from the Odyssey, Part One
by Homer
translated by Robert Fitzgerald
Feature Menu
Introducing the Story
Literary Focus: Heroes at Large
Reading Skills: Monitor Your
Comprehension
from the Odyssey, Part One
by Homer
translated by Robert Fitzgerald
from the Odyssey, Part One
Introducing the Story
The ordinary man is involved in action, the hero
acts. An immense difference.
—Henry Miller, 1951
from the Odyssey, Part One
Introducing the Story
When we first meet Odysseus, he is unhappily—
and forcibly—living with Calypso on her island.
Although Calypso is a beautiful goddess, Odysseus
longs to return to his wife, Penelope.
• Athena sends Hermes to set Odysseus free,
and the adventure begins. What does the
angry Poseidon have in store for our hero?
from the Odyssey, Part One
Introducing the Story
Stories of Troy have fascinated people throughout
the ages. These stories are often a mix of myth and
historical reality.
Archaeologist finds
“Priam’s gold.”
Is the hill excavated
by Heinrich
Schliemann in the
1800s really Troy?
Click here to find out.
[End of Section]
from the Odyssey, Part One
Literary Focus: Heroes at Large
We find heroes to admire
• in books and movies
• in the news
• on TV shows
• in our own lives
from the Odyssey, Part One
Literary Focus: Heroes at Large
Heroes—real or fictional—often set out on a
journey that we’re all on: the quest to discover
who we are and what we can do.
• Whether heroes succeed or fail on their
journeys, they do it on a grand scale.
• Their adventures can give us fresh perspectives
on our own lives.
from the Odyssey, Part One
Literary Focus: Heroes at Large
During their quests, heroic characters
• encounter challenges and dangers
• face external conflicts—struggles with other
characters or with the forces of nature
The hero’s external conflicts are often with
subordinate characters—characters who play
a secondary role in the story.
from the Odyssey, Part One
Literary Focus: Heroes at Large
As you read these excerpts from the Odyssey,
think about
• what conflicts Odysseus
faces
• how he overcomes his
conflicts
• what decisions and actions
make him a hero
[End of Section]
from the Odyssey, Part One
Reading Skills: Monitor Your Comprehension
To enjoy an adventure story like the
Odyssey, you’ll have to make sure you understand
what you are reading. As you read, ask yourself
• what has happened so far?
• why did it happen?
• what are the important events in this episode?
• when do the events take place?
from the Odyssey, Part One
Reading Skills: Monitor Your Comprehension
As you read the Odyssey, also ask
• what might happen next?
• can I visualize what is being described?
• what is my evaluation of the characters’
decisions and actions?
• what connections can I make between what
I’ve read and my own life?
[End of Section]