Do Now
 What is a hero? What qualities do heroes share? Who
are some of your heroes?
The Odyssey
Homer
Background
 The Iliad and The Odyssey are two of the oldest epic poems
in Western literature.
 The Odyssey is valued for its form, content, powerful
language, and compelling story.
 The Iliad focuses on the 10 year Trojan War between the
Greeks and Trojans.
 Consists of a series of loosely related incidents based on
historical fact
 The Odyssey is about one soldier’s homecoming 19 years after
the end of the Trojan War.
 In contrast to The Iliad, The Odyssey has a unified plotline with
many supernatural elements.
Homer
 There is some debate over whether Homer is the true author
of The Odyssey.
 There was a blind poet who lived around the eighth century
B.C., but there is some dispute whether this man actually
wrote The Iliad and The Odyssey.
 Troy existed in what is modern day Turkey.
 A Trojan War did take place in the early 1100s B.C., a few
hundred years before Homer’s lifetime.
 Homer took a lot of traditional material – developed by bards
over many centuries – and cast it in a unique form.
Literary Terms
 Epic
 An extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language
celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero
 Usually include:

The invocation of the muse

Epithets

Any word or phrase applied to a person or thing to describe an
actual or attributed quality.


Alexander the Great, Richard the Lion-Hearted
A word, phrase, or expression used as a term of abuse or
contempt (i.e. racial epithet).

A vast setting

Supernatural forces
Literary Terms
 In media res
 “In the middle of things”
 Many epics begin in this way.
Literary Terms
 Homeric epithet
 An adjectival phrase so often repeated in connection with
a person or thing that it almost becomes a part of the
name, like “stout Hermes.”
 Homeric simile
 An epic simile
 Usually an elaborate comparison that extends through a
number of lines.
Hospitality
 Xenia – hospitality
 Zeus was considered the god of travelers and being
inhospitable was considered a disrespectful action against
him.
 Greeks had to be hospitable to everyone for fear that a god or
goddess was mingling among them and being rude could cause
his/her wrath.
 There must be respect from guest to host, host to guest, and a
parting gift from host to guest.
 This idea is an important part of The Iliad and The Odyssey.
 Paris violated this in The Iliad by taking Helen of Troy.
 Many people in The Odyssey are hospitable to Odysseus.
Themes
 Revenge and sacrifice
 Compassion
 Masculinity and pride
 The role of a virtuous and faithful wife
 The duty of servants
Classwork
 Complete classwork worksheet.
Homework
 Read Book I and answer the corresponding questions.
Do Now
 What is a myth? Are myths based on actual happenings?
Book I
 Examine the epithets that are associated with various
characters: “clever,” “fine fellow” Odysseus; “fine old
gentleman” Laërtês; “the wise and faithful wife”
Penelopeia; “the usual good mannered” Telemachos.
What function do these epithets serve other than as
formulaic constructions used in the oral poetic medium?
How are these epithets appropriate to the characters
associated with them? When are they not appropriate?
Classwork
 Complete classwork worksheet.
Homework
 Read Book II and answer the corresponding questions.
Do Now
 What is the relationship of gods to mortals? Why do
they sometimes make life hard for mortals?
Book II
 Examine the arguments made by each speaker at the
Ithacan assembly. How do the characters’ speeches
reflect their individual personalities? Analyze both what
the characters say and the manner and mood in which
they say it.
 How do the styles and rhetorical strategies employed by
the various speakers compare and contrast with one
another? How are these similarities and differences
significant? What conclusions can you draw about the
speakers’ characters traits as depicted in their speech?
Classwork
 Complete classwork worksheet.
Homework
 Read Book III and answer the corresponding questions.
Do Now
 What are some examples of stories that are passed down
by word of mouth from generation to generation before
they were actually written down?
Book III
 Examine Nestor’s personality and character. What
distinguishes him from other characters who serve as
storytellers during the course of the narrative? What
distinguishing features mark his speech?
 What is the general impression of Nestor’s character in
The Odyssey? What means does Homer employ in
order to achieve this impression?
Classwork
 Complete classwork worksheet.
Homework
 Read Book IV and answer the corresponding questions.
Do Now
 Have you ever seen a storyteller in action – or told a
story to a group yourself ? What is hard about it? What
did you like about it?
Book IV
 Scholars have dubbed the first four books of The
Odyssey as the “Telemachy,” for the books deal almost
exclusively with the journeys of Telemachos. In what
ways are these books an appropriate introduction to
Homer’s work? In what ways are the books an
inappropriate introduction?
 Note the many references to Odysseus in these books.
