The Odyssey - Background

Odysseus King of Ithaca Cleverest man alive Favorite of Athena Married to Penelope, but was a suitor to Helen Fought with the Greeks in the Trojan War

The Trojan War Greeks against Troy Started because Paris, prince of Troy, ran away with Helen of Sparta For this to make sense, we need to know 2 stories…

Story 1: Helen and her suitors Helen was the most beautiful woman in the world. Many kings and princes came as suitors, asking to marry her. Her step-father, King Tyndareus, was afraid to make a decision because he was afraid that the suitors who were not chosen as Helen’s husband would start a fight.

Story 1: The oath of TSyndareus Before Tyndareus made a decision, he made the suitors swear an oath that to protect anyone who tried to harm Helen or her husband. The suitors agreed, and Tyndareus chose Menelaus as Helen’s husband. Now most of the Greek kings and princes were sworn to defend Helen and Menelaus. This becomes important later!

Odysseus & Penelope Even though Odysseus was a suitor to Helen, he apparently fell in love with Penelope, Helen’s cousin. He advised Tyndareus to make the suitors swear the oath. In return, Tyndareus helped Odysseus win Penelope’s hand in marriage – though we don’t have any details of their courtship.

Quickwrite Quickwrite about the story of Helen and her suitors.

Story 2: Eris and the Golden Apple Eris, goddess of discord (or argument), had a golden apple inscribed with the words “To the most beautiful goddess.” Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera each claimed the apple. Zeus appointed Paris, prince of Troy, to judge who the most beautiful goddess was.

Story 2: The judgment of Paris Before the judgment, the goddesses all promised different rewards to Paris. Athena = wisdom Hera = power Aphrodite = marry the most beautiful woman in the world Whom do you think Paris chose?

Story 2: Paris chooses Aphrodite Paris chose Aphrodite. So now he was promised the most beautiful woman in the world as his wife. Except…

Story 2: Paris & Helen Helen was already married! But Paris, with a love potion that Aphrodite gave him, went to Sparta and ran away with Helen back to Troy. So…what do you think Helen’s husband, Menelaus, did next? (Hint: remember the oath of Tyndareus?)

The Greeks sail to Troy That’s right! Menelaus went to all of Helen’s suitors and told them of what had happened. Bound by their oath, the suitors all agreed to sail with Menelaus to fight against Troy. Odysseus, remember, was one of Helen’s suitors. So even though his son, Telemachus, had just been born, he had to leave Ithaca and sail with the other Greeks to Troy.

Quickwrite Quickwrite: What does the story of Eris & the Golden Apple/Paris & Helen tell us about the Greeks and their beliefs?

The Trojan War The story of the Trojan War is told in The Iliad. It lasted for 10 years and only ended when Odysseus thought of the trick of the Trojan Horse. The Greeks destroyed Troy, Helen was reunited with Menelaus, and everyone sailed for home. Except…

The Odyssey Odysseus and his crew were lost on the way home to Ithaca, and wandered for another 10 years! This tale is told in the Odyssey. Half of the Odyssey deals with Odysseus’ 10-year journey home. The other half deals with how Odysseus had to defeat men who had taken over his home and had tried to marry his wife, Penelope.

Odysseus and the Cyclops We are going to watch a clip of a film version of the Odyssey. In this clip, Odysseus and his men have landed on the island of the Cyclops, monsters who live in caves. They try to exchange gifts in return for food and water - but it doesn’t quite work out the way they had planned, and Odysseus has to use his wits to save himself and his men.

Focus As you watch the clip, pay attention to how Odysseus solves his problem. What does this tell us about Odysseus?

Quickwrite What do we learn about Odysseus from the clip of his meeting with the Cyclops?