2. Homer’s The Odyssey

3. What do we already know about the Odyssey?

4. What do we want to learn about the Odyssey?

5. What is an Odyssey?

6. Your notes… The Odyssey Homer The Epic (purpose and form) Gods/GoddessesCultural MythsHero’s Journey

7. Who was Homer?  No…not this one!

8. Who was Homer? This one!  Homer Blind poet? Blind poet? Recited the poems, Recited the poems, taught otherstaught others eventually recordedeventually recorded Man? Man?  What did he contribute to literature? original plot structureoriginal plot structure realistic (human) charactersrealistic (human) characters set on earth set on earth dialogue and detaildialogue and detail tales of monsterstales of monsters used immortals; gave them human qualities, but remained respectfulused immortals; gave them human qualities, but remained respectful theme: respect for gods is essential to survival theme: respect for gods is essential to survival

9. What is an epic?  Epic a long narrative poem written on great and serious subject a long narrative poem written on great and serious subject describes values of a culture describes values of a culture  Characteristics Hero: national or cosmic importance Hero: national or cosmic importance Setting: ample in scale—over countries or global Setting: ample in scale—over countries or global Action: based on action, often involves superhuman deeds or battle Action: based on action, often involves superhuman deeds or battle Gods: Supernatural beings take interest or active part Gods: Supernatural beings take interest or active part Narration: uses formal speech to convey grandeur and formality of the heroic subject Narration: uses formal speech to convey grandeur and formality of the heroic subject

10. What is the purpose of the epic?  Delivery poems not written down poems not written down memorized by rhapsodiesmemorized by rhapsodies both epics recited every 4 years at the festival of Athena both epics recited every 4 years at the festival of Athena Epics based on Greek education Epics based on Greek education  Purpose Students learned Students learned how to tell a storyhow to tell a story portray a characterportray a character give a speechgive a speech express Greek ideals of thought and actionexpress Greek ideals of thought and action models for later writersmodels for later writers

11. What happened before The Odyssey? The Iliad:  considered the first great work of Western Literature  Achilles is the hero  Written between 700-900 BC Trojan War Trojan War Probable cause--economic Probable cause--economic Troy controlled all trade through the area Troy controlled all trade through the area Greeks wanted to expand the route Greeks wanted to expand the route Legendary cause—Helen of Troy, wife of King or Sparta, was abducted by Paris; took years to develop army; fight 10 years; Troy lost Legendary cause—Helen of Troy, wife of King or Sparta, was abducted by Paris; took years to develop army; fight 10 years; Troy lost

12. What role did Gods and Goddesses play?

13. What is a Cultural Myth?

14. What can we add to our notes?

15. Let’s review: what should we add to our notes?

16. Still need fate vs. free will clip

17. Works Cited “Great Books: The Odyssey.” Discovery Channel School. 1997. unitedstreaming. 4 June 2007. http://www.unitedstreaming.com/. http://www.unitedstreaming.com/ “Great Books: Homer's Odyssey.” Discovery Channel School. 2004. unitedstreaming. 4 June 2007. http://www.unitedstreaming.com/. http://www.unitedstreaming.com/