The Odyssey By Homer (not Simpson)

Homer Homer is thought to have been born between 700 and 1000 B.C. Homer is thought to have been born between 700 and 1000 B.C. According to tradition, he was blind. According to tradition, he was blind. He composed these tales orally by assembling a number of earlier and shorter narrative songs. He composed these tales orally by assembling a number of earlier and shorter narrative songs.

The Odyssey Vocab An epic is a long narrative poem about the adventures of a hero whose actions reflect the ideals and values of a nation or race. An epic is a long narrative poem about the adventures of a hero whose actions reflect the ideals and values of a nation or race.

The Odyssey Vocab Epic Hero An epic hero is a larger-than-life figure who embodies the ideals of a nation or race. An epic hero is a larger-than-life figure who embodies the ideals of a nation or race. Epic heroes take on long, dangerous adventures and accomplish great deeds Epic heroes take on long, dangerous adventures and accomplish great deeds They are known for having great courage and often possess superhuman strength They are known for having great courage and often possess superhuman strength Odysseus is an epic hero, yet, because he is human, Odysseus displays human faults. Odysseus is an epic hero, yet, because he is human, Odysseus displays human faults.

The Odyssey Epic Hero Examples of Epic Heroes Beowulf Beowulf Frodo Frodo Hercules Hercules King Arthur King Arthur Achilles Achilles Luke Skywalker Luke Skywalker

The Odyssey Vocab Epic Simile (Homeric Simile) An epic simile (aka. Homeric simile). It compares unlike subjects. Epic similes contain words such as like, or as, and may extend for a number of lines. An epic simile (aka. Homeric simile). It compares unlike subjects. Epic similes contain words such as like, or as, and may extend for a number of lines. In this example, Homer compares the bodies of the men killed by Odysseus to a fisherman’s catch heaped up on the shore In this example, Homer compares the bodies of the men killed by Odysseus to a fisherman’s catch heaped up on the shore

The Odyssey Epic Simile: Think of a catch that fishermen haul in to a Think of a catch that fishermen haul in to a half-moon bay half-moon bay in a fine meshed net from the whitecaps of the sea; in a fine meshed net from the whitecaps of the sea; how all are poured out on the sand, in throes how all are poured out on the sand, in throes for the salt sea, for the salt sea, twitched their cold lives away in Helios's fiery air: twitched their cold lives away in Helios's fiery air: SO lay the suitors heaped on one another. SO lay the suitors heaped on one another.

The Odyssey Epithet “When the young Dawn with fingertips of rose came in the east…” (Line 68) This use of “with fingertips of rose” to describe the personified Dawn is a famous epithet—or a descriptive phrase that presents a trait of a person or thing.

The Iliad The Odyssey, with Odysseus and his men, is the sequel to the Iliad. The Odyssey, with Odysseus and his men, is the sequel to the Iliad. In other words, the Odyssey picks up where the Iliad left off. In other words, the Odyssey picks up where the Iliad left off.

The Iliad-The Trojan War Greece and Troy were traditionally rivals. Their quarreling finally led to a 10 year war. Greece and Troy were traditionally rivals. Their quarreling finally led to a 10 year war. It started with the love story of Paris and Helen (the most beautiful woman) aka Helen of Troy. It started with the love story of Paris and Helen (the most beautiful woman) aka Helen of Troy.

The Iliad—The Trojan War Paris takes Helen back to Troy as his wife Paris takes Helen back to Troy as his wife Helen is already married to King Menelaus Helen is already married to King Menelaus

The Iliad--Achilles Achilles is the epic hero Achilles is the epic hero in The Iliad. Kleos—everlasting glory Kleos—everlasting glory He is a great warrior but He is a great warrior but is not known for his intelligence

Achilles Heel Achilles Heel Ironically, Achilles is Ironically, Achilles is killed by a poison arrow to the only vulnerable place on his body—His heel.

Achilles Heel Achilles Heel Achilles had been dipped Into The River Styx as a baby. His Heel was the only part of his body not protected.

The Iliad—The Trojan War The Trojan Horse “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts” Troy finally fell thanks to the guile of Odysseus. The Greeks pretended to give up. They built a huge wooden horse as a gift to the goddess Athena Troy finally fell thanks to the guile of Odysseus. The Greeks pretended to give up. They built a huge wooden horse as a gift to the goddess Athena

The Iliad—The Trojan War

After the Trojan War The Odyssey Begins… Odysseus lived on the island of Ithaca with his wife, Penelope, and son, Telemachus. He had been warned if he went to Troy he would not return to Ithaca for 20 years! He tried to avoid going, but he had sworn to help Menelaus (loyalty).

The Odyssey, the beginning of an adventure of a lifetime… Odysseus fought at Troy for 10 years Odysseus fought at Troy for 10 years He came up with the idea for the wooden horse that ended the war He came up with the idea for the wooden horse that ended the war His journey home from the Trojan War is the beginning of Homer’s epic, The Odyssey… His journey home from the Trojan War is the beginning of Homer’s epic, The Odyssey…

STOP HERE

The Odyssey The Odyssey is an epic story that is a significant piece of literature. Odyssey means journey There are 24 books, each book was written on a scroll and would have taken about an hour for the bard to recite (sing)

The Odyssey—Odysseus, the Hero Odysseus is one of the first Greek mythic heroes renowned for his guile as well as his muscle. The Iliad begins with Wrath The Odyssey begins with Man

Homer begins by announcing the subject and asking a Muse—one of the nine goddesses of the arts, literature, and sciences—to inspire and help him write. BOOK-ONE-INVOCATION

