The Odyssey Introduction Guided Notes
A __________ is a traditional story rooted in primitive folk beliefs or cultures that often uses the supernatural to interpret natural events, and explains the culture’s view of the universe and humanity.
Greek Mythology (brief overview):
______________, also known as Jupiter by the Romans, is the Supreme god of the Olympians and fathered many characters in mythology.
______________, also known as Neptune by the Romans, is the God of the Seas and Waters. He is violent and cruel and is the god to opposes Odysseus in The Odyssey.
______________, also known as Minerva by the Romans, is the Goddess of Wisdom and War. She fights to protect the homeland, and she is the goddess who favors Odysseus in The Odyssey.
______________, also known as Mercury by the Romans, is the Messenger of the Gods and he appears in more myths than any other character.
The ____________________ inspired artists of all kinds. They were goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences.
The ___________________ were three sisters who weave, measure, and cut the thread of life for humans.
In The Odyssey there are other mythological creatures including the ___________________- a one eyed monster who is the son of Poseidon, ______________________- a sea nymph, _______________- a grotesque sea monster with six heads, _______________________________- another grotesque sea monster who created whirlpools, and ___________________- a minor goddess of magic, an enchantress.
The Odyssey and the Iliad :
An ___________ is a long, narrative poem about the adventures of a hero that shows the values & beliefs of a culture, includes a journey/quest, involves supernatural forces, and encompasses a vast setting. Epics often concern eternal human problems such as the conflict between ________ and
_______. And are told on a _______________________.
Epic characteristics:
The hero is a ______________________________ who is identified strongly with a particular people or society. The setting is ___________ and often includes supernatural realms. The hero does
________________________ in battle or undertakes an extraordinary journey or quest. Sometimes
_________ or other supernatural beings take part in the action. The story is told in
________________________________________. The story begins with an
__________________________________________________. It also begins
__________________________ (or in the middle of things). The story also often uses literary devices

such as _______________________________________, __________________, and
__________________.
The EPIC HERO is a larger than life person who embodies the highest ideals of his culture and embodies
______________________, ___________________________________, ________________________,
________________, and __________________________. The epic hero usually undertakes a
_____________________________ to achieve something of great value to themselves or society. The epic hero does not have magic powers but is a _____________________ human whose aspirations and accomplishments set him/her apart. They overcome great obstacles and opponents but maintain their
_____________________________. The epic hero is an _________________________ character.
Literary Devices:
An ________________________ is an adjective or descriptive phrase regularly used to characterize a person, place or thing such as “Honest Abe” or “America the Beautiful”.
A ________________________________ is similar, but it is a compound adjective that modifies a noun such as “wine-dark sea”, “rosy-fingered dawn”, and “The gray-eyed goddess Athena”.
A ______________________________________ compares heroic events to everyday occurrences.
Background
The _________________ is the story of the 10 year Trojan War that is estimated to have occurred around 1200 B.C.
The ______________________ is the archetype of the story of a long journey; the long journey can be seen as a metaphor for living one’s life. It is the story of Odysseus’ long and wayward journey home from the Trojan War.
____________________ composed the Iliad and the Odyssey; although, not much is known about him.
According to the Greeks, the hero, in order to be the best, must __________________ for the society.
Also, Greek heroes and gods had a classic ____________.
Like Homer’s other epic, the Iliad, the Odyssey begins ________________________ or in the middle of things. It begins midway through Odysseus’ wanderings. The Odyssey contains the _________,
___________, and _______________ of the Greek society about adventure, hardship, and life.
In The Odyssey, Odysseus is a very _________________ hero. He was known for his clever and agile mind, and he is credited for coming up with the idea of the Trojan horse. The story follows his wayward struggle to return home to his wife, ______________, and his son _______________ after the Trojan
War. Odysseus, who as later called _________________ by the Romans, was king of Ithaca, a small island on the west coast of Greece.
When we talk about traditional heroes, they follow a three phase cycle:
_____________________________, _______________________, and ___________________.