Name________________________________
Per._____
Date______________
The Odyssey of Forrest Gump
An “odyssey” is a long, wandering and eventful journey that a main character
partakes in during the course of many years. In Homer’s Odyssey, the reader follows the
main character Odysseus, King of Ithaca, and his struggles during his 20-years away
from home.
Similarly, the protagonist Forrest Gump endures a similar journey in his life—
visiting faraway lands, interacting with important figures of the 20th century, and doing
all this while exhibiting the significant values of our time. Your assignment is to
chronicle the life of Forrest Gump, using the framework created by Homer and Odysseus
and determine how Forrest Gump experiences his own odyssey through the most trying
years of his life.
DAY 1: YOUNG FORREST
1. The dramatic structure of an epic begins in media res (in the middle of things).
Explain how the structure of the film Forrest Gump is similar to that of an epic.
2. The hero of an epic generally has some sort of supernatural ability (for example:
Odysseus was an extremely intelligent master strategist). What supernatural ability does
Forrest realize he has when his braces break off his legs?
3. In “The Odyssey,” the reader learns how important home is to any person, including
Odysseus. While viewing Forrest Gump, which character “never seems to want to go
home?” What kind of life can you foreshadow for this character based on her feelings
about her home (regardless of what takes place there).
4. Odysseus prays to the goddess Athena for help and guidance.
we see similarly praying to God for help and guidance?
Which character do
5. Odysseus’ super ability of intelligence allows him to become a famous strategist and
war hero. What does Forrest’s supernatural ability allow him to do that he might not
otherwise be able to do on his own?
6. Odysseus interacts with important world leaders like Menelaus, Agamemnon, and
King Priam. Please list as many world leaders and dignitaries as you can that Forrest
Gump comes in contact with:
DAY 2: FORREST GUMP—WAR HERO
7. While Odysseus is away, rude and insolent men known as suitors are constantly trying
to pursue his wife Penelope. In Forrest Gump, when Jenny finally becomes a singer,
how do the men treat her while she is performing? How is this reminiscent of the
relationship Penelope establishes with the suitors?
8. Circe gives Odysseus advice on how to avoid losing his life when passing through the
strait of Scylla and Charybdis. How is the advice that Jenny gives Forrest similar to the
advice Odysseus receives from Circe?
9. Odysseus has to leave the love of his life, Penelope, behind in order to go fight for the
Greeks in the Trojan War. How is Forrest exposed to a similar situation?
10. Odysseus struggles to get home because of several storms and rain formed by Zeus
and Poseidon slow him down. How does the rain impact Forrest as he is traveling
through the jungles of Viet Nam?
11. Who are the two people that Forrest thinks about the most while he is in Viet Nam?
What does this tell us about Forrest’s values?
12. An epic hero also performs “brave deeds” that are indicative of what kind of person
he is. What kinds of “brave deeds” does Forrest perform while in Viet Nam?
13. Refer back to question #7 regarding Jenny’s advice for Forrest. How was Jenny’s
advice helpful for Forrest?
14. Odysseus’ men often find themselves in trouble because they chose not to listen to
the orders given by their commander. When does Forrest defy the orders of Lieutenant
Dan and find himself in trouble?
15. Odysseus loses his best friend and fellow warrior Achilles during the Trojan War.
How does Forrest endure a similar loss during his time fighting in the Viet Nam War?
16. What are Bubba’s dying words? What does this say about Bubba’s character, and
more importantly, what does it say about Bubba’s values?
17. Lieutenant Dan always reminds his platoon to “take care of [their] feet.” By the end
of the war, what is ironic about Lieutenant Dan’s situation when considering the advice
he gave to his soldiers?
18. In “The Odyssey,” the reader learns that it is Odysseus’ destiny to partake in all
kinds of adventures and troubles during his journey home. What does Lieutenant Dan
believe his destiny was supposed to be? Why does Lieutenant Dan become so upset with
Forrest regarding his own destiny?
19. An epic hero’s actions generally “determine the fate of a group of people or a
nation.” How are Forrest’s actions in Viet Nam reminiscent of this quality?
20. After the Trojan War, Odysseus is regarded as a war hero for his success with the
Trojan Horse trick. How is Forrest regarded following his role in the Viet Nam War?
What types of recognition and rewards does he receive?
DAY 3: FORREST RETURNS HOME
21. Women in “The Odyssey” are generally depicted as being subservient to men. In
Forrest Gump, how is Jenny treated by Wesley (the war protester)? How does Forrest
react when he sees this?
22. Readers of “The Odyssey” know that the idea of home is one of the most important
things in the Ancient Greek culture. Keeping this in mind, what advice does Forrest give
to Jenny before she leaves Washington, D.C.? Why do you think that Jenny continually
avoids returning home with Forrest?
23. Another characteristic of an epic hero is that the hero travels all around the world to
different lands and cultures. List some of the countries and lands that Forrest travels to.
What does he do in these places?
24. Epic heroes also meet several important people with respect to their cultures. (Ex:
Odysseus gets to meet many Greek gods, kings, and others). Which celebrities and
important figures of the 20th century does Forrest Gump get to meet while on his “war
hero tour?”
25. Characters in “The Odyssey” that lack proper ethical values or disrespect the gods
are often punished. How does Lieutenant Dan exhibit qualities of someone who has lost
sight of good values? (Hint: refer to Lt. Dan’s conversation with Forrest about “finding
Jesus.”) Do you think that this makes Lieutenant Dan a bad person? Explain your
answer.
