The Odyssey

Literary Terms

Background

Greek History

Card Marking 3: December 2013

Genre

• EPIC POEM• A long narrative poem• Begins w/ invocation (prayer)

• Adventurous

• Has Heroic Figure

• Setting is vast (very large)

• Has Supernatural forces• Has Serious tone (elevated

language/ message intended)

The Epic Hero

• An epic’s central character

• Larger-than-life figure from history

• Undertakes a dangerous voyage

• Demonstrates loyalty, courage, and honor

• Valued by society– A “role model”

Literary Techniques

• Repeated description

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Personification

• Epithet

• Foreshadowing

Simile

• A comparison between two things using “like” or “as”

• Example: “…and leaned on it turning it as a shipwright turns a drill in planking,…” (p.992)

Metaphor

• A comparison between two things without using “like” or “as”

• Example: “Why bait the beast again?” (p.996)

Personification

• Describing an object by giving it human qualities

• Example: “…The Cyclops bellowed and the rock roared round him…” (p.992)

Epithet

• Short, descriptive title

• A characterizing word or phrase associated with a person or thing

• A sort of “nickname”

• Example: “Richard the Lion-Hearted”

“…the young Dawn with fingertips of rose” (p.990)

Foreshadowing

• Clues that suggest events that have yet to occur

• Creates suspense

Archetype

• Describes the function or role a character plays in a story

• The most typical example of a particular kind of person or thing; ideal example

• Universally recognized

• Examples: the mother figure, the wise old man, the trickster, or the hero

The Greek Hero

• Strong in mind and body

• High social standing

• Actions affect others

• Struggle against human weakness– Yes, they are imperfect.

The Hero’s Journey Group Project

• EVERYONE will read what the stages of a hero’s journey are.

• Then, your groups will be assigned an excerpt about the hero’s journey.

• There will be 2 stages that your group will be responsible for reading and understanding.

• As a group, READ your 2 stages.

• Then, create a set of notes

FOR EACH STAGE that are– EASY to UNDERSTAND– EASY to COPY DOWN

• Choose the person in your group with the best handwriting.

– IN YOUR OWN WORDS!

• Your notes should answer the following questions:– What is the TITLE of the stage?– What is the # of the stage?– What is the hero experiencing in this stage?– Why is this stage important in the scheme of

the whole epic?

• Your group will PRESENT these notes to the rest of the class ON THE ELMO tomorrow, Friday the 6th.

• YOU MAY NOT TAKE ANY WORK HOME!• The class is responsible for note-taking while you

present.• The material will be tested very soon...

• Group Grading: 40 summative points

The Hero’s Journey

• CYCLE:• Hero possesses supernatural

ability• Charged with a quest/ a call to

action• Hero is tested• Travels to supernatural world

and experiences the “ordeal”• Hero nearly gives up• A resurrection: moves from

defeat to triumph• Restitution: regains rightful

place on throne

Hubris

• Excessive pride or self-confidence

• Arrogance

• Think about Casey (“Casey at the Bat”)

The Odyssey

• Begins “in medias res”• In the middle of things

The Iliad

• The prequel to The Odyssey• Concerned with the events of the Trojan War• Written by Homer

• WORD MAP• Pre (prefix)• Quel

The Trojan WarHistorical Context

• Fought between Spartans and Trojans

• Spartans- from Sparta (Greece or “The Greeks”)

V.

• Trojans- from Troy

Map of Ancient Greece

Where is Greece?

The OdysseyA Journey Home

• King Odysseus, of Ithaca, fought on behalf of the Spartans.

• He came up with The Trojan Horse• He attempts to return home, to Ithaca, after

10 years at war.• Gods, particularly Poseidon, are angered by

Odysseus’ pride and curse him to wander the earth.

The Journey

Characters

• Odysseus- King of Ithaca• Penelope- Queen of Ithaca• Telemachus- son of Odysseus & Penelope• Agememnon- leader of the Greek forces• Polyphemus (Cyclops)- son of Poseidon• Poseidon- god of the sea• Calypso- sea goddess, nymph, who loves

Odysseus and holds him captive• Circe- a “witch” goddess who helps Odysseus