The Odyssey
Literary Terms
Background
Greek History
Card Marking 3: December 2013
Genre
• EPIC POEM
• A long narrative poem
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Begins w/ invocation (prayer)
Adventurous
Has Heroic Figure
Setting is vast (very large)
Has Supernatural forces
Has Serious tone (elevated
language/ message intended)
The Epic Hero
• An epic’s central character
• Larger-than-life figure
from history
• Undertakes a dangerous
voyage
• Demonstrates loyalty,
courage, and honor
• Valued by society
– A “role model”
Literary Techniques
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Repeated description
Simile
Metaphor
Personification
Epithet
Foreshadowing
Simile
• A comparison between two things using
“like” or “as”
• Example: “…and leaned on it turning it as a shipwright turns a
drill in planking,…” (p.992)
Metaphor
• A comparison between two things without
using “like” or “as”
• Example: “Why bait the beast again?” (p.996)
Personification
• Describing an object by giving it human
qualities
• Example: “…The Cyclops bellowed
him…” (p.992)
and the rock roared round
Epithet
• Short, descriptive title
• A characterizing word or phrase associated
with a person or thing
• A sort of “nickname”
• Example: “Richard the Lion-Hearted”
“…the young Dawn with fingertips of rose” (p.990)
Foreshadowing
• Clues that suggest events that have yet to
occur
• Creates suspense
Archetype
• Describes the function or role a character
plays in a story
• The most typical example of a particular
kind of person or thing; ideal example
• Universally recognized
• Examples: the mother figure, the wise old
man, the trickster, or the hero
The Greek Hero
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Strong in mind and body
High social standing
Actions affect others
Struggle against human weakness
– Yes, they are imperfect.
The Hero’s Journey
Group Project
• EVERYONE will read what the stages of a
hero’s journey are.
• Then, your groups will be assigned an
excerpt about the hero’s journey.
• There will be 2 stages that your group will
be responsible for reading and
understanding.
• As a group, READ your 2 stages.
• Then, create a set of notes
FOR EACH STAGE that are
– EASY to UNDERSTAND
– EASY to COPY DOWN
• Choose the person in your group with the best
handwriting.
– IN YOUR OWN WORDS!
• Your notes should answer the following
questions:
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What is the TITLE of the stage?
What is the # of the stage?
What is the hero experiencing in this stage?
Why is this stage important in the scheme of
the whole epic?
• Your group will PRESENT these notes to the rest
of the class ON THE ELMO tomorrow, Friday
the 6th.
• YOU MAY NOT TAKE ANY WORK HOME!
• The class is responsible for note-taking while you
present.
• The material will be tested very soon...
• Group Grading: 40 summative points
The Hero’s Journey
• CYCLE:
• Hero possesses supernatural
ability
• Charged with a quest/ a call to
action
• Hero is tested
• Travels to supernatural world
and experiences the “ordeal”
• Hero nearly gives up
• A resurrection: moves from
defeat to triumph
• Restitution: regains rightful
place on throne
Hubris
• Excessive pride or self-confidence
• Arrogance
• Think about Casey (“Casey at the Bat”)
The Odyssey
• Begins “in medias res”
• In the middle of things
The Iliad
• The prequel to The Odyssey
• Concerned with the events of the Trojan War
• Written by Homer
• WORD MAP
• Pre (prefix)
• Quel
The Trojan War
Historical Context
• Fought between Spartans and Trojans
• Spartans- from Sparta (Greece or “The Greeks”)
V.
• Trojans- from Troy
Map of Ancient Greece
Where is Greece?
The Odyssey
A Journey Home
• King Odysseus, of Ithaca, fought on behalf
of the Spartans.
• He came up with The Trojan Horse
• He attempts to return home, to Ithaca, after
10 years at war.
• Gods, particularly Poseidon, are angered by
Odysseus’ pride and curse him to wander
the earth.
The Journey
Characters
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Odysseus- King of Ithaca
Penelope- Queen of Ithaca
Telemachus- son of Odysseus & Penelope
Agememnon- leader of the Greek forces
Polyphemus (Cyclops)- son of Poseidon
Poseidon- god of the sea
Calypso- sea goddess, nymph, who loves
Odysseus and holds him captive
• Circe- a “witch” goddess who helps Odysseus