the odyssey an epic by homer mrs. bjornson 9 th grade literature

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The Odyssey The Odyssey An Epic by Homer An Epic by Homer Mrs. Bjornson 9 Mrs. Bjornson 9 th th Grade Grade Literature Literature

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The OdysseyThe Odyssey

An Epic by HomerAn Epic by HomerMrs. Bjornson 9Mrs. Bjornson 9thth Grade Grade

LiteratureLiterature

Homer, the PoetHomer, the Poet

• Credited with writing Credited with writing the two most the two most famous epics of all famous epics of all time: the time: the IlliadIlliad and and the the OdysseyOdyssey. .

• Stories passed down Stories passed down orally during the orally during the Homeric Age.Homeric Age.

• Poetic form & Poetic form & rhyme– easy for rhyme– easy for story-teller to story-teller to remember.remember.

Who Was Who Was HomerHomer?: ?: • True identity is unknownTrue identity is unknown

• Likely a bard or rhapsodeLikely a bard or rhapsode

• A combination of many A combination of many men?men?

• Lived around 850 B.C.Lived around 850 B.C.

• BlindBlind: Many people : Many people believed romantically that believed romantically that performers were blind.performers were blind.

• homeros = blindhomeros = blind

• Lived in Greece Lived in Greece

Did Homer Write the Odyssey?

• Some Believe Some Believe He DidHe Did

• The Greek alphabet The Greek alphabet originated in early 8originated in early 8thth or late 9or late 9thth century BC. century BC.

• Homer could have Homer could have been one of the first been one of the first authors to use the authors to use the Greek alphabet to Greek alphabet to write down oral epic write down oral epic poetry.poetry.

• Some Believe Some Believe He Did NotHe Did Not

• Because the Greek alphabet did not originate until early 8th or late 9th century BC, it is unlikely Homer would have written down oral epic poetry.

• Homer likely had a literate scribe write down his oral epic poetry.

Greek Story-TellingGreek Story-Telling

• Homer passed his stories on via traveling Homer passed his stories on via traveling story-tellers called “rhapsodes”story-tellers called “rhapsodes”

• Sometimes stories were turned into playsSometimes stories were turned into plays• Greek Greek theatertheater performed outside performed outside• No actresses, only actorsNo actresses, only actors• No scenery No scenery • Actors wore masks and high platform Actors wore masks and high platform

shoes– they moved very slowly shoes– they moved very slowly

Greek TheaterGreek Theater

Homer’s Two EpicsHomer’s Two Epics

• The IlliadThe Illiad tells about a 10 year war tells about a 10 year war fought on the plains beyond the walls fought on the plains beyond the walls of Troy, Greeceof Troy, Greece

• War fought between the people of War fought between the people of Troy and an alliance of early Greek Troy and an alliance of early Greek kingskings

The Illiad The Illiad

• The war began The war began when Helen, the when Helen, the wife of Greek king wife of Greek king Menelaus and the Menelaus and the most beautiful most beautiful woman in the woman in the world, ran off with world, ran off with Paris, the prince of Paris, the prince of Troy. Troy.

The IlliadThe Illiad

• The 10-year battle The 10-year battle ended when ended when Odysseus, king of Odysseus, king of Ithaca (a Greek Ithaca (a Greek island), broke into island), broke into the walls of Troy the walls of Troy with the Trojan with the Trojan horse “gift.”horse “gift.”

• Troy was burnt to Troy was burnt to the ground & many the ground & many were killedwere killed

The Trojan WarThe Trojan War• Was there ever a Trojan Was there ever a Trojan

War? War?

• There probably was a There probably was a Trojan War but was much Trojan War but was much different from Homer’s different from Homer’s depiction of it in depiction of it in The IliadThe Iliad

• Archaeological evidence Archaeological evidence shows the War may have shows the War may have taken place around 1220 taken place around 1220 BC and that the city BC and that the city Homer calls Troy was Homer calls Troy was likely destroyed by firelikely destroyed by fire

• The OdysseyThe Odyssey was likely was likely composed 500 years after composed 500 years after the Warthe War

Before Before The OdysseyThe Odyssey• Laertes, King of Ithaca Laertes, King of Ithaca

and a great fighter in and a great fighter in his youth, marries his youth, marries Anticlea.Anticlea.