What picture do you have of him before he is even
physically in the story? Is your view of him negative or
positive?
Classwork
 Complete classwork worksheet.
Homework
 Read Book V and answer the corresponding questions.
Do Now
 What are some memory devices a storyteller might use?
How does the storyteller keep the audience’s attention?
Book V
 Examine several of the epic similes found in this and
other books of The Odyssey. Identify each element in
the simile and its relation to elements (characters, events,
objects, etc.) in the narrative.
 What emotions, moods, and other factors can you elicit
from the epic simile that were not present in the direct
description of the element itself ? Are these new feelings
appropriate to the events that surround the simile? Does
the simile enhance the narrative or distract from it?
 Does this part of the story remind you of any other
stories you know?
Classwork
 Complete classwork worksheet.
Homework
 Read Book VI and answer the corresponding questions.
Do Now
 Why do people go on long journeys? What are the
benefits? What are the problems that can accompany a
long trip?
Book VI
 Compare the various comic aspects of Book VI with
parallel passages in the poem of a more serious nature.
Look, for example, at Odysseus’s decision making,
Athena’s enhancement of beauty, and epic similes. How
is the mocking of previous conventions more effective
than simply inventing new narrative techniques for
comic action?
Classwork
 Complete classwork worksheet.
Homework
 Read Book VII and answer the corresponding questions.
Do Now
 How important is your pride? Does it ever cause you
problems? What about the pride of family or friends?
Has it ever caused a fight?
Book VII
 Examine the many scenes of hospitality in The Odyssey.
How are they similar? How do they differ? What is
significant about these differences? What commentary
does each episode offer concerning the responsibilities of
guest and host, such as gift giving, nourishment, etc.?
 What is the relationship between the motif of hospitality
and the distasteful situation occurring in Odysseus’s
home during his absence?
Classwork
 Complete classwork worksheet.
Homework
 Read Book VIII and answer the corresponding questions.
Do Now
 Have you ever had to sacrifice something significant? Or
perhaps sacrificed something that seemed insignificant
but ended up really affecting you? What happened that
you had to make this sacrifice? How did you feel
afterwards?
Book VIII
 Examine the character of Demodocos in Book VIII.
What information does Homer relate to us concerning
his profession? How did you think professional
bards/minstrels were able to survive?
 Note Penelopeia’s attempt to silence Phemios in Book I.
What is significant about Telemachos’s defense of
Phemios’s behavior, and how does this defense relate to
Demodocos in Book VIII?
Classwork
 Complete classwork worksheet.
Homework
 Read Book IX and answer the corresponding questions.
Do Now
 Many stories examine the male ego through their
characters. How is the male ego portrayed in the story
so far? Have you experienced many “macho” men in
your life? Do you consider yourself, your dad, your
brothers, etc. to be this certain stereotype?
Book IX
 Book IX is the first section told by Odysseus himself to
the Phaiacians. What are the differences between
Odysseus’s narrative technique and that of the main
narrator of The Odyssey? What are the similarities
between the two? Explain the significance of your
findings.
 Does Odysseus’s depiction of himself coincide with that
of the main narrator? Explain the significance of your
findings.
Classwork
 Complete classwork worksheet.
Homework
 Read Book X and answer the corresponding questions.
Do Now
 Last night for homework, you examined the loyalty of
Odysseus’s crew. Have you ever felt like you were owed
some sort of loyalty and it was not given to you, be it
from a friend, family member, co-worker, etc.? What
were the circumstances? Why couldn’t the person be as
loyal to you as you would have liked? Or was there no
good reason for his/her disloyalty?
Book X
 The loyalty of Odysseus’s crew is constantly in flux.
Sometimes they follow him unswervingly, and other
times they refuse to obey him and even conspire against
him. Examine these critical moments throughout
Odysseus’s narrative.
 How significant are the crew’s actions in the plot’s
overall progression? What message are both Odysseus
and Homer himself trying to drive home to their
audience by means of these many examples of loyalty
and disloyalty?
Classwork
 Complete classwork worksheet.
Homework
 Read Book XI and answer the corresponding questions.
Do Now
 Have you ever wished you could get revenge for
something that was done to you or someone you cared
about? If you could get revenge in some way with no
one ever knowing, would you act? Or would you feel too
guilty?
Book XI
 Throughout The Odyssey, Odysseus’s curiosity is one of
his most endearing traits. Note the conflict between fear
and curiosity that he experiences throughout Book XI.
What do you learn about his character here?
 Does his curiosity ever seem obsessive? When do you see
his curiosity in a negative light? When do you see it in a
positive light?
Classwork
 Complete classwork worksheet.
