Background to The Odyssey

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Background to The Odyssey
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About the Author
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HOMER

• He was a blind minstrel or rhapsody
• Therefore, he was the first rapper
• Rhapsodies are singers of tales
• The entertainer and myth-maker of his time
• Wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey

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EPIC DETAILS
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What is an Epic

• Epic a long narrative poem that tells the
  adventures of heroes who embody the values of
  their civilization.
• The Illiad is the epic of war.
• The Odyssey is the epic of a long journey.

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How Epics Were Told

• Both are epic poems that were composed in Greece
  around 700-800 B.C.
• They were originally told aloud by people who
  could not read or write.
• They were composed according to a basic story
  line.
• They were made up on the spot.
• The events are based on mythology and legend, but
  can be factual.
• These were both told orally, and often sung.

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The Epic

• A long narrative poem about the adventures of a
  hero whose actions reflect the ideals and values
  of a nation or race. (The Language of
  Literature, p. 482)
• Complete Odyssey has 12,000 lines and is divided
  into 24 books.
• Involves a hero a villian
• Starts in the middle (en medias res)
• Involves Gods/Goddesses
• Athena Goddess of Wisdom
• Poseidon god of Sea (Odysseus enemy)
• Epics address universal themes
• --Good vs. Evil
• --Life vs. Death
• --Sin vs. Redemption

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Characteristics of an Epic (info. taken from The
Language of Literature, p. 482)

• The story is set in many locations, real or
  imaginary, across a wide area (i.e. the land of
  the dead).
• The hero is an important historical or legendary
  character of high social position--a king or
  prince, for example.
• The hero is usually pitted against overwhelming
  odds and must be strong and courageous.
• A journey is taken in search of something.
• Supernatural events and beings play an important
  role in the plot.
• The story is told in language that is formal and
  grand, but simple and clear.
• Glorification of the hero at the end.

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Epic Hero

• An epic hero is larger than life, more impressive
  than an ordinary human being. An epic hero
  usually has these character traits
• Uncommon strength
• Exceptional knowledge
• Cunning (cleverness)
• Courage
• Daring

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Myths
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Why did myths exist?

• Most cultures have myths that explain natural
  phenomena, such as
• Seasonal changes
• Fire
• Lightning
• Drought
• Floods
• Death
• Myths also teach moral lessons, explain history,
  express the deepest fears and hopes of the human
  race.
• Some myths describe rivalries and among the gods.
• They also describe the consequences of disobeying
  higher powers.

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Olympian Gods and Goddesses

• During Homers time, gods and goddesses played an
  important role in their lives.
• They believed that the gods took an active
  interest in humans affairs and often engaged in
  punishing humans, meddling in love affairs,
  quarrels, and even were jealous of humans.

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BREAK TIME!

• One Minute Pause- Sevens!

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Before The Odyssey
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The Trojan War

• Until 1871, Troy was believed to be fictional.
  Archeologists found a walled city in the area
  described. It is located what is now known as
  Northwestern Turkey.
• Set in the 10th and final year of the Trojan War
• The Greeks attacked Troy to avenge an insult
  suffered by Menelaus, King of Sparta
• Helen, his wife, ran off with Paris, the young
  prince of Troy

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How did the Trojan War end?

• Odysseus, the king of the island of Ithaca, was
  one of the many Greeks who sailed to Troy and
  besieged the walled city. He thought of a plan
  that made the Trojans think the Greeks had given
  up.
• He devised a giant wooden horse to be built that
  would be left at the gates of Troy at night.

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Trojan War Continued

• The Trojans, finding the statue and no Greeks in
  sight (except for one left purposefully there to
  validate the plan), they pulled the Trojan horse
  inside their walled city.
• After all had celebrated their victory, the
  Greeks snuck out of the horse and launched a
  surprise attack on the Trojans eventually burning
  their city to the ground and recapturing Helen.

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The story of Odysseus . . .

• Deals with the adventures he has to overcome as
  he tries to make his way home to Ithaca where his
  wife, Penelope, and child, Telemachus, whom he
  has not seen since Telemachus was just born.
• He leaves Troy with 12 ships and approximately
  720 men.
• He does not encounter military opponents, but
  monsters and enchanting women who try to keep him
  from his wife.

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Where The Odyssey begins

• Hero of war who has difficulty finding his way
  back to Ithaca (home).
• Married Penelope before leaving for war
• Had one son, Telemachus, who was 3 when Odysseus
  went to war.
• When we first meet Odysseus, he is a prisoner on
  the goddess Calypsos island.
• Zeus sends his messanger, Hermes, to set Odysseus
  free, and the adventure begins.
• Focus on What the angry god of the sea,
  Poseidon, has in store for our hero?

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TWO MINUTE PAUSE

• Jot down 2 questions you have about The Odyssey

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Words to Know

• Terms to Know

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Homeric Simile

• A detailed comparison in simile form that is
  many lines in length
• Homer uses an object of comparison that was
  unfamiliar to his audience
• Homers similes glorify his characters, enrich
  his text, and deepen his readers understanding.

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Words to be Familiar with

• Alienation--The feeling of separation
• Fate-- Something that unavoidably happens to a
  person
• Hero-- Someone who demonstrates courage or
  ability
• Quest-- A search or pursuit made in order to find
  something

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LET THE JOURNEY BEGIN!!