• They purchase a slave They purchase a slave woman, Eurycleiawoman, Eurycleia

• Laertes and Anticlea Laertes and Anticlea have a son. have a son.

• He is named Odysseus He is named Odysseus by his grandfather by his grandfather Autoclycis, and looked Autoclycis, and looked after by Eurycleiaafter by Eurycleia

Before Before The OdysseyThe Odyssey

• Odysseus becomes the wise and gentle Odysseus becomes the wise and gentle king of Ithaca and marries Penelope, king of Ithaca and marries Penelope, daughter of Spartan King Icarius. daughter of Spartan King Icarius.

• He builds their bedroom and constructs He builds their bedroom and constructs a bed around the base of an olive-tree.a bed around the base of an olive-tree.

• Odysseus does not want to join the Odysseus does not want to join the Trojan War, but he does so just after his Trojan War, but he does so just after his son Telemachus is born. son Telemachus is born.

Before Before The OdysseyThe Odyssey

• Odysseus and his wife Penelope had one Odysseus and his wife Penelope had one son, Telemachus, who was a toddler son, Telemachus, who was a toddler when Odysseus was summoned to join when Odysseus was summoned to join the kingsthe kings

• Odysseus really didn’t want to go to war Odysseus really didn’t want to go to war so when the other kings came for him, so when the other kings came for him, he pretended to be insane and not he pretended to be insane and not recognize his visitors. He continued to recognize his visitors. He continued to plow his fields.plow his fields.

Before Before The OdysseyThe Odyssey

• Because Odysseus Because Odysseus ignored the other ignored the other kings, King Menelaus kings, King Menelaus and Agamenon threw and Agamenon threw Telemachus in front of Telemachus in front of the plow.the plow.

• Odysseus revealed his Odysseus revealed his sanity when he turned sanity when he turned the plow to avoid the plow to avoid running over his son.running over his son.

Before Before The OdysseyThe Odyssey

• As he leaves, As he leaves, Odysseus tells Odysseus tells Penelope that if he Penelope that if he does not return, she does not return, she is to remarry when is to remarry when Telemachus comes Telemachus comes of age. of age.

• He leaves Mentor or He leaves Mentor or Laertes in charge of Laertes in charge of the palace in Ithaca.the palace in Ithaca.

Odysseus & the Trojan Odysseus & the Trojan HorseHorse

• Odysseus originated the idea of the Trojan Odysseus originated the idea of the Trojan horse in order to win the Battle of Troy.horse in order to win the Battle of Troy.

• His army built a large wooden horse and hid His army built a large wooden horse and hid Odysseus & members of his army inside. Odysseus & members of his army inside.

• The Greeks offered it to the Trojans as a sign The Greeks offered it to the Trojans as a sign of their surrender and the Trojans accepted of their surrender and the Trojans accepted the gift and brought it inside the walls of their the gift and brought it inside the walls of their city.city.

• In the night, Odysseus and his men crept out, In the night, Odysseus and his men crept out, unlocked the gates of the city, and the battle unlocked the gates of the city, and the battle began.began.

The OdysseyThe Odyssey

• The Greek kings parted ways and went The Greek kings parted ways and went home after their victoryhome after their victory

• The OdysseyThe Odyssey is the story of Odysseus’ is the story of Odysseus’ 10-year journey to return home to his 10-year journey to return home to his family.family.

• He must use his heroic strength and He must use his heroic strength and guile to outsmart monsters, gods, and guile to outsmart monsters, gods, and women and goddesses who try to seduce women and goddesses who try to seduce himhim

The OdysseyThe Odyssey Background Background• On Odysseus’s way home from war, On Odysseus’s way home from war,

Athena arranged for storms to blow the Athena arranged for storms to blow the Greeks (Achaeans or Argives) off course as Greeks (Achaeans or Argives) off course as they attempted to sail home from the war. they attempted to sail home from the war.

• Athena was outraged because a Greek Athena was outraged because a Greek warrior Ajax had desecrated her temple by warrior Ajax had desecrated her temple by attempting to rape Cassandra (daughter of attempting to rape Cassandra (daughter of last king of Troy) at her temple. last king of Troy) at her temple.

