The Odyssey Everything You Need to Know to

The Odyssey Everything You Need to Know to Take on the Big Book

The Odyssey What is it? • An epic poem (epic = BIG) • Tells the story of a heroic soldier and his journey home (odyssey = journey) • Originally recited out loud to audiences for hours on end! • Who composed it? Homer

Homer • Homer’s epic poems have been recited, studied, and memorized countless times since their creation 2, 700 years ago! • We know almost nothing about the poet himself. • It was probably not Homer, but one of his listeners who preserved his poems by writing them down. • Homer was also blind.

The story of homer (LEARN 360 STREAMING VIDEO)

How Did Homer Write? • Homer based the Odyssey on ancient Greek myths (more on this later!) • He began the Odyssey with an Invocation: an opening prayer to the muse (goddess of inspiration), asking for help to tell his story. • He told his story in medias res: “in the middle of things”; the reader is plunked down in the middle of the action, and the poet catches you up on what happened before. • We meet Odysseus in the middle of his voyage, and then we hear about what happened at the start of his voyage later.

How Did Homer Write? • He uses Homeric Epithets: descriptions of characters or places that are used over and over again. They made the poem easier to understand back in the day when it was recited out loud. • He used epic similes: a LONG comparison between 2 things that seem unalike; uses the words “like” or “as. ”

Imagination + Real life = Greek Mythology • The Greeks believed that for every human activity and natural event, there was a godforce in charge; thus, keeping the gods happy was very important! • A myth explained a basic truth about life and nature, using gods and goddesses as characters.

The Olympians • A group of 12 ruling gods/goddesses • Named after their dwelling place, Mount Olympus

Zeus • Chief ruler of the gods • In charge of thunder, lightning, and the weather • Woman-crazy; easily angered • Carried a thunderbolt wherever he went

Hera • Zeus’ wife, queen of the universe • She protected women, but could also be extremely jealous • The word “hera” is the feminine form of the word for “hero. ”

Hestia • Zeus’ sister • Goddess of the hearth (home) • Present wherever there was fire • Stayed out of the other gods’ quarrels; instead, she concentrated on helping people in their homes.

Poseidon • Zeus’ brother • God of the sea and earthquakes • Carried a trident (a spear with 3 prongs) • Proud and vain; could create a brutal storm at sea—which he did when anyone slighted him!

Hades • Zeus’ brother • God of the underworld • Guarded the dead, never allowing them back on Earth • Owned the world’s most precious gems and metals

Ares • Son of Zeus • God of war • Not well-liked or trusted by the ancient Greeks • Little to no myths about him exist

Apollo • God of the sun, light, truth, archery, music AND healing • Carried a bow and arrow • Wise, reasonable, talented and intelligent

artemis • Apollo’s twin sister • Goddess of the moon, the hunt, and witchcraft • Also carried a bow and arrow

Aphrodite • Goddess of feminine beauty • Symbols include a seashell, dove, or swan • Emotional and romantic • Son was Cupid

Demeter • Goddess of plants and the harvest • Devoted and loyal, hardworking and sensible

Hermes • • • Zeus’ nephew A jokester Fast-talking and fastmoving The messenger of the gods Wore winged sandals Often stood up for mortals when they were in trouble

Athena • Zeus’ daughter; in fact, she was born full-grown out of Zeus’ head! • Goddess of wisdom, law, and war • Intelligent, reasonable, and level-headed • She helped the Greeks win the Trojan War by offering comfort and guidance to the Greek soldiers • Plays an important role in the Odyssey

The Muses • 9 daughters of Zeus • The word “muse” means to inspire • In charge of different sciences and arts, including music, poetry, history, etc.

The Odyssey Setting: Ithaca, Greece --Odysseus’ hometown --considered one of the safest and most beautiful harbors in all of Greece

The Story The Illiad: Homer’s first epic poem, about a war between the Trojans and the Greeks. • According to legend, this war began after Paris, a prince of Troy, kidnapped Helen—the most beautiful woman in the world—from her husband, Menelaus, the king of Sparta. • Menelaus then recruited kings and soldiers from all over Greece to help him avenge his honor and recover his wife. • Odysseus, the king of the island of Ithaca, was one of many Greeks who sailed to Troy and besieged the walled city.

The STORY • For ten long years the Greeks battled the Trojans without succeeding in conquering them. Luckily, Odysseus (“the master strategist”), thought of a plan to the deceive the Trojans into thinking that the Greeks had abandoned the struggle. • Odysseus ordered that a giant wooden horse be built and left at the gates of Troy at night. • The Trojans, waking to find it there—and not a Greek in sight— assumed that their enemy had fled and left them a peace offering. • They took the horse inside the city, only to discover, too late, that it was filled with Greek soldiers and that Troy was DOOMED.

The Trojan Horse

Characters: Odysseus • Greek hero—the wiliest (most clever) of Greek heroes • King of Ithaca • Son of Laertes • Inventor of the Trojan Horse • Good looking, strong, and smart

Characters: Penelope • • • Wife of Odysseus Queen of Ithaca Object of desire for every nobleman of the land (the suitors) • Strong and intelligent (by ancient Greek standards)

Characters: Athena • Remember: goddess of wisdom • She helps Odysseus do everything from winning favors to devising plans to not dying to looking good!

Other characters • • • Calypso King Alcinous Circe Zeus The Cicones The Lotus Eaters The Cyclops (a. k. a. Polyphemus) Apollo Poseidon Antinous Eurymachus Telemachus • • • • Aeolus The Laestrygones Eurylochus Hermes Persephone Tiresias The Sirens Scylla Charybdis Helios Eumaeus Philoetius Eurycleia

Theme #1: There’s no place like home. • Odysseus’ journey is a tale of going home again. He needs to get home before the suitors claim his wife and his wealth. • It has taken him 10 years to get through the Trojan War, and 10 years to make it back to Ithaca.

Theme #2: perseverance can bring great rewards. • Determination is a virtue in all the major, admirable characters in the epic and takes form in different ways, from physical endurance to emotional steadfastness.

Theme #3: Pride can be both destructive and constructive. • If Odysseus has one flaw, it is his pride. The hero can’t take an insult lying down and insists on flaunting his victories even once challenges or battles have passed. • Odysseus is often justified in showing his pride because he has the goods – muscle, courage, and an honorable name – to back it up.