The Odyssey
Epic Essay Assignment
PAPER COPY DUE MONDAY 3/29
ELECTRONIC COPY DUE MONDAY (BEFORE CLASS) 3/29
mcunningham@chicopee.k12.ma.us
For this essay, discuss and explain how Homer’s The Odyssey is an epic poem. Does Odysseus’s story make
him a hero, why or why not? Does the story fit the traditional type of narrative that would make the story an
epic? Provide specific examples from the story and connect them to the conventions of an epic. Additionally,
be sure to discuss what themes are employed which make Homer's The Odyssey an epic poem.
Some Questions to Answer:
What is an epic?
What constitutes a piece of work as an epic?
How does The Odyssey explore the epic traits?
What makes someone an epic hero?
What character traits develop an epic hero?
How do Odysseus’s traits make him an epic hero? Is he an epic hero?
How do themes reinforce the epic and the epic hero?
Remember:
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You must submit a hard copy and an electronic copy.
Keep the rubric and attach it to your hard copy
Your paper must be a minimum of 4 pages and a maximum of 5 pages
Evaluating and analyzing The Odyssey on its epic qualities is the clear purpose of the
paper.
PIE is used to analyze the theme in all three body paragraphs.
MLA Format is correct.
The title is original and creative.
The introduction clearly introduces the essay.
The thesis is the last sentence of the introduction and maps out the essay. The author and
title of the novel are identified.
All quotes are correctly cited. Before the quotation, inside the quotation, and after the
quotation.
Transition sentences are used to transition the reader from paragraph to paragraph.
The conclusion leaves the reader thinking and restates main ideas.
Incomplete essays, late essays, and essays not typed will not be accepted and will receive
a zero.
This essay is not assigned as a “5 Paragraph Essay”
This is a test grade!!!!
See rubric for other requirements.
Name: __________________________________
Date: ___________________ Period: _________
Essay Title: ______________________________
Final Grade:
The Odyssey Epic Essay
Requirement
Evaluating and analyzing The Odyssey on its epic qualities is the
clear purpose of the paper. The relevance of the theme to the
epic is explained. The paper explains how The Odyssey is/is not
an epic. The paper analyzes that Odysseus is/is not an epic hero.
The body paragraphs are set up using PIE format. The Point is
explained in 2-3 sentences and a separate sentence leads into the
quote. The Illustration (quote) backs up the Point. The
Explanation is the chunk of the paragraph (4-6 sentences) and
the Explanation connects the Illustration to the Point. The
last sentence of the Explanation transitions to the next
paragraph.
The quote is correctly cited and the punctuation and set up of
the quote is correct before, after, and throughout the quotation.
The quote correctly backs up the Point of the paragraph.
All grammar is correct throughout the paragraph. Commas are
used correctly with introductory clauses and phrases and in
compound sentences. There are no spelling errors. The personal
pronouns, we, me, I, you, or us are not used. There is a variety in
sentence structure. The Odyssey is italicized throughout the
paper.
The format of the paper is correct. The font is 12 pt. Times
New Roman. The entire paper is double spaced (except for
some quotes that are single spaced). All margins are one inch.
The heading is correct: Name, Teacher, Class, and Date. There
is a header with student’s last name and page number in the
upper right hand corner of each page. The title is original and
creative and reflects the purpose of the paper: analyzing theme
in The Odyssey.
The introduction identifies the theme of the epic, gives the
reader background of the epic, and has a clear thesis statement
that maps out the rest of the paper. The thesis statement is the
last sentence of the introduction.
The conclusion restates the main idea and the purpose of the
paper. It restates the points in order to leave the reader with the
thoughts presented in the paper. The conclusion leaves the
reader thinking about the analysis and evaluation of The
Odyssey persuading the reader that this is/is not an epic and
why.
Paper is a minimum of 4 complete pages and a maximum of 5
complete pages.
Teacher Comments:
Possible Points
10
45
15
5
5
10
10
-25 for every
incomplete page
Points Earned