Homework
 Read Book XII and answer the corresponding questions.
Do Now
 What can war do to the psychological state of human
beings? How does being away from the basic comforts of
life for an extended period of time affect people?
Book XII
 Examine Odysseus’s relationship to the supernatural
universe surrounding him. At what moments does he
lack control over his surroundings? At what moments
does he seem in command of his own fate and that of
his companions?
 What message might you infer from Homer’s treatment
of Odysseus’s relationship with the gods? What do you
learn about the poet’s views on human nature and its
interaction with forces beyond its control?
Classwork
 Complete classwork worksheet.
Homework
 Read Book XIII and answer the corresponding
questions.
Do Now
 Have you ever been affected by someone’s long standing
grudge? Did it surprise you that he/she was still upset?
Did the person try to get back at you? What was the
outcome?
Book XIII
 Analyze the scenes where Odysseus employs deception
in Books IX-XIII. What do you learn about Odysseus’s
character through his use of deception, disguise, and
storytelling?
Classwork
 Complete classwork worksheet.
Homework
 Read Book XIV and answer the corresponding
questions.
Do Now
 Penelope’s suitors are increasingly aggressive throughout
the story. Have you ever had to compete for something
you really wanted? What did you have to do? What was
the outcome?
Book XIV
 Why do you suppose Odysseus does not tell the swineherd the
truth about his past?
 Why do you think Odysseus did not just ask for the cloak?
 What is significant about Odysseus’s depictions of himself in
his disguised state and the Odysseus in the narrative? Where
do the ironies lie when you consider the fact that Odysseus
himself is telling this false story?
 What insights do you gain about Odysseus through this telling
of the story?
Classwork
 Complete classwork worksheet.
Homework
 Read Book XV and answer the corresponding questions.
Do Now
 Odysseus and Telemachos keep just missing each other
throughout the story. Have you ever narrowly missed an
opportunity? What caused you to miss your chance?
Did it eventually work out?
Book XV
 Consider the present state of Eumaios the swineherd. What new
dimensions are added to his character by his life story?
 Through Eumaios, what is Homer trying to say about the status and
duties of household slaves in the Greek world of his day?
 Athena says to Telemachos, “You know what a woman’s mind is
like; she wishes to enrich the man who marries her, but as for the
other husband and his children, once he is dead she forgets them all
and never asks about them. The best you can do is to go back, and
put everything in the hands of one of the women, whichever you
think is best, until the gods provide you a good capable wife” (169).
Why does she tell him this? Penelopeia has been faithful, so what is
she saying about women in general?
Classwork
 Complete classwork worksheet.
Homework
 Read Book XVI and answer the corresponding
questions.
Do Now
 Being away from home for a long period of time can
cause a variety of emotions. Have you ever had to be
away from your home for an extended period of time?
How did you feel? If you haven’t ever had to leave home
for a considerable amount of time, how do you think
you would feel? Does going away to college seem
daunting to you? Explain.
Book XVI
 Describe the scene where Odysseus and Telemachos are
reunited (185). What does it seem to say about the
relationship between parent and child? What are some
of the universal emotions associated with their reunion?
 Examine the speeches by Eurymachos, Antinoös, and
Amphinomos on Pages 188-190. Of what is each
attempting to convince their audiences? What rhetorical
strategies are employed by each to persuade their
audiences? What do we learn about these characters
from their respective speeches?
Classwork
 Complete classwork worksheet.
Homework
 Read Book XVII and answer the corresponding
questions.
Do Now
 Has a single act of compassion ever affected you
significantly? Or have you ever done something
compassionate for another person that caused a great
change in your life or his/hers?
Book XVII
 In this book, there is a clear contrast between Eumaios,
the model servant, and Melanthios. How do the servants
mentioned in this book differ from Eumaios? What is
the significance of Eumaios’s commentary on the
matter?
 What Homer imply through his treatment of servants in
Book XVII?
 What is the symbolism of the sneeze in Book XVII?
Classwork
 Complete classwork worksheet.
Homework
 Read Book XVIII and answer the corresponding
questions.
Do Now
 Why is Odysseus taunted so frequently in the novel? Is
this reaction typical today? How would fellow students
treat a dirty and poorly dressed peer?
Book XVIII
 In Book II, Antinoös makes angry allegations about
Penelopeia’s deceitful behavior (24-25). How do the
events of Book XVIII support his suspicions?
 Why does Odysseus react as he does to Penelopeia’s
actions? How do you better understand the relationship
between Odysseus and Penelopeia through the events of
Book XVIII?
 What is Homer’s attitude toward Penelopeia’s behavior?
