The Odyssey

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The Odyssey Intro Book I
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The Odyssey genre and author

• The Odyssey was written by a guy named Homer. He
  was a blind poet.
• Many think that his epics are actually the
  combined work of several poets.
• The Odyssey is an epic poem.
• An epic poem is a long narrative poem about a
  heros adventures.
• Narrative tells a story.

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When and where?

• The Odyssey was composed in Greece, around 800
  B.C.E.
• How long ago was it?

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The Iliad

• Homers other famous epic poem is The Illiad.
• The Illiad presents an episode from a Trojan War.
• The war began after Paris, a prince of Troy,
  kidnapped Helen from her husband, the king of
  Sparta.
• Her husband Menelaus wanted his wife back.
• Odysseus was one of his soldiers, and he went to
  Troy to besiege the walled city.
• He came up with a master plan Trojan horse.
• Troy was conquered!

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The Odyssey

• Main character Odysseus.
• The Odyssey deals with Odysseus adventures as he
  makes his way home from Troy.
• The story is full of fantastic elements
  interference of gods and goddesses.

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The events in The Odyssey

• occurred long before Homers lifetime.
• The values and beliefs, however, were still
  important in Homers world.

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Storytellers

• Epics were not written down and read.
• They were told by a master storyteller and passed
  on to other people verbally.
• What problems do you see in this method?

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Master storyteller

• He was a poet with a golden voice who sang his or
  her great tale in verse (in poetic form).
• Many of the storys details were created as he or
  she sang the story. This is also called
  improvisation.

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Lit. terms you need to know

• Epic poem.
• Epic hero.
• Epic simile.
• Epithet.

• Onomatopoeia.
• Hyperbole.
• Personification.
• Alliteration.
• Imagery.
• Oxymoron.

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Epic hero

• Epic hero is a larger-than-life figure, usually
  male.
• Epic heroes take part in long, dangerous
  adventures and accomplish great things.
• They show a lot of courage and superhuman
  strength.
• Since they are human, they also show some human
  flaws.

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Epic simile

• A simile is a comparison between two things using
  like or as.
• Epic simile is an elaborate, very detailed
  version of a simile.
• Homer often used several lines for his epic
  similes to describe things in great detail.
• Epic similes described a characters thoughts and
  feelings.

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Epithet

• Brief, descriptive phrases that helped to
  characterize a person or thing.
• Adjective noun.
• Examples master mariner, old contender,
  wine-dark sea.
• Epithets helped the storytellers remember the
  words.

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Onomatopoeia

• Definition
• Words that imitate sounds.
• Examples
• boom, meow, crash, sizzle, crunch and buzz.

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Alliteration

• Definition
• When two or more words in a poem begin with the
  same sound.
• Examples
• It sounds so sweet

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Personification

• Definition
• Giving human qualities to an object or animal.

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Oxymoron

• Definition
• Oxymoron is putting two contradictory words
  together.
• Examples
• hot ice, cold fire, wise fool, sad joy, military
  intelligence, eloquent silence.
• Oxymoron poem link.
• Funny oxymorons http//www.freemaninstitute.com/o
  xymorons.htm

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Hyperbole

• Definition
• Hyperbole is an extreme (over the top)
  exaggeration.
• Link to examples.

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Epic heros qualities

• Think of a superhero that you know.
• With a partner, brainstorm the qualities of a
  hero both strengths and weaknesses!
• Create a word web.