The Odyssey

1. The Odyssey Homer and Epic Poetry

2. Mythology Storytelling

3. Homer • Blind Greek poet and storyteller • Wrote/Told: • The Iliad • The Odyssey • Written down years later after his death.

4. Epic • An epic is a long narrative poem that tells about the adventures of a hero who reflects the ideals and values of a nation or race. • The epic portrays the past, but it is an imaginary past.

5. Epic Conventions • The invocation of the muse,. • Telling a story with which readers or listeners are already familiar; they know the characters, the plot, and the outcome. • Conflict in the celestial realm. Divine beings fight and scheme against one another in the epics of Homer. • Begins by telling the theme and using someone who is all knowing and wise to help him in his undertaking. • The story starts in the middle of the action,in media res, and at a critical point; the events that happened before the narrative's opening are introduced later on.

6. Epic Info to know The Setting The setting of the epic is vast, sometimes worldwide and even beyond. The Action The action of the epic involves heroic deeds in battle, such as a long hard journey or a war. The Supernatural The gods or other supernatural beings take an interest and an active part in the great deeds performed in the epic. Point of View Often the point of view is in third person (standing outside looking in through the window) with little comment or opinion.

7. Epic Hero • An epic hero is a larger-than-life figure, usually male, who embodies the ideals of a nation or race. • Epic heroes take part in long, dangerous adventures and accomplish great deeds that require courage and superhuman strength.

8. Epic Simile • A simile is a comparison of two things using like or as. • An EPIC SIMILE is a longer, more detailed simile that can go on for several lines. • Example: “And Odysseus let the bright molten tears run down his cheeks, weeping [like] the way a wife mourns for her lord on the lost field where he has gone down fighting the day of wrath that came upon his children . . .”

9. Epithet • An epithet is a brief descriptive phrase that helps to characterize a person or thing. • Example: “Son of Laertes and the gods of old, Odysseus, master mariner and soldier. . .” • Epithets were used to give story telling a musical effect.

10. The Story thus far… What happened before Odysseus went sailing….

11. How it all started… Eris: Goddess of Discord Threw the Apple of Discord into a wedding dance (that she wasn’t invited to) with a tag that read “For the Fairest.” • Aphrodite • Hera • Athena • All fought over who was the fairest and asked Zeus to judge. Paris’ Involvement • All 3 promised Paris things if he would choose them… • Athena-Promised he would defeat the Greeks • Hera-Promised he would be the lord of Europe and Asia • Aphrodite - Promised him the fairest mortal to be his bride

12. Meanwhile, Back in Greece… • Helen married Menelaus and they both rule over Sparta. • Helen’s father, King Tyndareus, warned all of punishment to anyone who disrupted the marriage. • Aphrodite lead Paris to Sparta for a visit. • Menelaus and Helen were very welcoming to him. • Then Menelaus left for a business trip to Crete. • Paris went back to Troy withHelen.

13. The Meeting of the Greeks Kings of Greece… • Menelaus (married to Helen) (of Sparta) • Agamemnon (married to Clytemnestra) (of Mycenae) • Nestor (of Pylos) • Odysseus (married to Penelope) (of Ithaca) • Achilles (of Phthia) • Odysseus and Achilles didn’t show up at the meeting.

14. The Face that Launched 1,000 Ships A strong wind held the ships back because Artemis was angry. The only way to make it up to her was by sacrificing Iphigenia. • Iphigenia was Agamemnon’s oldest daughter. The oracle claimed that the first person to arrive on the shores of Troy would be the first to die in battle…Protesilaus

15. Mount Ida Achilles Odysseus Ajax Agamemnon Nestor Menelaus

16. Greeks Menelaus, Agamemnon, Nestor, Odysseus, Achilles Ajax, Diomedes, Patroculs Hera, Athena, Poseidon Trojans King Priam, Queen Hecuba, Prince Paris, Prince Hector, Prince Aeneas Aphrodite, Ares, Apollo, Artemis Taking Sides

17. The wooden horse: Thought up by Odysseus Laocoon, a priest from Troy, warned his countrymen, “I fear the Greeks, even when they bring gifts.” Inside the horse: Odysseus, Pyrrhus, Agamemnon, Menelaus Those Sneaky Greeks

18. The Odyssey Begins 10 years later

19. The Odyssey is a story about a hero . . . Odysseus Adventure lurks around every corner during Odysseus’s journey home.

20. 3 Main Motifs in The Odyssey • Trojan War • Heroism of Odysseus • Interference of the Gods

21. Why such a long trip? • Athena (patron goddess of Athens) felt wronged after the war • Convinced Poseidon to make the Greek’s trip home difficult. • Odysseus wouldn’t arrive home for another 10 years. (Gone a total of 20 years)

22. How does the story start? • Odysseus is at the land of the Phaecians. • He has washed up on shore alone. • The King holds a banquet and asks Odysseus to tell him the story of his travel. • Since Odyssus is still trying to get home. The story starts in medias res or “in the middle.

23. Meanwhile Back in Ithaca All assumed Odysseus dead except his wife, Penelope and son, Telemachus. Penelope had to receive suitors, but she stalled by claiming to be weaving a burial shroud for Odysseus’ father, Laertes, which had to be done before she could marry. She wove during the day and unwove it at night until the suitors found her out.

24. 1st Trial - Cicones • Ismarus • Cicones – friends of Trojans • Odysseus raids the Cicones and they kill 72 of his men.

25. 2nd Trial – Lotus Eaters • Offer them the Lotus plant • Decreases their desire to leave • Odysseus must drive them wailing back to the ship • Forbids them to eat the lotus or lose their hope of home.