• The Greeks did not punish the man who The Greeks did not punish the man who tried to rape Cassandra at Athena’s shrinetried to rape Cassandra at Athena’s shrine

The OdysseyThe Odyssey Background Background

• Athena’s anger lead Athena’s anger lead to the Greeks’ to the Greeks’ wanderings off wanderings off coursecourse

• However, Odysseus However, Odysseus was Athena’s was Athena’s favorite Greek favorite Greek warrior, so she does warrior, so she does help him on his way help him on his way homehome

Odysseus’ VoyageOdysseus’ Voyage

The OdysseyThe Odyssey Background Background• Because Odysseus is gone, his home is Because Odysseus is gone, his home is

over-run with over 100 suitors (men who over-run with over 100 suitors (men who want to marry his wife).want to marry his wife).

• Penelope, his wife, and Telemachus, his Penelope, his wife, and Telemachus, his 21-year-old son, do not have the power to 21-year-old son, do not have the power to eject the suitors from their homeeject the suitors from their home

• Telemachus, the heir to Odysseus, is Telemachus, the heir to Odysseus, is constantly in danger.constantly in danger.

• Due to his young age and lack of power, Due to his young age and lack of power, he cannot seek help from other Greeks; he he cannot seek help from other Greeks; he cannot eject the suitors from his homecannot eject the suitors from his home

The Setting of IthacaThe Setting of Ithaca

• Odysseus, the king of the island Ithaca Odysseus, the king of the island Ithaca maintains control over Ithaca—even though maintains control over Ithaca—even though he is away for 20 years—because of his skills he is away for 20 years—because of his skills which lead to his control.which lead to his control.

• The city of Ithaca was based on powerThe city of Ithaca was based on power

• Odysseus is a great warrior, an excellent Odysseus is a great warrior, an excellent sailor, the best carpenter, the best hunter, the sailor, the best carpenter, the best hunter, the finest marksman, and the leading expert on finest marksman, and the leading expert on caring for farm animals. He is also extremely caring for farm animals. He is also extremely intelligent.intelligent.

The Setting of IthacaThe Setting of Ithaca• Ithaca has no coined money; wealth is Ithaca has no coined money; wealth is

measured by livestock, household measured by livestock, household furnishings, servants, slaves, and treasure.furnishings, servants, slaves, and treasure.

• Slavery is encouraged in Ithaca; having Slavery is encouraged in Ithaca; having slaves is a symbol of power and wealthslaves is a symbol of power and wealth

• Piracy, war, raids on foreign cities, and the Piracy, war, raids on foreign cities, and the capture of women are all accepted means capture of women are all accepted means of increasing wealthof increasing wealth

• The first thing Odysseus does after leaving The first thing Odysseus does after leaving Troy is to sack Ismarus, take their goods Troy is to sack Ismarus, take their goods and steal their women.and steal their women.

The OdysseyThe Odyssey Background Background• In Ithaca, if In Ithaca, if

Telemachus tried to Telemachus tried to assume his father’s assume his father’s throne, he would throne, he would likely be overthrown likely be overthrown and killedand killed

• If Penelope does not If Penelope does not soon choose a soon choose a suitor, a civil war suitor, a civil war may begin on Ithaca.may begin on Ithaca.

The OdysseyThe Odyssey Background Background• If Penelope does If Penelope does

choose a suitor, choose a suitor, Telemachus’s life is Telemachus’s life is in danger unless he in danger unless he is willing to give up is willing to give up his claim to the his claim to the thronethrone

• Penelope may have Penelope may have to choose a suitor to to choose a suitor to save her family’s life save her family’s life and Ithacaand Ithaca

Stop Here for Stop Here for TodayToday

Odysseus’s Journey HomeOdysseus’s Journey Home• (will be reveled in detail in (will be reveled in detail in The The Odyssey in Odyssey in

flash-back) flash-back)

• For For 3 years 3 years Odysseus is blown around the Odysseus is blown around the Mediterranean, experiencing adventures Mediterranean, experiencing adventures with the Cicones, the Lotus Eaters, the with the Cicones, the Lotus Eaters, the Cylops Polyphemus; Aeolus, the wind-god, Cylops Polyphemus; Aeolus, the wind-god, giant cannibals; the witch Circe; the giant cannibals; the witch Circe; the underworld; the Sirens; more monsters; underworld; the Sirens; more monsters;

• Eventually he is swept ashore to the island Eventually he is swept ashore to the island of Calypso where he spends of Calypso where he spends 7 years7 years. (It is at . (It is at this point where we first meet Odysseus.)this point where we first meet Odysseus.)

