1. The Odyssey Homer

2. Homer Age unknown Possibly from Chios or Smyrna
Most modern researchers agree on 7th or 8th century BC
Possibly from Chios or Smyrna
Popularly thought to be blind
Alleged author of The Iliad and The Odyssey
Although little is known about him, Homer is considered one of the preeminent poets of all time. Historians are still unclear when he was born. Some think different authors to Iliad and Odyssey. Iliad is oldest work of western literature, Odyssey is second oldest.
All we have is tradition – what the Greeks believed they knew about Homer.

3. The Iliad Preceded The Odyssey
Narrative account of ten days towards the end of the Trojan War
Battle Epic
Concerns Achilles in particular
Centers around war and the realm of men
Theme of glory (Kleos)
Used to be some debate about whether Iliad or Odyssey was written first. Confident Iliad came first because author of Odyssey seemed to know the Iliad in its contemporary form – continuity of characters, they are all older, recognizably the same men
Wicked arrogance of Agamemnon; ruinous wrath of Achilles
Deeds of man AND gods are subject to demands of destiny and necessity – universal framework
Later Greek thinkers take idea of universal framework, but change in slightly

4. The Odyssey 12,109 lines of poetry
Mostly likely written in the late 8th or early 7th centuries B.C.E. (about 2,700 years old)
Handwritten book until 1488
Divided into 24 Books
Was likely transmitted orally
rather than being written
Very little is known about Greece in 8th and 9th centuries

5. The Odyssey
Some scholars believed Odyssey was originally written as shorter poems and later strung together
Others believe Homer did not write Odyssey at all
Homeric epics were familiar to all Greeks at the time
Some believe they were the work of the entire Greek people
Illiterate: couldn’t have composed Iliad and Odyssey, left behind shorter ballad-like poems that were later put together
Homer didn’t write Odyssey, was collected work of Greek people

6. The Odyssey Story of Odysseus, King of Ithaca, and his journey home
Story of travel and adventure, but also about home life and the domestic world
Set in a heroic world (men are brave, strong, and courageous; women are beautiful and clever; Gods intervene in the world of men)

7. Introduction to Epic Poetry

8. What is an Epic Poem? A long narrative poem
Can’t be told in one sitting
Complex tales revolving around many characters; spanning many years

9. What is an Epic Poem? Epic poems usually had two purposes:
Entertainment
Education
Performed to the accompaniment of a lyre
Reinforced certain values within societies
Perseverance
Morality
Xenia
Kleos
Balance and Moderation
Men are stronger, better spoken
Gods are more present
Women are more beautiful and elegant

10. The Epic Hero
One who is able to conquer most problems, but doesn’t possess “super-powers”
Faithful
Brave
Intelligent
Sometimes helped by higher force

11. Greek Terms Metis: A combination of wisdom and cunning, craftiness
Kleos: Glory, renown
Hubris: Arrogance, extreme pride
Nostos: Homecoming, journey
Dolos: Trickery, cunning deception
Xenia: Hospitality

12. The Telemachiad Books 1-4
Opens in Ithaca; Odysseus has been gone for 20 years
10 year Trojan war, then 10 years trying to return home
Most assume Odysseus is dead
Odysseus’s wife, Penelope, and son, Telemachus, are at their home, which is being plagued by suitors
Odyssey is a coming of age story

13. Kleos Honor, glory, fame, renown Common topic in ancient Greek stories
Search for renown is a major theme of The Iliad
Gained through a glorious death
Requires a witness – someone to spread the story

14. Xenia
Hospitality
Suitors offer a violation of the code

15. Dolos “Craft,” inherent attempt to deceive
Used in praise of Odysseus and his deeds
By Athena about Odysseus’ deceptions
About Trojan Horse
Also used as a negative characteristic
About Clytemnestra
About suitors’ plan to kill Telemachus
In what context is deception acceptable in the Homeric World? Is there any pattern?

16. Metis
Ingenuity
Resourcefulness
Inventiveness

17. Nostos Return or journey home Several contained in the Odyssey Nestor
Menelaus
Agamemnon
Telemachus
Odysseus

18. The Trojan War Roughly dated to 13th century B.C.E.
War was supposedly fought over Helen who was having an affair with Paris, leader of Troy