An Introduction

The Odyssey

Myth: a traditional story, usually concerning some superhuman being or unlikely event once believed to be true

Narrative poem: a poem that tells a story and has characters, setting, plot, and point of view which combine to develop a theme

Epic: a long narrative poem about the adventures of a hero whose actions address the ideals or values of a nation

Epic hero: a larger-than-life figure who embodies the ideals of a nation or race

•Odysseus, an epic hero, spends ten years fighting in The Trojan War. The Greeks, thanks to Odysseus, win the war; however, due to some bad choices and bad luck, it takes our hero another ten years to get back home to his wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus.

•The Odyssey is essentially a travel tale about a hero’s struggle to get home, but it also deals with Telemachus’ struggle to become a man.

The Odyssey in a Nutshell

Odysseus’ antagonist among the gods is Poseidon. This presents a particularly difficult situation because Odysseus is traveling by water. Needless to say, Poseidon makes things difficult for our hero!

Because of his intelligence and his ingenious schemes, as well as his skill in battle, Odysseus is Athena’s favorite! It was because of her interference that he went to war, but it was also her help that brings him home safely.

The Odyssey and Greek Mythology

•Polyphemus, a Cyclops, is another character Odysseus must face in the Odyssey. This “wheel-eyed” giant is Poseidon’s son, so it should be clear after we read the encounter why Poseidon is so angry with Odysseus.

•This story offers another opportunity to show Odysseus’ brain-power, but it also reveals how his curiosity can be costly.

Odysseus and the Cyclops

Zeus Domain: ruler of the gods

Also known as: the Supreme Ruler, Lord of the Sky, the Rain-God, the Cloud-Gatherer

Characteristics: not omniscient, known as a womanizer

Symbol: thunderbolt

Hera

Domain: protector of marriage and women (ironic!)

Also known as: Here, Zeus’ wife

Characteristics: jealous, held grudges, punished those whom she thought had done her wrong

Symbols: pomegranate and peacock feather

Poseidon Domain: god of the sea,

earthquakes, and horses

Also known as: the Earth-Shaker, Zeus’ brother and second in command

Characteristics: quarrelsome, greedy

Symbols: trident, fish, dolphin, horse, and bull

Hades Domain: god of the underworld

Also known as: ruler of the dead, Zeus’ brother

Characteristics: greedy, greatly concerned with increasing his subjects, unpitying, terrifying, stern, just

Symbols: Cerberus the 3-headed dog, Cypress tree

Athena Domain: goddess of wisdom,

peace, strategic warfare, handicrafts, and reason

Also known as: Athene, Zeus’ favorite daughter

Characteristics: fights bravely but only to protect her home, Athens is named for her

Symbol: owl

Apollo Domain: god of light/sun,

truth/prophecy, medicine/healing, music/poetry

Also known as: Zeus’ son, Artemis’ twin

Characteristics: wonderful musician, taught man to heal, drove the sun across the sky each day to create sunrise and sunset

Symbols: lyre, bow and arrow

Artemis Domain: goddess of the hunt,

childbirth, forests and hills, and the moon

Also known as: lady of the wild things, huntsman-in-chief to the gods, Zeus’ daughter, Apollo’s twin

Characteristics: chaste, did not want to be confined by marriage

Symbol: bow and arrows

Aphrodite Domain: goddess of love and beauty

Also known as: the laughter-loving goddess, some myths have her as Zeus’ daughter, others say she was born of sea foam, married to Hephaestus

Characteristics: physically beautiful, somewhat conceited, fond of involving herself in the affairs of mortals

Symbols: scepter, myrtle, dove

Hermes

Domain: messenger of the gods, god of commerce and thieves

Also known as: the patron of boundaries and travelers, orators and poets, Zeus’ son

Characteristics: swift, helpful

Symbols: the tortoise, rooster, winged sandals and helmet

Ares Domain: god of war

(unpredictable violence) and bloodshed

Also known as: son of Zeus and Hera

Characteristics: hateful, distrusted, murderous, a coward

Symbols: vulture, wolf, burning torch, bronze armor and spear

Hephaestus Domain: god of technology,

blacksmiths, craftsmen, artisans and volcanoes

Also known as: Aphrodite’s husband, Hera’s son

Characteristics: considered ugly, although well-liked

Symbols: hammer, anvil, tongs

Hestia Domain: goddess of the hearth

(domesticity and family) and the home

Also known as: Zeus’ sister

Characteristics: modest and mild, charitable, disliked quarrels

Symbols: hearth

The Muses Domain: not goddesses, but spirits who inspire the creation

of literature and the arts

Also known as: Zeus’ 9 daughters

Characteristics: considered the source of knowledge, carefree, often invoked by poets, bless humans to aid in healing and comforting

Symbols: each muse had her own symbol, ranging from a pen to a globe to the dramatic masks

It’s all Greek to Me!

“Why is this important?”

• For one thing, we see signs from

the Greeks all the time. Can you

think of any?

• Western literature and culture are

chock-full of Greek goodness.

Any ideas?

• It will make you think, and that is

very important!