The Gods in The Gods in The OdysseyThe Odyssey

• To the ancient To the ancient Greeks, the gods Greeks, the gods were real, were real, controlled controlled everything, & everything, & interacted with interacted with human affairs.human affairs.

AthenaAthena• Goddess of Wisdom and Goddess of Wisdom and

WarWar• Known as “the grey-eyed Known as “the grey-eyed

goddess” goddess” • Zeus’s first wife was Metis, Zeus’s first wife was Metis,

meaning Wisdommeaning Wisdom• Zeus Zeus swallowed swallowed Metis Metis

before she was to give before she was to give birth to Athena.birth to Athena.

• He knew 2He knew 2ndnd child would child would dethrone him.dethrone him.

• Athena was born from her Athena was born from her father Zeus’s head father Zeus’s head

• Always at Odysseus’s side, Always at Odysseus’s side, offering help and advice.offering help and advice.

• She also helps Telemachus She also helps Telemachus on his journey. on his journey.

PoseidonPoseidon

• God of the SeaGod of the Sea• Odysseus’s enemyOdysseus’s enemy• Known for his Known for his

arrogance and arrogance and brutishness brutishness

• Often seen with a Often seen with a tridenttrident

• The father of the The father of the CyclopsCyclops

Odysseus & the GodsOdysseus & the Gods

• Homer used both Homer used both Athena and Athena and Poseidon as alter-Poseidon as alter-egos for Odysseus: egos for Odysseus: good vs. evilgood vs. evil

• Odysseus is known Odysseus is known for his cleverness for his cleverness but can also be but can also be stubborn and stubborn and arrogant.arrogant.

Domestic Life in Ancient Domestic Life in Ancient GreeceGreece

as seen in as seen in The OdysseyThe Odyssey• Real men cry. Crying is a natural Real men cry. Crying is a natural

expression of emotion.expression of emotion.

• Even royalty are expected to do Even royalty are expected to do chores. chores.

• Parents are involved in arranging Parents are involved in arranging marriages.marriages.

• Embracing someone’s knees shows Embracing someone’s knees shows respect, humility, and petition. respect, humility, and petition.

Domestic Life in Ancient Domestic Life in Ancient GreeceGreece

• Poets and poetry Poets and poetry were an important were an important part of ancient part of ancient Greek life for Greek life for entertainment & entertainment & instruction.instruction.

• Gave gifts to guests Gave gifts to guests upon arrival and upon arrival and departure. departure.

• Strangers were Strangers were always welcome.always welcome.

Themes in Themes in The OdysseyThe Odyssey

• Hospitality as a serious and Hospitality as a serious and important obligation in Greek important obligation in Greek cultureculture: always be polite to your : always be polite to your guests; however, this expectation guests; however, this expectation prevents Telemachus and Penelope prevents Telemachus and Penelope from removing the suitors from their from removing the suitors from their homehome

Themes in Themes in The OdysseyThe Odyssey

• The danger of hubrisThe danger of hubris: hubris is excessive : hubris is excessive pride that leads to destruction. Odysseus is pride that leads to destruction. Odysseus is often guilty of hubris and Athena must often guilty of hubris and Athena must rescue himrescue him

• The importance of moderationThe importance of moderation: Giving in : Giving in to excess or temptation, whether food, to excess or temptation, whether food, drink, or other pleasures, will cause a person drink, or other pleasures, will cause a person harm. The Sirens’ song leads to destruction harm. The Sirens’ song leads to destruction and the suitors’ desires lead to their and the suitors’ desires lead to their destruction.destruction.

Themes in Themes in The OdysseyThe Odyssey

• The expected roles for The expected roles for women and men in women and men in Greek societyGreek society: Men are : Men are almost always superior almost always superior to women, except in to women, except in Sparta where women Sparta where women have more rights.have more rights.

• The role of fateThe role of fate: : Characters receive hints Characters receive hints as to their fate; however, as to their fate; however, some choose to ignore some choose to ignore the foreshadowingthe foreshadowing

Themes in Themes in The OdysseyThe Odyssey• The similarities between Greek gods The similarities between Greek gods

and mortalsand mortals: The gods have many of the : The gods have many of the same negative traits as humans and often same negative traits as humans and often cause destruction. cause destruction.

