By Homer

Homer (ca. 800 B.C.)

poetthought to be blind, but describes events as a seeing person

Wrote the Illiad and the Odyssey - stories about the war between the Trojans and the Greeks which had happened between 900 and 700 B.C.

BackgroundThe Odyssey is a sequel (the second book in a

series).It is the second of Homer’s two great epic poems. Part one is called The Iliad. HOWEVER, YOU DO NOT NEED TO READ

THE ILIAD FIRST. THE STORIES HAVE SOME RECURRING CHARACTERS BUT COMPLETELY DIFFERENT NARRATIVES. ANY NECESSARY BACKGROUND PROVIDED BY THE ILIAD WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU. CALM DOWN.

The Iliad The Iliad is the story of the Trojan War which

might actually have taken place around 1250 B.C.

This poem is a tale of myth and magic, not history.

The gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece are important characters.

They take sides in the war and help the human characters.

The Trojan WarZeus proclaimed that Paris, prince of Troy, be

the judge of the most fairest goddess.Hera promised him power, Athena promised

him wealth, and Aphrodite promised the most beautiful woman in the world.

Paris chose Aphrodite, and she promised him that Helen, wife of Menelaus, would be his.

Despite being treated like a royal guest by Menelaus, Paris ran away with Helen once Menelaus temporarily left Sparta.

Trojan War Continued…In Troy, Helen and Paris were married. Menelaus, however, was outraged to find that

Paris had taken Helen.Since he had a new son and a wife, Odysseus

(a Greek) pretended to be insane to avoid going to war.

The first nine years of the war consisted of both war in Troy and war against the neighboring regions.

The war ended with Odysseus’s clever idea of the Trojan Horse.

The Trojan Horse

The OdysseyEpic Epic Hero

A long narrative poem about important events in the history or folklore of a nation or culture.

The IlliadThe Odyssey

The larger-than-life character in an epic.

He/she demonstrates traits that are valued by the society in which the epic originates.

Odysseus in the Odyssey

The Greek VirtuesAll Greeks were challenged to live by the virtues

set by their culture. Breaking one of the Greek virtues meant angering the gods. The virtues are: LoyaltyHospitalityRespect for the gods and goddessesRespect for all forms of lifeCourageCunning Strength and Athleticism

Terms used to talk about EpicsPoet opens by stating the theme, invokes the

Muse, and opens the narrative in medias res, giving necessary exposition later.

Poet includes catalogs of warriors, ships, armies, etc.

Extended formal speeches by the main characters.

Poet makes frequent use of the epic simile.Epic simile: an elaborate comparison,

involved and ornate. Also called the extended or Homeric simile.

Invocation to the MuseAn INVOCATION is a call for help or support.

In ancient times, poets or artists would call

upon a MUSE to help them write or create. A MUSE is a person or thing that inspires you

to create. Ancient poets, like Homer, would start their

poems with an invocation to the Muse, or a call to help them create a great poem.

The OdysseyThe Odyssey is named for Odysseus. Odysseus is the King of Ithaca, an island off

the coast of Greece.According to the myth, Odysseus did not

want to fight at Troy. He did not want to leave his wife, Penelope,

and his baby son, Telemachus.

Odysseus, The Classic Greek Hero Odysseus is intelligent, but his intelligence is

of the cunning, sly type...not the book-smart type.

He is, after all, a man of “twists and turns…” The Greek term for this versatility is “polytropos,” or “turning in many directions.”

Odysseus is a man of deceptions and disguises.

The sharpness with which he led his men in the Trojan War is the same devious aptitude he uses to find his way back home after the war.

He uses this same intelligence to outwit monsters and other foes who block his path and threaten his men’s lives.

Is He Perfect? – What Do You Think?

Yes, like most classic heroes, Odysseus must prove himself again and again, and the perceptions others have of him are of vital importance to his heroic stature, but…

As with many tragic heroes, Odysseus has faults (a tragic flaw) that lead to disaster. Unlike typical tragic heroes, Odysseus is able to use his conniving to escape the ultimate price others have to pay for his mistakes.

Other Important Characters In The OdysseyCalypso

A nymph (minor nature goddess usually associated with a particular place)

Lives on the island OgygiaKeeps Odysseus prisoner

for a number of yearsPolyphemus

Cyclops His society does not

operate under the same rules as Odysseus’.

Comes from a very important family…

Odysseus’ encounter with him causes a lot of chaos.

More Characters From The OdysseyHermes

Messenger of the godsDelivers messages to

Odysseus from various gods and goddesses throughout the story

CirceSorceress (Minor

Goddess of Magic)Turns Odysseus’ men into

pigs, but Odysseus is able to his use cunning to fix the problem…

Odysseus and his men stay on her island for a year

Know Your Monsters and Other Important Aspects Of The OdysseyCharybdis

Very large whirlpool Threatens Odysseus,

his men, and their boats

Located near Scylla Scylla

Horrible sea monsterHas six long necks

attached to mouths with three rows of very sharp teeth and twelve tentacle-like arms

More Fun Facts…Lotus

Tree that produces flowers that when eaten causes pleasant drowsiness

Very addictive Causes people to forget

their home and their goals

The SirensThree seductresses who

would lure sailors to their death with their song

Sailors would hear their song and drive their ships against the rocks

Themes Respect for the Gods

Respect for the gods is shown through the numerous descriptions of sacrifices and offerings. Disrespect for the Gods inevitably leads to disaster; the Gods do not forget disrespect and are not easily appeased. (Poseidon, Athena, Helios.)

The Importance of LineageAlmost every time we met someone significant the narration pauses and we learn of the lineage. Many "things" we see also have a lineage or history that we are given - note Odysseus scar and his bow.