In what way does the poet want his audience to perceive
her?
Classwork
 Complete classwork worksheet.
Homework
 Read Book XIX and answer the corresponding
questions.
Do Now
 The suitors constantly ravage Odysseus’s house, eat the
food of his household, and are generally rude and
inappropriate toward his wife. Have you ever
encountered an extreme case of rudeness in your life?
How did you react? Did you say something to the
person who was using poor manners? Or did you ignore
it?
Book XIX
 On Page 216, Penelopeia reveals how she has managed to hold off
the suitors for several years. What does this tell you about her
character? Her mind? What sort of woman do you think she is?
 In Book XIX, the meaning of Odysseus’s name is revealed (221).
How does this correspond to the troubles of Odysseus’s life?
 Analyze Penelopeia’s dream of the eagle and geese (223). What
links the imagery in the dream with other symbols in The Odyssey?
What is curious about Penelopeia’s attitude toward the geese in the
dream? What do her actions in the dream seem to suggest?
 What is odd about Penelopeia’s request to have Odysseus interpret
the dream? What is ironic about their discussion of the dream?
Classwork
 Complete classwork worksheet.
Homework
 Read Book XX and answer the corresponding questions.
Do Now
 Telemachos begins the novel as a whiny, insecure boy
and matures throughout the story by dealing with the
suitors. Was there any experience that caused you to
grow up rather quickly, perhaps where you had to make
a major or difficult decision or needed to be mature
beyond your years? What were the circumstances?
What did you learn overall from the experience? How
do you feel looking back on it now?
Book XX
 With the arrival Philoitios, we have another perspective
of the loyal servant. Examine Philoitios’s speeches to
Odysseus. What do we learn about this character
through his stories? What makes his decision so crucial
to Odysseus’s assessment of his loyalty?
 How are the suitors continuing to disrespect the house of
Odysseus? What are the signs of their coming doom?
Classwork
 Complete classwork worksheet.
Homework
 Read Book XXI and answer the corresponding
questions.
Do Now
 Choose one line from Book XXI that strikes you
somehow – and explain why.
Book XXI
 Examine Penelope’s contest in detail. What is
significant about the suitors’ failure to string the bow?
What is significant about their reactions to their own
failures?
 Look at the speeches made by Eurymachos, Leiodês,
and Penelopeia. How do these serve to make the
competition of the utmost importance to all involved?
 To whom does Odysseus reveal himself ? Why? What
does their reaction show you about their loyalty to
Odysseus?
Classwork
 Complete classwork worksheet.
Homework
 Read Book XXII and answer the corresponding
questions.
Do Now
 There are many bloody descriptions of death in Book
XXII. Which one do you find the most gut-wrenching?
Why do you suppose Homer goes into such revolting
detail?
Book XXII
 Examine Homer’s use of poetic justice in Book XXII.
How do certain characters’ deaths recall past incidents or
foreshadowing presented earlier in the novel?
 Analyze the deaths of Antinoös and Melanthios
particularly (243, 252). How does the manner of their
deaths recall earlier episodes involving them?
 Analyze the deaths that seem inappropriate, particularly
Amphinomos and Leiodês (244, 249). To what extent
are we meant to sympathize with characters whose
deaths appear unjust?
Classwork
 Complete classwork worksheet.
Homework
 Read Book XVIII and answer the corresponding
questions.
Do Now
 Was Odysseus’s reunion with his wife pretty much what
you expected? Or did it surprise you in any way? Would
you have liked to know more about what they said to
each other?
Book XXIII
 How is Penelopeia shown to be a good match for
Odysseus in Book XXIII?
 In what ways does Odysseus’s revelation of his identity
to Penelopeia differ from other such disclosures? In
what ways is this occurrence similar to the other scenes
like it? Trace the motif of revealed identity throughout
the story.
Classwork
 Complete classwork worksheet.
Homework
 Read Book XXIV and answer the corresponding
questions.
Do Now
 Athena finally ends the chaos of Ithaca by the
conclusion of Book XXIV. Have you ever had to play
peacemaker, as she does throughout the novel? Are you
someone who constantly fixes and takes care of
everything for others? Or do you know someone who is
like that in your own life?
Book XXIV
 Examine Odysseus’s reunion with his father. Why do
you think he hesitates in telling his father who he really
is?
 Critics have noted the rather abrupt ending of The
Odyssey. Do you think the finale of the poem is
complete, or do there seem to be events missing?
Explain your answer, drawing upon the preceding events
of the story and the foreshadowing they provide.
Classwork
 Complete classwork worksheet.
Homework
 Bring three questions for tomorrow’s test review.