Read and put back in day 8
THE ODYSSEY
BY HOMER
HOMER
• A BLIND POET WHO LIVED AROUND
800 B.C.
• HOMERIC-ADJECTIVE MEANING
LARGE SCALE, MASSIVE, ENORMOUS
• ORIGINALLY TOLD THE ODYSSEY AND
THE ILIAD ORALLY
• TRAVELED THROUGHOUT GREECE
• TWO EPICS WERE BASIS FOR GREEK
EDUCATION
ELEMENTS OF Homer’s Style
Repetition - return of a word, phrase,
stanza form, or effect in a work of
literature - used in epic for comfort and
rest
Example - description of a feast
Hubris - great / excessive pride that
brings about the downfall of a
character
Example - in Epics - usually against gods
More Homer’s Style
Epithet - combination of a descriptive
phrase and a noun which highlights a
prominent characteristic
Example - gray-eyed goddess,
blue-maned god,
Odysseus, raider of cities
WHAT IS AN EPIC POEM?
• AN EPIC POEM IS A LONG
NARRATIVE POEM ABOUT
THE DEEDS OF GODS OR
HEROES. IT IS ELEVATED IN
STYLE AND FOLLOWS
CERTAIN PATTERNS.
WHAT IS AN EPIC SIMILE?
•ALSO CALLED A
HOMERIC SIMILE, IT IS
AN ELABORATE
COMPARISON OF
UNLIKE SUBJECTS.
What does the adjective
HOMERIC mean?
• Massive, large, huge
• Combine the adjective to the word simile
and
THE HOMERIC SIMILE
GOES ON…..AND ON…..AND ON….AND
ON…..
An example of the HOMERIC
SIMILE
"Fear fell upon Hector as he beheld him, and he
dared not stay longer where he was but fled in
dismay from before the gates, while Achilles
darted after him at his utmost speed. As a
mountain falcon, swiftest of all birds, swoops
down upon some cowering dove- the dove flies
before him but the falcon with a shrill scream
follows close after, resolved to have her- even so
did Achilles make straight for Hector with all his
might, while Hector fled under the Trojan wall as
fast as his limbs could take him." - The Iliad
Setting of the Odyssey
LITERARY TERMS
• SETTING? GREECE OF COURSE!
Ithaca (Odysseus is king of Ithaca)
Troy (where Odysseus won the
war) The Trojan War
Paris was
gorgeous.
Chosen by 3
goddesses to
decide who was
most beautiful.
Each promised
him stuff.
One promised him
the most beautiful
woman ever –
Helen.
But…Helen was
already married.
Women are trouble
• Paris didn’t care.
• He kidnapped Helen,
and took her to his
house in Troy.
• All the Kings of all the
tribes around chased
him to Troy. They
asked Odysseus to
help them.
The Trojan Horse
• Odysseus (known for being
cunning)(look it up), had his
men build a horse to give to
the Trojans when they
surrendered (they were
faking).
• Men hid in the horse, jumped
out when the Trojans were
drunk and celebrating. They
burnt the city and won the
war.
WHO IS WHO?
• PROTAGONISTS:
• ODYSSEUS (SMART,BRAVE,KING OF
ITHACA)
• PENELOPE (ODYSSEUS’ LOYAL WIFE)
What’s the problem?
• Antagonists:
• Poseidon (God of the Seas and
Oceans; The Suitors (guys after
Penelope)
• Various monsters
CONFLICT?
• MAN VS. MAN= ODYSSEUS VS.
POSEIDON
• MAN VS.MAN=
ODYSSEUS/PENELOPE/TELEMACHUS
VS. SUITORS
• MAN VS. MONSTER =ODYSSEUS AND
CREW VS VARIOUS MONSTERS
SYMBOLS
• GODS=GUIDANCE
• MONSTERS =OBSTACLES
• ITHACA=HAPPINESS
WHAT IS THIS POEM SAYING?
• THEME = LOYALTY ALWAYS PAYS
OFF…HUMANS SHOULD KNOW THEIR
PLACE!!!
POINT OF VIEW?
• THIRD PERSON OMNISCIENT
• WHAT IT MEANS……
• YOU KNOW THE THOUGHTS
AND FEELINGS OF THE
CHARACTERS…..
EPIC HERO?
BRAVE, STRONG, LOYAL, DARING, GREAT
SKILL…SAVES OTHERS…….PROTECTS….
IS THE EPIC HERO FLAWED???
• HUBRIS: EXCESSIVE PRIDE OR
ARROGANCE
• “I CAN DO ANYTHING! I AM
ODYSSEUS!!!!”