26. 3rd Stop – Land of the Cyclops • Lush deserted island • The men and Odysseus feast and then decide to find out if they Cyclops are friends or foes • Meet Polyphemus, son of Poseidon • Polyphemus holds them captive intending to eat them. This goes against Greek hospitality. • They escape using cunning, guile, and sheep tied together.

28. Questions so far… • Which Goddess is Homer asking for inspiration at the beginning of this book? • What is an epic? • Where do Cyclops live? • How many men did Odysseus take with him?  • What kind of animals does the Cyclops have?  • Who is the Greek God of hospitality? How does the Cyclops violate the law of hospitality? • Why doesn’t Odysseus stab him with his sword?  • How does Odysseus get the Cyclops vulnerable enough to blind him?  • What is the Cyclops name? • Who is his father? • What does Odysseus tell the Cyclops his name is?  • How do Odysseus and his men get out of the cave?  • What keeps them from simply running out?  • How does pride affect Odysseus and his journey? Can you say that the fact that he can’t return sooner is his own fault?

29. Trial 4 - Island of Aeolus • Wind king • Stay a month • 2 gifts • Favorable west wind • A bag holding all the unfavorable winds • They almost get home and the men open the bag thinking it is gold. • They are blown back to Aeolus’s island, but he refuses to help.

30. Trial 5 - Laestrygones • Fierce cannibals • Bombard their ships with boulders • Only Odysseus, his ship and its crew of 45 survive.

31. Trial – Circe’s Island • Circe – witch or goddess? • Turns Odysseus’s men into pigs. Commentary on men of the time? • Hermes helps Odysseus become immune to Circe’s magic • Odysseus becomes her lover • His men talk him into leaving • Tells Odysseus about his next stop: Hades to visit Tiresias of Thebes

32. Book 10 Questions • On whose island are Odysseus and his men? • What animals were outside Circe’s house? • How did they become animals?  • What did Circe do to Odysseus’s men?  • What does Eurylochus ask Odysseus?  • Who does Odysseus meet on his way to Circe’s house?  • What does he give Odysseus? What does it do for Odysseus?  • What must Odysseus do in order to save his men?  • Why does Circe change the men back to humans?  • Who tries to tell the other men to not return with Odysseus to Circe’s house?  • What else does he blame Odysseus for?  • How long do they stay with Circe?  • What does Circe tell Odysseus he must do next?

33. Stop 7 – Hades • Book 11 • Visits Tiresias the blind “seer” who tells them what they must do to return to Ithaca. • Sees his mom who has died of grief waiting for his return. • Goes back to Circe’s island.

34. Back on Circe’s island • She warns him about the next two trials he will encounter.

35. Trial 8 - Sirens • Two sirens (mermaids?) • Cry or “call” bewitches those who hear. • They will “sing your mind away” • Odysseus puts wax in the men’s ears and has them tie him to the mast.

36. Trial 9 – Scylla or Charybdis? • Scylla • Cave monster • 12 legs like tentacles • Six heads • No one can pass • Six of Odysseus’s men will die • Charybdis • Opposite of Scylla • Whirling Maelstrom • Will kill all of Odysseus’s men

37. Trial 10 - Helios • Island of Thrinacia • Where Helios pastures his cattle • Odysseus warns his men not to eat them, but they do anyway. • Helios gets MAD and threatens to stop the sun from shining • As payment for Odysseus, Zeus sinks his ship.

38. Book Twelve Questions • Who are the Sirens? • What is their power? • What is Charybdis? • Describe Scylla in detail. • Why does Odysseus not tell his men about Scylla? • Where does Odysseus end up?

39. Trial 11 – Calypso’s Island • Calypso is a nymph • Lived on Ogygia • Odysseus stays with her7 years • She wants him to become her immortal husband. • Athena begs Zeus to allow Odysseus to return home, so he sends Hermes to tell Calypso to let him go.

40. The Homecoming – Ithaca (Books 21-22) • Everyone thinks Odysseus is dead; He pretends to be a shepherd • Penelope’s suitors have stayed for 10 years, eating all of Odysseus’s food and harassing his family. • Penelope proposes a contest: using Odysseus’s bow, shoot and arrow through 12 axe heads in a row. • None of the suitors can; so, the shepherd asks to try. • Odysseus shoots the arrow and then reveals his identity • With Athena’s help, he kills all of the suitors. Even though they offer restitution.

41. The Homecoming – Ithaca (Books 21-22) Questions • What contest does Penelope propose to choose a new king? • What do the suitors try to do to the bow so they can bend it? • Who does Odysseus speak to outside the great hall? • What does Odysseus tell the women to do during the battle? • How do the suitors treat Odysseus whom they believe is a vagabond? • Who is Odysseus’s son? • Homer uses an epic simile to describe the way Odysseus uses the bow. What does he compare? • Which god’s shield is visible in the room when Odysseus slays the suitors? • How many suitors are left at the end of the battle?

42. The Homecoming – Ithaca (Book 23) Questions • How does Penelope treat Odysseus at the beginning of this book? How does she trick him into proving he’s Odysseus? What is the bed a symbol for? What is special about their bed? The last lines in the book are an Epic Simile. What two things are being compared?

43. Themes • Quest for Understanding • Curiosity can be a bad • Greek heroes are cunning. • Brains are often as good as muscles • Real love last a long time • The gods are fickle and can change their minds

44. Archetypes Archetype - Greek meaning “original pattern, or model.” They reflect universal characteristics of human experience. They apply to all people, regardless of time or culture. Example: Quest = Life Long Trips = Finding yourself Choosing a Path = Choosing a direction in life

45. Motif- A recurrent thematic element in an artistic or literary work. • Motifs in the Odyssey • The journey • Love • Disguises • Seducing • Cannibals