The Homecoming
from the Odyssey
Epic Poem by Homer
Translated by Robert Fitzgerald
Introducing the Epic Poem
with VIDEO TRAILER
Literary Analysis: Characteristics
of an Epic
Reading Strategy: Summarizing
Vocabulary in Context
The Homecoming from the Odyssey
INTRODUCING THE EPIC POEM
How does it feel to come HOME again?
If you spend enough time at any airport or
bus station, you’re bound to witness an
emotional scene.
A long-awaited homecoming can touch us
more deeply than almost anything.
The Homecoming from the Odyssey
INTRODUCING THE EPIC POEM
How does it feel to come HOME again?
Imagine a traveler who’s been away
for years, whose family thought he
might never return.
What kind of scene might you
expect at this homecoming?
QUICKWRITE
Recall a time when you or
someone you know returned
home after some time away.
Write a brief description of the
scene, and explain the
emotions that went along with it.
The Homecoming from the Odyssey
Click on the title to play the trailer.
The Homecoming
from the Odyssey
The Homecoming from the Odyssey
Characteristics of an Epic
In the simplest terms, an epic is a long adventure story.
Often an epic plot spans many years and involves a long journey.
An epic setting spans great distances and
foreign lands.
The Homecoming from the Odyssey
Characteristics of an Epic
Epic themes reflect timeless concerns,
such as courage, honor, life, and death.
Epics also contain archetypes, or patterns
found in works across different cultures and
time periods.
As explained in Part
1, the epic hero is an
archetype.
So is the notion of
a heroic journey.
King Arthur
Perseus
Robin Hood
The Homecoming from the Odyssey
Characteristics of an Epic
Other archetypes are also found in the Odyssey.
• intervention
by gods
• floods and storms
The Homecoming from the Odyssey
Characteristics of an Epic
• descent into the underworld
• heroic battles
against
monsters
As you read the second part of the Odyssey, look for these
and other archetypes. Consider where else you might have
encountered them in literature, art, or film.
The Homecoming from the Odyssey
Summarizing
Writing a plot summary—a brief retelling of a story—is a good
way to make sure you’re following the events of a narrative.
An epic consists of many episodes, each with its own set of
characters, conflicts, and resolution.
Book 5: Calypso keeps
Odysseus captive
Book 10: Circe turns
Odysseus’s men into
pigs.
Book 11: The crew visits
the Land of the Dead
The Homecoming from the Odyssey
Summarizing
As you read, record information that will help you summarize
each episode.
Episode: Father and Son
Characters:
Odysseus, Eumaeus
Setting:
Conflict:
Resolution:
Odysseus’s
homeland of Ithaca
The Homecoming from the Odyssey
adversity
Replace the bold-faced words in the sentences below
with synonyms from the list of words in the box.
1. It’s disgusting to be shaky in the face of hardship.
[contemptible, tremulous, adversity]
2. He felt an unforgiving hatred for his captors.
[implacable, revulsion]
aloof
commandeer
contemptible
desolation
implacable
restitution
revelry
3. Don’t act distant; forget sorrow and join the
celebration.
[aloof, desolation, revelry]
4. He could seize enemy ships as repayment for wrongs.
[commandeer, restitution]
revulsion
tremulous
The Homecoming from the Odyssey
adversity n. hardship; misfortune
aloof adj. distant; remote; standoffish
commandeer v. to take control of by force
contemptible adj. deserving of scorn; despicable
desolation n. lonely grief; misery
implacable adv. impossible to soothe; unforgiving
The Homecoming from the Odyssey
restitution n. a making good for loss or damage; repayment
revelry n. noisy merrymaking; festivity
revulsion n. a sudden feeling of disgust or loathing
tremulous adj. marked by trembling or shaking