The Odyssey -Homer-

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The Odyssey-Homer-

• Group 1

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This one Not this one
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Epic

• Epic defined by Webster
  a long narrative poem in
  elevated style recounting the deeds of a
  legendary or historical hero

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(not so)Quick overview
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Characteristics of Epic

• Story set in many locations
• Hero is an important historical or legendary
  character in a high social position
• Hero is usually pitted against overwhelming odds
  and must be strong and courageous
• Many supernatural events and beings play an
  important role in the plot

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Characters

• Odysseus
• Telemachus
• Penelope
• Athena
• Poseidon
• Zeus
• Antinous
• Eurymachus
• Amphinomus
• Eumaeus
• Eurycleia
• Melanthius

• Melantho
• Calypso
• Phlyphemus
• Circe
• Laertes
• Tiresias
• Nestor
• Menelaus
• Helen
• Agamemnon
• Nausicaa
• Alcinoous
• Arete

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Epic Hero

• -an important figure from a history or legend,
  usually favored by or even partially descended
  from dieties, but aligned more closely with
  mortal figures in popular portrayals. The hero
  participates in a cyclical journey or quest,
  faces adversaries that try to defeat him in his
  journey, gathers allies along his journey, and
  returns home significantly transformed by his
  journey

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Overview

• Ten years have passed since the fall of Troy, and
  the Greek hero Odysseus still has not returned to
  his kingdom in Ithaca. A large, rowdy mob of
  suitors have invaded Odysseuss palace and taken
  over the lands to court his wife Penelope, who
  has been faithful to Odysseus while waiting for
  him for over 9 years. His son, Prince Telemachus,
  wants to throw the suitors out of the castle but
  does not know what to do. Antinous, one of
  Penelopes suitors, plans to assassinate
  Telemachus to eliminate the only thing standing
  in the way of his new queen.

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Overview cont.

• However unknown to anyone, Odysseus is still
  alive. A beautiful nymph named Calypso, who was
  very much in love with him, imprisoned him on the
  island of Ogygia. Athena, one of the goddesses
  on Mount Olympus, is a strong supporter of
  Odysseus and decides to help by getting
  Telemachus to go to Pylos and Sparta, where the
  kings tell him that Odysseus is actually alive
  and imprisoned on Calypsos island.

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Overview cont.

• Zeus sends Hermes to rescue Odysseus from the
  island by persuading Calypso to let him build a
  ship and leave. Odysseus finally leaves the
  island, but Poseidon, the god of the sea sends a
  storm to wreck his ship. Fortunately, Athena
  saves him and Odysseus lands at Scheria where the
  king and queen give him a warm welcome. They are
  stunned to learn that he is Odysseus and promise
  to help him get safely back to Ithaca.

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Overview cont.

• When Odysseus leaves, Athena disguises him as him
  as a beggar where he meets up with Telemachus.
  After he reveals his true identity, Odysseus and
  Telemachus devise a plan to massacre the suitors
  and regain control of Ithaca.
• The next day Odysseus arrives at the palace,
  still disguised as a beggar, and gets insulted by
  all of the suitors. The only person who
  recognized him was his old nurse, but she swears
  not to tell his secret. Penelope becomes
  suspicious of the beggar and soon begins to
  suspect that he is her long lost husband. She
  devises a plan to have an archery contest among
  the suitor and marry the winner.

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Overview cont.

• Whoever can string Odysseuss great bow and shoot
  and arrow through a row of twelve axes, will win
  the contest. This is something that only
  Odysseus has ever been able to do. At the
  contest, none of the suitors are able to complete
  the task, and Odysseus, disguised as the beggar
  steps up to have a try. He is successful, and
  then turns the bow on all the suitors.
• Odysseus finally revels who he really is and the
  palace reunites.

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"End of The Odyssey"
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Other relatede epics

• Indiana Jones
• Harry Potter
• Lord of the Rings
• Beowulf
• The Iliad
• Epic of Gilgamesh
• STAR WARS
• Jason and the Argonauts

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STAR WARS

• Luke Skywalker Odysseus
• Both are trying to find their way home
• Darth Vader Poseidon
• Both heroes face their worst fears

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Jason and the Argonauts

• Jason Odysseus
• Both lives were manipulated by the gods
• Jason has to go on a voyage to obtain his
  heritage
• Jason discovers himself and his destiny
• Jasons uncle tries to keep his throne away from
  him

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Wroks cited.

• Characteristics of epic. Encyclopedia Britannica
  Sept 8th 2008 lthttp//www.britannica.com/EBchecked
  /topic/189625/epictabactivechecked2Citemschec
  kedtitleepic20--20Britannica20Online20Encycl
  opediagt
•  epic hero. Wikipedia. Sept 8th 2008
  lthttp//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_herogt
• The Odyssey. The Odyssey overview. Sept 5th 2008
• lthttp//records.viu.ca/johnstoi/homer/odysseytofc
  .htm gt

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Works cited cont.

• The odyssey. Sparks Notes. Sept 6th 2008
  lthttp//www.sparknotes.com/lit/odyssey/characters.
  htmlgt
• Merriam-Webster. Epic. Sept 7th 2008
  lthttp//www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epicgt