Invocation from The Odyssey by Homer
Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story
Of that man skilled in all ways of contending,
The wanderer, harried for years on end,
After he plundered the stronghold
On the proud height of Troy.
He saw the townlands and
Learned the minds of many distant men,
And weathered many bitter nights and days
In his deep heart at sea, while he fought only
To save his life, to bring his shipmates home.
But not by will nor valor could he save them,
For their own recklessness destroyed them all—
Children and fools, they killed and feasted on
The cattle of Lord Helios, the Sun,
And he who moves all day through heaven
Took from their eyes the dawn of their return.
(Muse of epic poetry – Calliope)
epithet
harried =
plundered =
What does this tell you about Odysseus, the leader?
valor =
Who do the pronouns them, their, they refer to?
Of these adventures, Muse, daughter of Zeus,
Tell us in our time, lift the great song again.
What is an invocation?
in⋅vo⋅ca⋅tion -
noun

the act of invoking or calling upon a deity, spirit, etc. for aid, protection, inspiration; supplication

a form of prayer invoking God's presence, esp. one said at the beginning of a religious service or
public ceremony

an entreaty for guidance from a Muse, deity, etc. at the beginning of an epic or epic-like poem
Assignment: Write your own invocation based on the first seventeen lines of Homer's
Odyssey. Try to emulate the style of Homer. Your invocation can be serious or infused with
a sense of humor! Due on Thurs., Dec. 3 (1-day) and Fri., Dec.4 (2-day).