What we missed—Book 2-8 After the victory at Troy, Odysseus’ fleet of 12 ships and 720 sailors begin the voyage back to Ithaca After the victory at Troy, Odysseus’ fleet of 12 ships and 720 sailors begin the voyage back to Ithaca Held captive for 1 year by Circe Held captive for 1 year by Circe Held captive for 7 years by Calypso Held captive for 7 years by Calypso Saves his men from the Lotus Eaters Saves his men from the Lotus Eaters

The Odyssey—Odysseus, the Hero Yet another weakness of our hero is lust. Odysseus enjoys women. He stayed with Circe for one year before his men reminded him of home. He also stayed with Calypso for seven years. He stayed with Circe for one year before his men reminded him of home. He also stayed with Calypso for seven years.

The Odyssey—Book 9 We begin the story in media res (middle of the story) We begin the story in media res (middle of the story) Odysseus tells his story to King Alcinous Odysseus tells his story to King Alcinous Describes himself as formidable Describes himself as formidable He encounters the Lotus Eaters He encounters the Lotus Eaters Two crewmen and a runner refuse to return after eating the flower Two crewmen and a runner refuse to return after eating the flower Odysseus drags them back to the ship Odysseus drags them back to the ship

The Odyssey—book 9 New Coasts and Poseidon’s Son Odysseus and crew go to Polyphemus’ cave and eat his food (customary) Odysseus and crew go to Polyphemus’ cave and eat his food (customary) Xenia—guest/host relationship Xenia—guest/host relationship Ody foreshadows the strong wine Ody foreshadows the strong wine His men warn him to return His men warn him to return Poly returns and eats two of them Poly returns and eats two of them Then two more, then two more Then two more, then two more Ody and crew sharpened a large stick Ody and crew sharpened a large stick

The Odyssey—book 9

Odysseus offers the wine to Poly Odysseus offers the wine to Poly He tells him that his name is Nohbdy He tells him that his name is Nohbdy Poly promises to eat him last Poly promises to eat him last Poly passes out from the wine Poly passes out from the wine Ody and four crew stab his one eye Ody and four crew stab his one eye Poly cries out that Nohbdy has tricked me—his fellow Cyclopes ignore him Poly cries out that Nohbdy has tricked me—his fellow Cyclopes ignore him

The Odyssey—book 9 To escape the cave, Ody ties his men to the underbellies of sheep To escape the cave, Ody ties his men to the underbellies of sheep He clings to a huge ram He clings to a huge ram When Poly lets them out to graze, they escape When Poly lets them out to graze, they escape He steals Polyphemus’ herd He steals Polyphemus’ herd

The Odyssey—book 9 (prideful human) Odysseus taunts Polyphemus as they sail away from his island Odysseus taunts Polyphemus as they sail away from his island Poly throws boulders at his ship, nearly destroying it Poly throws boulders at his ship, nearly destroying it Ody continues to brag, tells Poly his real name Ody continues to brag, tells Poly his real name Poly uses this info to have his dad, Poseidon, curse Ody’s voyage home Poly uses this info to have his dad, Poseidon, curse Ody’s voyage home

The Odyssey—book 9 End Here Begin Book 10

The Odyssey—book 10 The Grace of the Witch King Aeolus (Guardian King Aeolus (Guardian of the wind) gives Ody a favorable west wind to take them back to Ithaca He also gives Ody a He also gives Ody a sack of ill wind

The Odyssey—book 10 The Grace of the Witch Within sight of Ithaca, Ody’s crew opens the bag looking for gold Within sight of Ithaca, Ody’s crew opens the bag looking for gold The ill wind blows them back to King Aeolus’ island where he refuses to help again The ill wind blows them back to King Aeolus’ island where he refuses to help again

The Odyssey—book 10 Boulder throwing cannibals destroy all but one ship and 45 crewmen Boulder throwing cannibals destroy all but one ship and 45 crewmen

The Odyssey—book 10 They split up on Circe’s island They split up on Circe’s island Eurylochus takes his platoon to Circe’s palace—he finds tame lions and wolves Eurylochus takes his platoon to Circe’s palace—he finds tame lions and wolves Circe invites them Circe invites them in and turns them all into swine—except Eurylochus

The Odyssey—book 10 Ody to the rescue! Ody to the rescue! He meets Hermes He meets Hermes along the way, who gives him moly plant for protection Circe attempts her Circe attempts her spell and fails

The Odyssey—book 10 She then attempts to seduce Ody She then attempts to seduce Ody He makes her promise not to do any “witches tricks” He makes her promise not to do any “witches tricks” He holds out for almost 5 minutes then jumps into bed with her He holds out for almost 5 minutes then jumps into bed with her Afterall: Being a man, he could not help consenting. Afterall: Being a man, he could not help consenting.

The Odyssey—book 10 Circe turns the swine back into men Circe turns the swine back into men Ody orders them to beach the ship Ody orders them to beach the ship Eurylochus argues with Ody, almost loses his head Eurylochus argues with Ody, almost loses his head They remain with Circe for 1 year They remain with Circe for 1 year The crew are homesick and convince Ody to depart the island The crew are homesick and convince Ody to depart the island

The Odyssey—book 10 Circe allows them to leave but they must go to Hades and speak with the shade of Tiresias (the blind prophet) Circe allows them to leave but they must go to Hades and speak with the shade of Tiresias (the blind prophet) Ody feels a terrible sense of dread Ody feels a terrible sense of dread