Homer’s Odyssey and the Coen Brothers’ O Brother, Where Art Thou?
40 points
We will be watching the Coen Brothers’ film: O Brother, Where Art Thou?
You will have time in class each day to work on this packet; keep in mind that what is not completed in class will be done for homework, so stay focused!
PARALLELS
Complete the matrix by filling in the characters and events from O Brother that parallel these
Odyssey characters and events. (8 points)
O Brother character Odyssey character
1. Odysseus
2. Penelope
3. The suitors
4. Polyphemus
5. Teiresias
6. Sirens
7. Men being turned into pigs
8. Poseidon
9. Select one character from the film and write a paragraph that explains how this character is like one of the characters in the Odyssey . Be sure to use specific examples from both the epic and the film. (5 points)
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Homer’s Odyssey and the Coen Brothers’ O Brother, Where Art Thou?
12.
Topic
CULTURE AND THEMES
As we read the Odyssey , we were able to deduce many of the Greek beliefs about reputation, gender, justice, religion, marriage, etc. simply by watching how they were played out in the epic.
Give three examples of cultural understanding that you gained from the Odyssey . Then give their equivalents in O Brother . (12 points)
Example in
Odyssey
10.
Conclusion about
Greek culture
11.
Example in O
Brother
Conclusion about
Southern culture
13. Although the settings in the epic and the film are entirely different, many elements of the story remain the same. What larger themes are present in both the Odyssey and O Brother ? (5 points)
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Homer’s Odyssey and the Coen Brothers’ O Brother, Where Art Thou?
CRITICAL ASSESSMENT—briefly answer the following questions in complete sentences.
14. Overall, how well does O Brother, Where Art Thou do as an adaptation of the Odyssey? In what ways is this movie faithful to the spirit of the epic? In what ways is this movie (too much of?) a departure from the spirit of the original epic? (5 points)
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15. What is your final opinion of O Brother, Where Art Thou ? (5 points)
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EXTRA CREDIT (1 point/thoughtful parallel):
15. Can you think of other parallels between the film and the epic?
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