, they left the horse and opened the city gates to the entire Greek army. Because of this trick, the Greeks won the war.

Map of Odysseus’ Travels

Epithet • Brief, descriptive phrases that help to characterize a particular person or thing – Catherine the Great, rosy fingered dawn – Odysseus: master mariner, old contender, Son of Laertes, raider of cities, noble Odysseus – Odyssey: the wine-dark sea, discreet Telemachus

Epic Simile • Extended simile elaborated in great detail – “As when the shudder of the west wind suddenly rising scatters across the water, and the water darkens beneath it, so darkening were settled the ranks of Achaians and Trojans…” -From the Iliad – “As a mountain falcon, swiftest of all birds, swoops down upon some cowering dove- the dove flies before him but the falcon with a shrill scream follows close after, resolved to have her- even so did Achilles make straight for Hector with all his might, while Hector fled under the Trojan wall as fast as his limbs could take him. "

Motif • Recurring element that has symbolic significance – Usually helps direct theme • Can be an idea, an object, a place, or a statement

Motifs in the Odyssey • Storytelling – Places the epic in its cultural context. Homer shows the history of the Odyssey through the stories his characters tell. • Disguises – Gods assume disguises to commune with humans. Some gods disguise/change the appearance of others. Odysseus is a master of disguise, and the plot often turns on his deception.

• Seductresses – Women are very important figures in the story. Most are seductresses (Circe and Calypso), and they become obstacles in Odysseus’ return home. Many other women are placed in the story to allure men (The Sirens and Penelope). While they all gain power through their charm, they are ultimately forced to wait and pine for love when it is absent.

Symbols • Objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts

Symbols in the Odyssey • Food – Throwing a feast for a guest is a common part of hospitality. Hunger and the consumption of food often have negative associations in the Odyssey. They represent lack of discipline or submission to temptation.

• The Wedding Bed – Symbolizes the faithfulness of Penelope and Odysseus’ marriage. The symbolism is heightened by the trick that Penelope uses to test Odysseus – a metaphor for the unshakable foundation of their love. • Odysseus’ Bow – Symbolizes the physical superiority of the king, as well as the maturity and character of the king.

• The Sea – Somewhat the Sea of Life. Represents Odysseus’ journey through life with all its victories and heartbreaks. • Ithaca – Symbolizes home. It is the end of the journey, but it is not gained without a fight.