Homer’s The Odyssey

1. Homer was the blind poet credited with the two great epics: The Iliad The Odyssey Homer’s The Odyssey

2. Epic Poetry • An epic (“primary epic”): 1. long narrative poem 2. covers a large time span 3. setting covers a large geographical area 4. include myth, legend, folktale: stories of great adventures, gods, men, monsters 5. about the adventures of a hero

3. Epic Poetry and The Hero • Main character (protagonist) is heroically larger than life • source and subject of legend or a national hero • Deeds of the hero are presented without favoritism, revealing his failings as well as his virtues • The action, often in battle, reveals the more-than-human strength of the heroes as they engage in acts of heroism and courage

4. Epic Poetry and History • The episodes, even though they may be fictional, provide an explanation for some of the circumstances or events in the history of a nation or people

5. Epic Poetry and Theme • All of the various adventures form an organic whole, where each event relates in some way to the central theme • Sometimes, poem begins with a statement of the theme ("Arms and the man I sing")

6. Epic Poetry Conventions • Invocation to the muse or other deity ("Sing, goddess, of the wrath of Achilles") • Story begins in medias res (in the middle of things) • Catalogs (of participants on each side, ships, sacrifices) • Histories and descriptions of significant items (who made a sword or shield, how it was decorated, who owned it from generation to generation)

7. Epic Poetry Conventions (cont’d) • Epic simile (a long simile where the image becomes an object of art in its own right as well as serving to clarify the subject). • Frequent use of epithets ("Aeneas the true"; "rosy-fingered Dawn"; "tall-masted ship") • Use of patronymics (calling son by father's name): "Anchises' son" • Long, formal speeches by important characters

8. Epic Poetry Conventions (cont’d) • Journey to the underworld • Use of the number three (attempts are made three times, etc.) • Previous episodes in the story are later recounted

9. Epic Poetry and the gods • The gods and lesser divinities play an active role in the outcome of actions

10. Ancient Greek Values • Greeks were polytheistic: • poly = many • theos = god • they believed there were many gods, who together controlled the world • Gods interacted with humans • Gods had great powers • including immortality • Gods had many flaws • jealousy, lustfulness, vengefulness, etc.

11. The Stories • The Odyssey is named for its epic hero, Odysseus • The Iliad is named for its location, Ilium, akaTroy. • The Iliad was composed between 900 and 700 BCE. • It is centered on the Trojan War. • The Odyssey opens up when Odysseus leaves Troy to go home • I t is composed of 24 books and around 20,000 lines.

12. Homer • We know almost nothing about him! • There is a tradition that states that he was blind, and an ancient bust of him portrays him as being blind. • Scholars believe he had to have seen at some point because the visual description of the landscape is so extensive, it seems almost impossible he never saw it.

13. Tradition • Originally, these poems were not written down. • They were passed down orally by traveling poets called rhapsodes. • The study of Homer’s epics became the basis for Greek education. • These poems were very famous and they were recited every four years at the festival of Athena in Athens, Greece.

14. DRAMA- DRAMA –DRAMA ! • The Golden Apple • Eris was a drama queen so she wasn’t allowed to go to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis (parents of Achilles) • To get back at them, she, of course, wanted to stir up some drama… so she threw an apple into the reception that read: “ To be given to the fairest of them all” (Snow White style) • Hera, Athena and Aphrodite all wanted it

15. Teenage Hormones • Paris, the most handsome mortal was asked to be the judge • The goddesses tried to bribe him: • Hera promised…. Power • Athena promised…. Wisdom • Aphrodite promised… A beautiful woman • Who did he chose? Let’s remember, he is a teenage boy

16. The face that launched a thousand ships • Helen was the most beautiful woman in the world and she was promised to Paris • There was only one problem- she was married…to Menelaus, leader of the Greek warriors and brother to the leader of Greece, Agamemnon • The dummy decided to steal her anyway … • Hence, the mythical start of the Trojan War

17. The Iliad • The Iliad opens in the tenth and final year of the Trojan War. • The war is at a stalemate, and the Greeks are beginning to mutiny among one another. • Achilles vs. Agammemnon • Odysseus • Creator of the Trojan Horse • Responsible for the fall of Troy

18. Odysseus • The gods were angered by Odysseus’ proud and boastful attitude towards success • To teach him a lesson they vowed he would have a long and difficult journey home. • The trip home is the subject of the Odyssey.

19. Characters • Achaeans- Greeks; specifically people of Achaea in North Greece. • Agamemnon- commander of the Greeks during the Trojan War • Alcinous- King of Phaeacia • Apollo - Greek god of poetry, music, and prophecy • Athena- Greek goddess of wisdom, crafts, and war • Calypso- beautiful sea nymph; kept Odysseus for seven years • Cicones- attacked by Odysseus’ men on way home from Troy

20. Characters (cont’d) • Circe- beautiful witch goddess; bewitched men into beats • Helios- sun god • Ithaca- Odyssesus’ home, a Greek island • Laertes- Odysseus’ father • Odysseus- King of Ithaca and hero of The Odyssey • Penelope- Odysseus’ wife • Phaecia- island kingdom of seafarers and traders • Poseiden- Greek god of the sea • Sirens- sea nymphs who lure sailors to demise by their songs • Telemachus- son of Odysseus and Penelope • Zeus- ruler of gods and goddesses; son of Chronus

21. Journey of Odysseus