26. Readers of “The Odyssey” often depict women in a disparaging light. Discuss the
guests that Lieutenant Dan and Forrest bring home after the New Year’s Eve party. What
kind of qualities do these women have that make them reprehensible?
27. Discuss Lieutenant Dan’s reaction to one of the guests that calls Forrest “stupid.”
Why do you think that Lieutenant Dan reacts this way? What do you think it says about
the kind of person he is? (Hint: Listen carefully to Forrest’s narration after the incident
occurs.)
28. Where does Forrest go after he is finally discharged from the army? What does this
reaffirm about Forrest’s character?
29. One of the ways that Odysseus is shown to have good values is that he pays respect
to the dead when he visits the Underworld. How does Forrest show respect for the dead
when he returns home to Alabama?
30. Odysseus always fulfills his promises that he makes to his friends and loved ones.
What does Forrest do in order to fulfill a promise he made to Bubba while in Viet Nam?
31. Odysseus’ men are often depicted in situations where drugs, hallucinogens, and
magic spells cause them forget about their homeland (lotus plants, Circe’s magic, etc.).
How is Jenny’s habitual drug use having a similar effect on her? Do you think that her
actions are deliberate? Explain.
32. As previously mentioned in Question #30, Forrest keeps his promise to Bubba.
Likewise, what promise does Lieutenant Dan keep to Forrest? What does this reveal
about Lieutenant Dan’s character, even though he seems to have lost some of his good
values?
33. The gods Zeus and Poseidon often conjure up storms in order to test the faith and
strength of Odysseus and his men. What phenomenon occurs that causes Forrest and
Lieutenant Dan to be tested in a similar manner? What “challenge” does Lieutenant Dan
offer to God?
DAY 4: THE PAST CATCHES UP WITH THE PRESENT
34. Odysseus knows that he has a fate or destiny because he visits a prophet that is able
to tell him about his future. How does Forrest’s Momma regard destiny? Does she
believe in destiny or does she have a different outlook on life? Explain.
35. After many years, Jenny finally returns home to Greenbow, Alabama. What do you
think this tells the viewer about Jenny?
36. How does Forrest show he has good hospitality values while Jenny stays with him?
37. Jenny breaks down when she sees her old home. What kind of images do you think
this conjures up in her mind? Do her experiences as a child excuse her for her
reprehensible behavior as an adult?
38. Jenny spends the night with Forrest while staying at his home, and then leaves early
the next morning. What can the viewer conclude about Jenny’s feelings about being
home? Does she make the decisions deliberately or does she seem rash or confused
about her decision to leave? How do you know?
39. Describe the montage of scenes that depict Forrest after Jenny has left him. What
kind of emotions do you think Forrest is feeling during this scene? How does the silence
of the scene add to the complexity his emotions?
40. There is a repeating theme of Forrest running in order to get away from trouble (Ex:
running from bullies as a child, running from tacklers while playing football, running
from shooters while in Viet Nam), and now he is running as a grown man. What do you
think Forrest is running from this time? (Hint: Listen carefully to Forrest’s narration
while he is running).
41. Odysseus’ actions become inspirational for his men and other people in Ancient
Greece (ex: pep talk before Scylla and Charybdis). How does Forrest’s “little run”
inspire and motivate others? Why does Forrest develop a following?
42. When Odysseus washes up on the shores of Calypso’s Island, the dramatic structure
of the past catching up to the present occurs. At what point does Forrest’s story shift
from being a flashback to taking place in the present? Where does he go as soon as the
past catches up with his story?
43. When Odysseus returns home from Ithaca, he finds that he has a growing son at
home and hardly recognizes him. How is Forrest’s homecoming with Jenny similar to
Odysseus experience? How are their reactions to the news similar/different?
44. When Forrest and Jenny finally decide to marry, where do they go? What does this
symbolize about the importance of home?
45. Jenny divulges that she has a terminal virus (possibly AIDS) and soon becomes
bedridden. How does Forrest demonstrate selflessness while caring for Jenny? Provide
an example from the film that shows this value.
46. We spent a lot of time talking about the imagery depicted in” The Odyssey,”
especially with regard to some of the descriptions of the island paradises. Describe the
imagery and some of the places that Forrest tells Jenny about while he was out for his
“little run.” Why do you think he goes into so much detail?
47. Question #29, draws reference to having respect for the dead regarding Bubba. How
does Forrest continue to show respect for the dead at the end of the film?
48. Throughout “The Odyssey,” there are several references to the tree that Odysseus
built his bed and his home around. The tree stands as a symbol of his loyalty and love he
has for Penelope. In Forrest Gump, Forrest has Jenny buried under “their tree.” What
made the tree so important to Forrest and Jenny’s relationship? (Hint: Think about when
we have seen the tree in the film before). What do you think it symbolizes?
49. The poems “Ithaca” and “Ulysses” discuss Odysseus’ need for adventure and to get
away from his home at times, but ultimately, he always returns. In the film, what does
the constant use of buses, particularly at the end of the movie symbolize? (Hint: what
characters does Forrest meet while he is on a bus? Where do the buses bring Forrest?).
50. The viewer of the film is introduced to the movie with a fluttering feather. The same
feather is used to close out the movie. What do you think the symbolism is of the
feather? (Hint: think of how the feather moves through the air when the wind blows;
does it blow in a straight line? Use this idea to explain the journey that Odysseus,
Forrest, and each of us take in our lives).
*The idea of an “odyssey” or life adventure is a timeless theme and is evident in many aspects of our popular
culture. I sincerely hope that you enjoyed the film and were able to look at it from a different perspective!