Greek Mythology Do heroes have responsibilities?

Perilous Journeys What does perilous mean? The texts we will read tell the story of Odysseus, the ancient Greek hero whose adventures make up one of the first perilous journeys in literature. The Odyssey- What does Odyssey mean? As you read these excerpts think about what type of hero Odysseus is and how he views his responsibilities toward his men, the gods, characters he meets, and his family.

Theme and Oral Tradition Stories from the oral tradition teach a culture’s central values and beliefs. They also convey universal themes. Oral Tradition: Storytellers Nothing was written down, just passed down by reciting them from memory Eventually they were written down for us to read today Themes- like much literature, works in the oral tradition convey themes- deeper meanings or insights. A univeral theme is an insight into life and human nature that appears in the literature of many different times and cultures. Forms of oral tradition: Myth, Folk tale, Legend, Epic

Epic Poems A long narrative poem Combines features of myths and legends Depicts a larger-than-life hero who usually goes on a dangerous journey; the hero is helped or hindered by supernatural creatures or gods Gives a detailed portrait of a culture

Meet the Author Homer He is the legendary poet credited with writing the Iliad and the Odyssey. These epics, known for their sweeping scope, gripping stories, and vivid style, have captured reader’s imaginations for almost 3,000 years. He was born in Ionia in western Asia Minor, and he was blind. Most efforts to date Homer’s life place him somewhere between 850 and 750 B.C. The Iliad was written first and probably some years before the Odyssey. The two epics differ in style: the Iliad is a single long, highly dramatic narrative, while the Odyssey is episodic and reads more like an adventure novel than a drama.

Map of Ancient Greece