Witches: Calypso & Circe Hinder Odysseus’ desire to go home. Hinder Odysseus’ desire to go home. CIRCE: First ruthless and cruel, then becomes helpful CIRCE: First ruthless and cruel, then becomes helpful CALYPSO: gentle and charming but also controlling CALYPSO: gentle and charming but also controlling

The Challenge of Ogygia & Calypso What is the nature of these trials? No progress Essentially being “damned” Being stuck in a rut, unable to move forward NOTES: Add to “Odysseus’s Adventures” chart (next slide)

Challenge of Ogygia & Calypso Character flaw:  loneliness  Don’t lose sight of your goal.  giving up hope (becomes Calypso’s husband for this reason)  Lessons learned:  Submit to the will of the gods.  Be patient.  There are some things over which an individual has no control.

Homer’s Homer’s Odyssey Odyssey The Homecoming Themes NOTES

Understanding Literary Archetypes An ARCHETYPE is: An original pattern or a model; a prototype after which other things are modeled. a universal theme that manifests itself differently on an individual basis “Arche” = ancient “Typos”= pattern

Metaphor: “Life is a voyage. Each of us is on a personal voyage of life.” Human Emotions: Odyssey shows: What humans do and how they suffer in consequence for their actions. What humans do and how they suffer in consequence for their actions. NOTES How they face their challenges. How they face their challenges. There is almost no emotion that Homer doesn’t describe his characters having or arouse in the reader. There is almost no emotion that Homer doesn’t describe his characters having or arouse in the reader.

Odysseus’ development NOTES Each trial Odysseus encounters changes him and teaches him about himself. Each trial Odysseus encounters changes him and teaches him about himself. He learns humility and patience. He learns humility and patience. His final trial: At the end he must prove himself to his enemies and reclaim his household. At the end he must prove himself to his enemies and reclaim his household.

Society in peacetime and the Society in peacetime and the importance of the oikos (household) Oikos is a self-contained unit. Oikos is a self-contained unit. In his absence, Odysseus’ oikos is being corrupted by the suitors. In his absence, Odysseus’ oikos is being corrupted by the suitors. Books 1-4 and deal with the household. Books 1-4 and deal with the household.

Suppose you had been gone from home for many years, and during that time, your loved ones had no word from you and no idea what had happened to you. What would you expect them to do in your absence?

If you had not seen a close relative— a grandparent, a parent, or a sibling—for a long time, how would you react when you were reunited with him or her? What thoughts, feelings, and problems do you think you might have? Write about such an imagined reunion. (5 min.)

Role of the gods and fate in human lives Zeus, at the beginning, says mortal men must not blame men for their misfortune. Zeus, at the beginning, says mortal men must not blame men for their misfortune. Athena aids Odysseus. Athena aids Odysseus. Odysseus brings on Poseidon’s wrath. Odysseus brings on Poseidon’s wrath. Fate, interference by the gods and human action combine to form an epic that is gigantic in scale. Fate, interference by the gods and human action combine to form an epic that is gigantic in scale.

The development of Telemachus From an inexperienced, naïve youth to a hero. From an inexperienced, naïve youth to a hero. Parallel THEMES in “Homecoming” books: The trials / tests Penelope faces How she meets adversity; How she meets adversity; She, too, must pass tests of character and “prove” herself. She, too, must pass tests of character and “prove” herself.

Read with a purpose: NOTES As you read, think of the ways Odysseus has been tried and what he has learned. What themes of universal significance do you think this epic is intended to tell? How have Odysseus’ wife and son experienced parallel “voyages” of their own?

As you read, consider: NOTES What opposing forces, external or internal, are in conflict?

Oral Epic Features Formulaic phrases (epithets) Formulaic phrases (epithets) Repeated scenes and descriptions Repeated scenes and descriptions Similes Similes Dramatic monologues Dramatic monologues