• Gods may choose to save one person and Gods may choose to save one person and many others will die as a result. many others will die as a result.

• The gods are given credit for all that is The gods are given credit for all that is good, they are sometimes blamed for good, they are sometimes blamed for bringing destruction to mortals.bringing destruction to mortals.

• Why do you think their gods are so similar Why do you think their gods are so similar to humans?to humans?

Themes in Themes in The OdysseyThe Odyssey• LoyaltyLoyalty: Penelope is : Penelope is

expected to wait for expected to wait for Odysseus, gone for Odysseus, gone for more than 20 years. more than 20 years.

• Telemachus must Telemachus must stand for his father, stand for his father, who he does not even who he does not even remember, against the remember, against the suitors. suitors.

• However, there are However, there are characters who do not characters who do not remain loyal to remain loyal to Odysseus and their Odysseus and their fate is not good.fate is not good.

Themes in Themes in The OdysseyThe Odyssey• PerseverancePerseverance: :

work to survive in work to survive in any situation any situation

• VengeanceVengeance: It is : It is acceptable to hurt acceptable to hurt or kill those who are or kill those who are disloyal. The end of disloyal. The end of the epic shows what the epic shows what happens to those happens to those who defy Odysseus who defy Odysseus

Themes in Themes in The OdysseyThe Odyssey• Appearance vs. Appearance vs.

RealityReality: Athena takes : Athena takes on many different on many different characters’ identities characters’ identities and even animals’ when and even animals’ when helping Telemachus or helping Telemachus or Odysseus. Odysseus.

• Athena can even change Athena can even change others’ appearances for others’ appearances for reasons such as reasons such as checking on someone’s checking on someone’s loyalty or making a good loyalty or making a good impression on a king.impression on a king.

Themes in Themes in The OdysseyThe Odyssey

• Spiritual GrowthSpiritual Growth: : Telemachus and Telemachus and Odysseus both Odysseus both experience experience struggles which struggles which cause them to cause them to mature spiritually mature spiritually by the end of the by the end of the epic.epic.

Greek Monster Q & A Greek Monster Q & A

• What is the name What is the name of the mortal of the mortal woman who could woman who could turn into a dragon-turn into a dragon-like monster with like monster with snakes for hair? snakes for hair?

• A) AthenaA) Athena

• B) MedusaB) Medusa

• C) Scylla C) Scylla MEDUSA

Greek Monster Q & AGreek Monster Q & A

• What is the name What is the name of the giant who of the giant who only has one eye in only has one eye in the middle of his the middle of his forehead?forehead?

• A) Cyclops A) Cyclops

• B) Charibdis B) Charibdis

• C) CirceC) CirceCYCLOPS

Greek Monster Q & AGreek Monster Q & A• What is the name of the sea What is the name of the sea

monster with four eyes, six monster with four eyes, six long necks with grisly heads, long necks with grisly heads, each of which contained each of which contained three rows of sharp teeth. three rows of sharp teeth. Her body consisted of twelve Her body consisted of twelve tentacle-like legs and a cat's tentacle-like legs and a cat's tail and with four to six dog-tail and with four to six dog-heads ringing her waist.heads ringing her waist.

• A) CharibdisA) Charibdis

• B) Harpie B) Harpie

• C) Scylla C) Scylla SCYLLA

Greek Monster Q & AGreek Monster Q & A

• What is the name of What is the name of the giant whirlpool the giant whirlpool who sucked in and who sucked in and burped out the burped out the waters of the sea waters of the sea and anything in his and anything in his path?path?

• A) SirenA) Siren• B) PandoraB) Pandora• C) CharibdisC) Charibdis CHARIBDIS

Greek Monster Q & AGreek Monster Q & A

• Who were the sea Who were the sea goddesses and goddesses and seductresses who seductresses who had the heads of had the heads of women and the women and the bodies of birds?bodies of birds?

• A) the HarpiesA) the Harpies• B) the SirensB) the Sirens• C) the SphinxC) the Sphinx

The SIRENS

Greek Monster Q & AGreek Monster Q & A

• Who was the Who was the sorceress who sorceress who turned people into turned people into hideous beasts hideous beasts with human brains?with human brains?

• A) CirceA) Circe

• B) HeraB) Hera

• C) Artemis C) Artemis

CIRCE