Cornell Notes: Introduction to The Odyssey
Questions:
Essential Question: What is an Epic, what are the three parts to the Hero’s
Journey, and why are we reading The Odyssey?
A. An Epic is:
o


A long, ____________________________________ that tells of the
adventures of a hero who in some way embody the values of their civilization
o A physically______________________________ hero of national or historic
importance
o A ____________________________________ encompassing much of the
physical world and sometimes the Land of the Dead
o A quest or _______________________________________undertaken in
search of something valuable
o The involvement of the supernatural
o Glorification of _____________________________in the end
o Based on a ___________________________________________ (we’re
eventually going to be writing about how The Odyssey reflects the values of
Greek culture, so start thinking about this!)
The Greeks believed that all epic heroes go on the same
__________________________
Epic journeys tend to have a pattern (called
___________________________________).
B. Three major stages of the Hero’s Journey:
1. Separation:



Call to _________________________
______________________________ of the call
Crossing the first ____________________________________
2. Initiation:



The Road of __________________________
Apotheosis (hero is transformed into
__________________________________)
The Ultimate Boone (a blessing or benefit is bestowed to help the hero
______________________________________________).
3. Return


The Refusal of the _____________________,
The Magical Flight or Rescue from Without: hero makes an extraordinary
journey back, either reluctantly, by choice, or by force (with help).


Crossing of Return ____________________________________
Master of Two Worlds: hero becomes a _____________ between the two
worlds
Freedom to Live: hero has ability to move freely between two realms

C. The Odyssey:




Written by _____________________________, who also wrote
__________________, and who lived in __________________________ during
the ________ Century B.C.
Homer was revered as the greatest of the
_____________________________________
Homer’s Epics have had a huge influence on the
________________________Western Literature.
The Odyssey is considered a ______________________to the Iliad (the epic story
of the
fall of Troy), and follows ________________________ in his
______________________ journey back from Troy to his home in Ithaca.
Summary:
(Write 1
sentence
answering the
essential
question)
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
COMPLETED Notes: Introduction to The Odyssey
B. An Epic is:
o A long, narrative poem that tells of the adventures of a hero who in some way
embody the values of their civilization
o A physically impressive hero of national or historic importance
o A vast setting encompassing much of the physical world and sometimes the Land of
the Dead
o A quest or journey undertaken in search of something valuable
o The involvement of the supernatural
o Glorification of the hero in the end
o Based on a specific culture (we’re eventually going to be writing about how The
Odyssey reflects the values of Greek culture, so start thinking about this!)


The Greeks believed that all epic heroes go on the same journey.
Epic journeys tend to have a pattern (called The Hero’s Journey).
B. Three major stages of the Hero’s Journey:
1. Separation:
 Call to adventure
 Refusal of the call
 Crossing the first threshold
2. Initiation:
 The Road of Trials
 Apotheosis (hero is transformed into their full potential- or a divine state)
 The Ultimate Boone (a blessing or benefit is bestowed to help the hero
complete their journey).
3. Return
 The Refusal of the return
 The Magical Flight or Rescue from Without: hero makes an extraordinary journey
back, either reluctantly, by choice, or by force (with help)
 Crossing of Return Threshold
 Master of Two Worlds: hero becomes a bridge or master between the seemingly
separate worlds
 Freedom to Live: hero has ability to move freely between two realms
The Odyssey:

Written by HOMER, who also wrote The Iliad, and who lived in Ancient Greece during
the 8th Century B.C.

Homer was revered as the greatest of the Greek Epic Poets

Homer’s Epics have had a huge influence on the history of Western Literature.

The Odyssey is considered a sequel to the Iliad (the epic story of the
fall of Troy), and follows Odysseus in his ten year journey back from Troy to his home in
Ithaca.