An Introduction to Homer’s Odyssey

Homer: The Man of Mystery

Who was HOMER?

Homer was a blind minstrel (he told stories to entertain and to make his living); audiences had to listen carefully (this is “oral tradition” so there was a lot of repetition and improvisation used)

Other traveling poets (called rhapsodes) memorized and recited these epics in the banquet halls of kings and noble families

• History is vague on Homer’s identity; some say he is just a legend, others say that a whole series of rhapsodes composed various parts of the epics

• The epics were not originally written--the Greek alphabet didn’t appear until 725 BC

Cultural Capital: common knowledge that a group of people from same culture shares

Cultural Capital knowledge can come from:

• Literature• Stories/ History• Religion• Famous People• Media

Why do we read The Odyssey?

• The Odyssey is part of our cultural capital as Westerners

 • Birthplace of Western civilization:

Greece-Rome-Europe-Americas

• Great adventure story!

• Has stood the test of time—a classic!

• Follows the Hero’s Journey pattern!

• AND because it's part of our cultural capital as Westerners.

GREEK VALUESImportant to understand some of the main Greek values of the time because….

These values help explain characters’ motivations

Greek Values (explains characters’ motivations)

Reciprocity: • Mutual exchange between two people • You give to me, I give to you• You help me, later I have to help you

Greek Values (explains characters’ motivations)

Hospitality:• Treat all guests with respect• Be nice first, ask questions later• A stranger could be a god in disguise!

Be our guest,be our guest,

put our serviceto the test. . .

Greek Values (explains characters’ motivations)

Arete: • Greek idea of excellence, an ideal of human

perfection• Intelligence (be smart and cunning) • Strength• Courage• Duty

Greek Values (explains characters’ motivations)

Religion:• Actions should please the gods• Fate controlled by the god• Humans need the gods (man, without the gods,

is nothing) [Odysseus’ revelation]• Humans should honor gods through sacrifices,

asking gods for help, and giving credit to gods

Epics and Heroes

• What is Hubris?

Hubris is extreme arrogance or self-pride. Often in Greek tragedies, hubris would be the fatal flaw of the main character, often resulting in their downfall. In Mythology, humans sometimes demonstrated hubris, which angered the gods.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZqPXBJ8xLk

Tony Stark (Iron Man)

The Epic

Characteristics of the Epic:1. Long, narrative poem

2. Reflects values of a nation or race

3. Addresses universal concerns

4. Focuses on the adventures of a historical or legendary hero

5. The supernatural plays an important role

6. Story is set in many locations

7. Hero against the odds – strong and courageous

8. Story is simple and written in formal language

EPICSThings you will discover once you have read an Epic:

Classical Allusions: references to mythology

Example: She had the face that launched a thousand ships—Refers to Helen of Troy from The Illiad.

• You will find these allusions in other literature, movies, everyday conversations, and even in modern day advertising.

• Example: Percy Jackson series, Honda Odyssey van, Venus razors, Good Year tires with Hermes wings, etc.

Things you will discover once you have read an Epic:

The Hero’s Journey Pattern:Most epic heroes go on some sort of quest. Lookfor examples of the Separation, Transformation, and Return. Be able to chart Odysseus’ Hero’s Journey through the 8 stages and apply the HJ concepts to his journey. How does Odysseus change?

EPICS

Conventions of the Epic

EpithetA brief descriptive phrase

• Characterizes a person, place or thing

• Gives story-teller a “breather”

• Helps with rhyming or meter

Examples: rosy-fingered dawn

gray-eyed Athena

The blue-maned god who makes the islands tremble

Son of Laertes and gods of old, master mariner and soldier

Homeric SimileCompares epic events to everyday

events“…in one stride he clutched at my companions and

caught two in his hands like squirming puppies to beat their brains out, spattering the floor.”

In Medias Resin the middle

In Medias Res: literary technique in which the plot sequence is out of order; Latin for “in the middle,” the story begins in the middle of the action, flashes back to the beginning to catch up, then skips to the endExample: Forrest Gump

Homer’s Epics

(composed between 900 & 700 BC!) First there was…

The Iliad

The Iliad• Primary model for the epic of war

• Set in 10th and final year of the Trojan War

• Achilles’ role and eventual end

After The Iliad (Aneid by Virgil)• Odysseus’ wooden horse trick

• Greeks defeat the Trojans

• Odysseus heads for home

The Odyssey

Tales of Odysseus

The Travels of Odysseus

The OdysseyPrimary model for the epic of the long journey home

THE ODYSSEY• Meaning: a long journey with many adventures

or a spiritual or intellectual quest• The word “odyssey” derives from the name

Odysseus, the main character from the Odyssey (he is also referred to as Ulysses in classic literature)

The Odyssey Involves 3 Sets of Characters:

1. The Greek GODS

2. Humans

3. Supernatural monsters and creatures

The Odyssey

A story told in

3 stages

PART ONE

A story of what happens in Ithaca to Odysseus’ wife (Penelope) and son (Telemachus) as they await his return

PART TWO

A story of Odysseus’ wanderings after the Trojan War (the war lasted 10 years and his wanderings lasted another 10 years!)

PART THREE

A story of how Odysseus returns home to Ithaca and joins forces with his son to destroy his enemies

Why does it take Odysseus 10 years to get home?

Read and find out!

Meanwhile…there’s trouble at home!

• In Ithaca, Odysseus is suspected to be dead

• Suitors have invaded the palace

• Penelope, Odysseus’ wife, is in an awkward position and must trick the men into leaving her alone

• Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, resents the imposing situation

And so the epic begins…

Works CitedAlthouse. 3/3/06. <www.althouse.blogspot.com>

Auburn University. 3/4/06 .<www.auburn.edu>

Clipart.com. 3/4/06. <http://schools.clipart.com/>