GREEK MYTHOLOGY AND THE ODYSSEY

MYTHOLOGY Myths are stories created

To help a culture explain the world they live in To help a culture create guidelines to which people should live by To help a culture create a sense of community through telling similar

stories

Greek Mythology is one spread orally through stories and songs Allowed all people to become part of the story Made stories able to be told in various settings Helps keep stories entertaining Made it easy to pass stories down

GODS AND GODDESSES Greeks created Gods and Goddesses

These Gods and Goddesses were first to have human forms Also gave Gods and Goddesses human qualities and emotions

This is the first time deities represented human life Therefore, certain actions could make the Gods and Goddesses happy or

angry

Greek Gods and Goddesses became Gods and Goddesses by overthrowing the Titans

THE TITANS Gaea

Earth Goddess made the rest of the Titans by

mating with her son, Uranus. Uranus

Sky god; first ruler. Dethroned by Cronus.

Cronus Fathered the first of the

Olympians. Swallowed his children except for

Zeus.

Prometheus “Forethought”

Protector of man; inventor of fire.

Atlas: Punished by having

to hold the world on his back.

And there’s more!

THE BATTLE The Titans were overthrown by The Olympians

The Olympians were a family of Gods and Goddesses headed by Zeus

Upon winning the War of the Gods, the world was split up. Zeus ran Mount Olympus Hades ran the Underworld Poseidon ran the Sea

Other Gods and Goddess took on other qualities Ares – God of war, violence, etc. Demeter – Goddess of fertilitiy, agrigulture, etc. Athena – Goddess of wisdom, defense, strategic warfare.

THE ODYSSEY Part II to the Iliad.

Iliad tells story of Trojan War War is between Troy and Sparta Started because Spartan King Menelaus’ wife, Helen, runs away with Prince

Paris from Troy. Spartan King wages war on Troy

Story involves popular characters Agamemnon, Odysseus, and Achilles Sparta was victorious in beating Troy because of “Wooden Horse” trick.

Iliad and Odyssey together = like Bible to Christians

HOMER Narrator of the story Blind Called a Rapsode – also know as a Bard or singer of tales.

ODYSSEUS Wife: Penelope Son: Telemachus From: Ithaca Great soldier, strong, but also cunning

Came up with the “Wood Horse” trick in the Trojan War. He is the main character of The Odyssey

EPIC Long narrative poem

Tells about a hero Includes values and beliefs of the culture

Iliad and Odyssey teach Honor, bravery, hospitality, intelligence, Respect to Gods, Loyalty to family/home Not to

Disrespect gods Hubris – extreme pride

Has a grand tone Larger than life characters Larger than life battles Hero faces circumstances he/she certainly will not be victorious in, but somehow is victorious

EPIC Begins

“In medias res” or In the middle of things Then flashes back to explain action which previously happened

With a prayer to God/Gods Statement of Theme Long formal speeches by many characters

THE EPIC HERO

Epic Hero

Superhuman

During quest, goes through

trials and tribulations in

order to achieve his

goal

Villains try to keep the

hero from his quest

On a quest for

something of great value

Of mixed divine and

human birth

Has a tragic flaw

LITERARY TERMS Epic Simile

is an extended simile often running to several lines, used typically in epic poetry to intensify the heroic stature

Characterization is the concept of creating characters for a

narrative, (direct: author tells details/ indirect: audience infers)

Imagery is an author's use of vivid and descriptive

language to add depth to their work Metaphor

is comparing two objects/things without using the words "like" or "as

Repetition is the simple repeating of a word, within a

sentence or a poetical line, with no particular placement of the words, in order to provide emphasis. 

Foreshadowing is a literary device by which an author explains

certain plot developments that may come later in the story.

Symbol is an object that represents, stands for, or

suggests an idea, visual image, belief, action, or material entity

Tragic Flaw (Hamartia) is seen as an error in judgment or unwitting

mistake is applied to the actions of the hero.