English 1 CP
Journal
Write a list of what makes a person or character heroic.
Try to come up with at least 10 items. You may also
write in paragraph form if you wish.
Key Terms
An odyssey is an extended adventurous voyage or trip
An epic poem is a long narrative poem about
important events in the history or folklore of a culture
the incredible deeds and adventures of a hero
An epic hero is the larger-than-life central character in an
epic poem
Many epics begin in medias res, or “in the middle of
things,” meaning that much of the important action in the
story occurred before the point at which the poem begins
Therefore, the adventures are often recounted in
flashback, a scene that interrupts the sequence of events
to relate earlier events
More Detail:
Epic Poem
Epic Hero
Based on historical
fact, legend and truth
Gods/goddesses help
and harass the hero
Hero reflects goals and
values of society
Taught lessons to
listeners/readers
Better than everyone
(strength, courage,
endurance)
Pride in reputation
Love for family/homeland
Forceful leader
Historical and Cultural Context
The backdrop of details of the time and place in which the
Whenis
you
a work
work
setread
or in
whichfrom
it was written
another
culture, use
Specific events, beliefs, and customs
background and prior
The
Odysseytotells
thethe
story of the Trojan War, when the
knowledge
analyze
Greeks
fought
(Turkey)
influence
of the Troy
historical
and
culturalWar
context.
Trojan
started because Paris kidnapped Helen –
her husband is Menelaus
Historical/Cultural Detail
Background
Analysis
“Now Zeus the lord of the cloud
roused in the north a storm
against the ships…”
Zeus is king of the
gods in Greek
mythology
The Odyssey reflects
a belief that the gods
participate actively in
the lives of mortals
Homer
Wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey (The Iliad is a story of war,
while the Odyssey takes place after)
Collected stories around 800 B.C.
In oral poetic competitions, Greek minstrels sang
stories set to music
Stories were told and listened to more than they were
read; they were not written down
Did he exist?
He was blind
May have been the greatest in a long line of Greek epic
storytellers/collectors
The Odyssey
Recounts Odysseus’ (epic hero) difficulties while trying to
go home
Odysseus ventures home after 10 years of fighting in the
Trojan War
Story begins 10 more years after the end of the war (in
medias res; often told in flashbacks)
No one has heard anything about Odysseus since he left 20
years ago
When Odysseus is away, many men begin to vie for his
wife, Penelope
Odysseus and Penelope also have a son, Telemachus,
who is 20 years old
Map of Odysseus’ Travels
Odysseus’ journey takes so long because the gods,
including Poseidon (god of the sea) punish him
and interfere with his travels
Need a better visual?
Troy
No, we are not going to watch the whole movie
0
