Introduction to Introduction to the Odysseythe Odyssey

English IEnglish I

Mrs. Mrs. GroomerGroomer

Homer: The Epic PoetHomer: The Epic Poet

A blind poetA blind poet Accredited with the Accredited with the

story telling of story telling of The IliadThe Iliad The OdysseyThe Odyssey

Scholar debated his Scholar debated his actual existenceactual existence

The Iliad & The OdysseyThe Iliad & The Odyssey

Common ElementsCommon Elements The Trojan WarThe Trojan War Heroism of OdysseusHeroism of Odysseus Interference of the Interference of the

godsgods

The Trojan WarThe Trojan War

Occurred around 1200 BCOccurred around 1200 BC A Trojan prince kidnapped the A Trojan prince kidnapped the

beautiful Helen from her husband, beautiful Helen from her husband, Menelaus, King of SpartaMenelaus, King of Sparta

The Greeks fought Troy for ten yearsThe Greeks fought Troy for ten years

The Heriosm of The Heriosm of OdysseusOdysseus

Odysseus has the Greeks Odysseus has the Greeks build a giant wooden build a giant wooden horse which is left at the horse which is left at the gates of Troy as a peace gates of Troy as a peace offeringoffering The Trojans take the horse into the The Trojans take the horse into the

gates of the citygates of the city At night, while the Trojans are At night, while the Trojans are

asleep, hundred of Greek soldiers asleep, hundred of Greek soldiers come out of the horse to defeat the come out of the horse to defeat the TrojansTrojans

The OdysseyThe Odyssey

After the war, Odysseus and his men After the war, Odysseus and his men load their ships and make way for load their ships and make way for home.home.

Along the way, they encounter Along the way, they encounter numerous obstacles and adventures.numerous obstacles and adventures.

Meanwhile, Penelope (Odysseus’ wife) Meanwhile, Penelope (Odysseus’ wife) is at home on Ithaca raising their son, is at home on Ithaca raising their son, Telemachus and trying to elude Telemachus and trying to elude marriage to one of the many suitors.marriage to one of the many suitors.

The Intervention of GodsThe Intervention of Gods AthenaAthena

Supported the Greeks in the Trojan WarSupported the Greeks in the Trojan War Guardian Goddess of OdysseusGuardian Goddess of Odysseus

PoseidonPoseidon Curses Odysseus to be lost at sea and Curses Odysseus to be lost at sea and

return to bad things at home. return to bad things at home. ApolloApollo

Threatened to take the sun out of the skyThreatened to take the sun out of the sky ZeusZeus

Sent a bolt of lightening to destroy Odysseus’ crew Sent a bolt of lightening to destroy Odysseus’ crew and ship as revenge for Apollo after they ate and ship as revenge for Apollo after they ate Apollo’s cattle.Apollo’s cattle.

More Gods & More Gods & GoddessesGoddesses

HermesHermes Brings a message to Brings a message to

Calypso from Zeus to Calypso from Zeus to release Odysseusrelease Odysseus

CalypsoCalypso Holds Odysseus captive Holds Odysseus captive

on her island for seven on her island for seven yearsyears

AeolusAeolus Guardian of the wind – Guardian of the wind –

gives Odysseus a bag of gives Odysseus a bag of windwind

CirceCirce Goddess of Aeaea – turns Goddess of Aeaea – turns

Odysseus’ men into pigsOdysseus’ men into pigs

Other Mythological Other Mythological CharactersCharacters

SirensSirens Creatures whose songs Creatures whose songs

lure sailors to their death lure sailors to their death Scylla Scylla

Six-headed sea monster Six-headed sea monster who devours sailors who devours sailors

CharybdisCharybdis A dangerous personified whirlpool that A dangerous personified whirlpool that

sucks in shipssucks in ships PolyphemusPolyphemus

Cyclops; son of PoseidonCyclops; son of Poseidon

Odysseus’ JourneyOdysseus’ Journey

Terms to KnowTerms to Know EpicEpic

A long narrative poem A long narrative poem Epic HeroEpic Hero

A larger-than-life figure who undergoes a great A larger-than-life figure who undergoes a great journey and possesses remarkable strength and journey and possesses remarkable strength and cunningcunning

Epic SimileEpic Simile A simile that goes on for several linesA simile that goes on for several lines

EpithetEpithet A brief descriptive phrase used to characterize a A brief descriptive phrase used to characterize a

particular person or thing (son of Laertes; raider particular person or thing (son of Laertes; raider of cities)of cities)

AllusionAllusion A reference to a famous person, place, or eventA reference to a famous person, place, or event