The Odyssey (Part I)

by Homer

I . STRATEGIES FOR READING AN EPIC – Direct ions: In ancient societies, stories were passed from one person to another by word of mouth. The longer stories, now called epics, might be told over several days. To help the story- tellers remember these lengthy pieces, the tales were composed in poetic lines and were often recited to the accompaniment of stringed instruments. Many were based on historical events; two epics were The Iliad and The Odyssey, which had their roots in the Trojan War and occurred about 1200 B.C. As you read, you may find a few areas that cause difficulty. Apply the following strategies to help you:

1) Reread or read ahead – If you don’t understand a certain passage, reread it, looking for connections among the words or sentences. It might also help you to read ahead, because a word or idea may be clarified further on. In The Odyssey, some of the long, involved, and ornate comparisons – called epic similes – may give you trouble. You might choose to skim through these on our first reading so that you don’t lose the plot line. Then go back and reread the epic similes.

2) Read in sentences, according to punctuat ion – Although epics are written in poetic form, you should read the sentences according to the punctuation, instead of line by line.

3) Paraphrase – pause periodically to restate in your own words what you have read. 4) Beware of the his torical context – The Odyssey took place long ago, and the

customs and attitudes in this epic are very different from those of today. Before you begin The Odyssey, familiarize yourself with the names of the characters. It will also help you to look at the map on page 891 and the map that I printed out for you.

II . COMPREHENSION STRATEGIES FOR READING AN EPIC –

On a separate piece of paper, apply active-reading strategies while reading the assigned sections in The Odyssey. The active-reading strategies will assist in your level of comprehension and analysis. Sett ing/Character *Identify and describe the setting for each section (place, time, weather, social conditions, mood/atmosphere). *Identify the important characters for each section and list their most significant traits as depicted in their words and actions.

Predict Make at least one prediction for each section. Be sure to explain WHY you believe this prediction will occur.

Connect Make at least two connections as you read: one personal connection and one worldly connection. Be sure to clarify both connections.

Respond Record your thoughts, feelings, and reactions about one specific conflict, theme, symbol, character, title, or decision.

Visual Visualize and draw the picture created in your mind as you read the text.

Quest ion/Answer *Record at least three questions that come to mind as you read. *Answer your questions at the end of each section.

STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS – “Sai l ing from Troy”

1. What is Odysseus’ father’s name?

2. Explain the following lines: “Men hold me / formidable for guile in peace and war; / this fame has gone abroad to the sky’s rim” (Homer 18-20). Be sure to explain BOTH points mentioned!!

3. How does Odysseus describe his homeland of Ithaca? Use a quote to support your claims.

4. Why did both Calypso and Circe “detain” Odysseus (hold him captive)?

5. Explain the line: “But in my heart I never gave consent” (Homer 34).

6. Why didn’t Odysseus give consent? Use a quote to support your claim.

7. After departing from Troy, where does Odysseus land first? What does he say he did to the land, men and women there?

8. Explain and describe Odysseus’ men’s first act of disobedience, and what happened as a result?

9. How many “benches of men” does Odysseus lose?

“The Lotus Eaters”

1. Create a collage and/or a series of illustrations that reflect Odysseus’ experiences in the land of the Lotus-Eaters.

“The Cyclops” 1. How did Odysseus lose six men in the land of the Cyclops? 2. How did Odysseus survive? 3. Who said, “My name is Nobody.”? How did this prove to be a smart move? 4. Why did Odysseus later reveal his name? How did this prove to be a foolish move? 5. Do you feel at all sorry for Polyphemus? Was Odysseus unfair to him? 6. Describe what happened in the Cyclops’ cave – from Polyphemus’ point of view. “The Land of the Dead” 1. Who was the first “ghost” Odysseus met in Hades? What request did he have? 2. How did Odysseus seem to feel about seeing his mother? What had happened to her?

3. What did Tiresias predict? What advice did he have? 4. Who are some of the others Odysseus saw in Hades? VIII. Study Guide quest ions for “The Land of the Dead” Direct ions: Read the lines from “The Sirens” and respond to the items that follow. Dear friends, more than one man, or two should know those things Circe foresaw for us and shared with me, so let me tell her forecast: then we die with our eyes open, if we are going to die, or know what death we baffle if we can. Sirens weaving a haunting song over the sea we are to shun, she said, and their green shore all sweet with clover; yet she urged that I alone should listen to their song. Therefore you are to tie me up, tight as a splint, erect along the mast, lashed to the mast, and if I shout and beg to be untied, take more turns of the rope to muffle me.

1. Copy Circe’s warning, beginning with line 691 and ending at the word clover in line 693, as a single sentence.

2. Rephrase lines 686-690 in your own words.

3. Write Odysseus’ words in lines 695-698 as a numbered set of directions. “Scyl la and Charybdis” 1. What is Scylla? What is Charybdis? 2. How did Odysseus lose men to Scylla – despite Circe’s warning?

“The Catt le of the Dun God” 1. What did Helios mean when he cried out, “You, father Zeus…you now must take revenge.”? 2. Why had Odysseus’ men ignored Tiresias’ warnings? What was the result?

Literary Focus: The Epic Hero

Direct ions: Determine what evidence is contained in each adventure to support the position that Odysseus had superior physical and intellectual prowess. Write your answers in the chart. Adventure Evidence of

Physical Abil i ty Evidence of Intel lectual Prowess

1. The Lotus-Eaters

2 . The Cyclops

3. The Sirens

4 . Scyl la and Charybdis