Intro into The Odyssey
English I
What is a hero?
“When the first Superman movie came out, I was
frequently asked what is a hero?”....My answer was
that a hero is someone who commits action without
considering the consequences...Now my definition is
completely different. I think a hero is an ordinary
individual who finds strength to persevere and endure
in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” - Christopher
Reeve
What is a hero?
“A hero is simply someone who rises about his own
human weaknesses for an hour, a day, a year, to do
something stirring.” - Betty Deramus
“Heroes take journeys, confront dragons, and
discover the treasure of their true selves.” - Carol
Pearson
“A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is
braver five minutes longer.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
What is a hero?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVX-cUJGdxs
What is a hero?
Hero: A man of distinguished courage or ability,
admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
What is a hero?
Epic Hero: Larger-than-life central character in an
epic.
Epic: A long narrative poem about important events
about the history or folklore of a nation or culture.
Through adventurous deeds, the epic hero
demonstrates traits that are valued by society in
which the epic originates.
The Odyssey is an epic poem.
Odysseus is an epic hero
“Now by the gods, I drove my big hand spike deep in
the embers, charring it again, and cheered my men
along with battle talk to keep their courage up; no
quitting now.”
The Odyssey: Background
How might this person be an epic hero?
The Odyssey: Background
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6DJcgm3wNY
The Odyssey: Background
Many epics begin in media res (“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 epic hero’s adventures are
often recounted in a flashback.
The Odyssey: Background
Other characteristics of epic poems:
An invocation to the muse.
A concern with the fate of a nation or people
Correspondinly large scale
The intervention of supernatural figures interested in
the outcome
Extended Similes (Called “Epic Similes”)
The Odyssey: Background
Extensive battle scenes
A few stock episodes, including a visit to the
underworld.
The Odyssey: Similes
A simile is a figure of speech in which two unlike
things or concepts are show to be similar, for poetic
purposes, often through the use of the words “like” or
“as.”
The Odyssey: Similes
For example: Her hair is alike sunshine or her breath
is as rank as an old gym sock.
The Odyssey: Similes
An epic simile sometimes extends the comparison to
expansive proportions.
The Odyssey: Epithets
Homer’s poetics include noticeable devices that may
seem odd to a modern reader . One is his extensive
use of epithets.
The Odyssey: Epithets
An epithet is a term or phrase used to characterize
the nature of a character, an object, or an event. An
epithet that has become cliche’ because of its
excessive use in earlier translations of The Odyssey
is “rosy-fingered Dawn.”
The Odyssey: Epithets
Morning’s first light is compared to rosy fingers
spreading across the land.
The Odyssey: Epithets
Repetition is common with epithets.
The Odyssey: Reading Skill
Historical and Cultural Context: The backdrop of a
details of the time and place in which the work is set
or which it is written. These details include specific
events, beliefs, and customs.
The Odyssey: Reading Skill
Think of examples in entertainment with historical and
cultural context.
The Odyssey: Background
The Trojan War: The Odyssey describes the
experiences of the Greek hero Odysseus as he
makes his way home after the Trojan War. According
to legend, the Trojan War was sparked when Paris
ran off with Helen. A Greek force attacked Troy
(Modern Day Turkey) to recapture her. They were
victorious after 10 years.
The Odyssey: Homer
Homer is the legendary poet credited with writing the
Iliad and the Odyssey.
He was alive around 800 B.C.
Homer’s stories have been the basis for many
Hollywood movies, including Troy.
The Odyssey: Homer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayeefzyPQtE
The Odyssey: Homer
Exit Slip (This is worth 20 points)
Reading/Writing Connection: In the Odyssey, Homer
describes a journey filled with amazing adventures.
Write a paragraph that tells of a journey you have
taken or imagined. Describe something challenging or
amazing that occurred. Use at least three of these
words: coincide, eliminate, encounter, highlight,
interact.