The Odyssey[Homer- Greek Poet]

Odyssey [noun] = a long journey, filled with notable experiences and hardships

Protagonist =

Odysseus

TurkeyGreece

Africa

Greece Turkey

Ithaca

Ithaca = Odysseus’s Kingdom & Home

The Odyssey:A Poem of Epic Proportions!

• What is an Epic Poem?

--- A long narrative poem about the deeds of a hero ; tells the story of a protagonist (usually a hero) and his/her many adventures

• Characteristics of an Epic Poem:

1) It usually begins with an invocation to a Muse.

2) It opens in the middle of the story [medias res], thus flashbacks are often used.

3) There are interactions between humans and gods/goddesses.

4) The setting is in numerous places that cover a large distance.

Qualities of the Epic Hero:--- The hero faces trials and adversaries (enemies) while on a

quest or journey.

--- Those who the hero encounters threaten his/her

completion of the journey.

--- The hero receives help from others, usually a god/

goddess.

--- An epic hero does NOT have a godlike power, BUT is

smarter/braver/ stronger than other humans.

--- At the end of the journey, the hero MUST complete a final

task ALONE.

Other items you need to know:

• Epic hero- main character in an epic poem

• Myth- a fictional tale that explains the actions of gods or heroes, or causes or natural phenomenon, or both

• LITERARY TERMS-• Allusion• Personification• Irony• Archetype- recurring

or familiar pattern in literary works

Who was Homer?Homer is the blind poet credited as the “author” of the poem. He wrote both The Iliad and The Odyssey. These texts are considered the most important in the Trojan Cycle. The Odyssey begins where the Iliad leaves off….