THE ODYSSEYBY HOMER

Read and put back in day 8

HOMER• A BLIND POET WHO LIVED AROUND

800 B.C.

• HOMERIC-ADJECTIVE MEANING LARGE SCALE, MASSIVE, ENORMOUS

• ORIGINALLY TOLD THE ODYSSEY AND THE ILIAD ORALLY

• TRAVELED THROUGHOUT GREECE

• TWO EPICS WERE BASIS FOR GREEK EDUCATION

ELEMENTS OF Homer’s Style

Repetition - return of a word, phrase, stanza form, or effect in a work of literature - used in epic for comfort and rest

Example - description of a feast

Hubris - great / excessive pride that brings about the downfall of a character

Example - in Epics - usually against gods

More Homer’s Style

Epithet - combination of a descriptive phrase and a noun which highlights a prominent characteristic

Example - gray-eyed goddess,

blue-maned god,

Odysseus, raider of cities

WHAT IS AN EPIC POEM?

•AN EPIC POEM IS A LONG NARRATIVE POEM ABOUT THE DEEDS OF GODS OR HEROES. IT IS ELEVATED IN STYLE AND FOLLOWS CERTAIN PATTERNS.

WHAT IS AN EPIC SIMILE?

•ALSO CALLED A HOMERIC SIMILE, IT IS AN ELABORATE COMPARISON OF UNLIKE SUBJECTS.

What does the adjectiveHOMERIC mean?

• Massive, large, huge

• Combine the adjective to the word simile

and

THE HOMERIC SIMILE

GOES ON…..AND ON…..AND ON….AND ON…..

An example of the HOMERIC SIMILE

"Fear fell upon Hector as he beheld him, and he dared not stay longer where he was but fled in dismay from before the gates, while Achilles darted after him at his utmost speed. As a mountain falcon, swiftest of all birds, swoops down upon some cowering dove- the dove flies before him but the falcon with a shrill scream follows close after, resolved to have her- even so did Achilles make straight for Hector with all his might, while Hector fled under the Trojan wall as fast as his limbs could take him." - The Iliad

Setting of the Odyssey

LITERARY TERMS

• SETTING? GREECE OF COURSE!

Ithaca (Odysseus is king of Ithaca)

Troy (where Odysseus won the war) The Trojan War

Paris was gorgeous.Chosen by 3 goddesses to decide who was most beautiful.Each promised him stuff.One promised him the most beautiful woman ever – Helen.But…Helen was already married.

Women are trouble

• Paris didn’t care.• He kidnapped Helen,

and took her to his house in Troy.

• All the Kings of all the tribes around chased him to Troy. They asked Odysseus to help them.

The Trojan Horse

• Odysseus (known for being cunning)(look it up), had his men build a horse to give to the Trojans when they surrendered (they were faking).

• Men hid in the horse, jumped out when the Trojans were drunk and celebrating. They burnt the city and won the war.

WHO IS WHO?• PROTAGONISTS:

• ODYSSEUS (SMART,BRAVE,KING OF ITHACA)

• PENELOPE (ODYSSEUS’ LOYAL WIFE)

What’s the problem?

•Antagonists:•Poseidon (God of the Seas

and Oceans; The Suitors (guys after Penelope)

•Various monsters

CONFLICT?

• MAN VS. MAN= ODYSSEUS VS. POSEIDON

• MAN VS.MAN= ODYSSEUS/PENELOPE/TELEMACHUS VS. SUITORS

• MAN VS. MONSTER =ODYSSEUS AND CREW VS VARIOUS MONSTERS

SYMBOLS• GODS=GUIDANCE

• MONSTERS =OBSTACLES

• ITHACA=HAPPINESS

WHAT IS THIS POEM SAYING?

• THEME = LOYALTY ALWAYS PAYS OFF…HUMANS SHOULD KNOW THEIR PLACE!!!

POINT OF VIEW?

•THIRD PERSON OMNISCIENT•WHAT IT MEANS……•YOU KNOW THE THOUGHTS

AND FEELINGS OF THE CHARACTERS…..

EPIC HERO?BRAVE, STRONG, LOYAL, DARING,

GREAT SKILL…SAVES OTHERS…….PROTECTS….

IS THE EPIC HERO FLAWED???

• HUBRIS: EXCESSIVE PRIDE OR ARROGANCE

• “I CAN DO ANYTHING! I AM ODYSSEUS!!!!”