The Relationship Between Fate and Choice Fate is preordained by a power beyond that of even the gods. Paradoxically, it does not seem "random." A character's fate is tied up with his "character."

EpithetA phrase that describes a person and

connects to their name. Often seen in Homer’s Epic Poems.

Epithets describe physical traits, lineage, or personality traits.Example:

Odysseus, son of Laertes Sparkling-eyed Athena (Homer 7) The Awesome One with Pigtails The Talkative One (applies to about 75% of

students) Ben, The Questioner She of Ginger Hair

Create your own EpithetCreate your own epithet on a piece of paper. Write your name and create three epithets

for yourself according to the following criteriaA physical traitA personality traitLineage

Illustrate each of the epithets in a way that symbolizes the phrase within the epithet.

Rubric for Grading the Epithet Project:Epithet depicts physical trait 15

Physical traits are illustrated in a symbolic way 10Epithet depicts personality trait 15

Personality traits are illustrated symbolically 10Epithet depicts lineage 15

Physical traits are illustrated in a symbolic way 10Name is creatively written on the paper 10

85 total

Let’s Set Sail…

Are you ready?

Journal

JournalHave you ever wondered what happens after

you die? What do you think happens? Do you believe in heaven and/or hell? Why or

why not? Do you believe in ghosts? Why or why not?

Journal Describe a time when you felt homesick. Where were you? Who were you with? How long were you away from home? How did you handle your homesickness? What did you do when you finally got home?

JournalHas there been a time when you have had the

opportunity to get someone back for some wrong they had done you? What was the situation? Did you get that person back? How? Why did you do it? Did you feel better or worse? Why?

Journal

JournalHave you ever had a friend or family that is a

bad influence on you? What was this person like? How were they a bad influence on you? Did they ever get you to do things that you

knew you shouldn’t or would get you into trouble? Like what?

What did you do about this person?

Journal Describe a time when you have been

underestimated by someone or you underestimated someone.

What happened? Were you able to prove your worth or was the

other person? How? How do you feel when someone

underestimates you?

Rubric for Wanted PostersCompleted Character Roundtable Sheet 25 pts. Color Illustration of Your Character 25 pts. Warnings to Salem 15

pts. List of Crimes by Salem’s Standards 15

pts. Quote From/About Character 15 pts. Reward Offered 5

pts. Total Points: 100

pts.

Journal

Tell me the story of what happened using at least one simile, one piece of auditory imagery, one piece of visual imagery, one example of hyperbole, and one example of personification.

Before After

Liberty Leading the People by Eugene Delacroix

Raft of the Medusa by Theodore Gericault

Journal If you could be invisible for one day,

what would you do and why? Would you be responsible or do things that you knew you weren’t supposed to do, like sneak into someone’s room or house or listen to conversations that you’re not supposed to hear?

If you choose to share your response, you need to make sure that it is classroom appropriate!

JournalWhat do you do when you make a mistake?

Do you take responsibility? Do you try to blame someone else?Do you pledge to do better next time?Do you keep trying to get it right?What are the areas of your life where you try really

hard not to make a mistake? Are you ever afraid of disappointing yourself?

Your friends? Your family?

Journal Has there ever been a time where you

decided to do exactly what you were told NOT to do? Describe the situation.

What led to your decision to go against what you were told?

Was it worth it? Why or why not? If you have never gone against someone’s

direct instructions, what kept you from “misbehaving”?

Journal “It’s good to have an end to journey

toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end.” – Ernest Hemingway and/or Ursula Le Guin What do you think this quote means? Do you agree or disagree?

What end are you trying to journey toward right now? Why is this important to you?

Why is the journey more important for some people than where they end up?

Journal Did you know that Jonah put the Cool

Ranch Doritos on my laptop? Why did you choose not to disclose this

information to me? What do we think is an appropriate

punishment for him? Why? What about for you for protecting him?

Why?

Journal If you could be magically transported

into the world of any book or book series, which would you choose and why?Would you want to be an already existing character or a new character? Why?

Would you like to have a way to come back to real life or do you think you can stay in the book(s) forever? Why?

JournalIf you could be any mythical creature, which

one would you be and why? What kind of crazy mythical creature

adventures would you be a part of?

Journal Describe a memorable trip or vacation that

you have taken. Where were you going? Who were you with? Did you have fun? Why or why not? What’s the most memorable thing that

happened?

Letter to our TroopsToday you are going to write a thank you letter to

our troops who are deployed overseas. YOU MUST WRITE THIS ON A SHEET OF PAPER TO

BE HANDED IN AT THE END OF CLASS. Begin your letter by writing either “To Our Troops

Overseas” or “Dear Soldier.” Your letter needs to be AT LEAST 3 PARAGRAPHS long.

Each paragraph needs to be AT LEAST 5 SENTENCES long. In your letter you should express your appreciation for what

our nation’s military servicemen do for us. Ask yourself these questions: What would your life be like without the freedoms they fight for? What about the security they provide?

If you can, include a personal story of any connection you have with the military.

You should end your letter with “Sincerely, [YOUR NAME]”.

Journal

Freewrite Friday, Yo!

Introduction to Lamb to the Slaughter

Describe a time when someone reacted to you out of anger in a manner that hurt you.

How did that make you feel? How do you think they should have treated

you?What would you have done if the situation

was reversed? Do you really think that you would have reacted differently?

Lamb to the Slaughter AnalysisAlliterationSimilesPersonificationMetaphorsVisual ImageryAuditory ImageryDialogueIrony (Situational, Verbal, or Dramatic?)Specific Vocabulary

The Odyssey 10 Significant EventsSkylla and KharybdisThe KikonêsThe Test of the BowKalypsoMeeting PolyphêmosReuniting with

TelémakhosKirkêArgosEating Lord Hêlios’

Cattle Teirêsias