1. The Odyssey
By Homer

3. Ionian Greeks
Greeks of Asia Minor developed a tradition of heroic poetry through which they recalled their own history.
Poetry centered on figures and events especially those surrounding the legendary figures and events of the Trojan War (c B.C.)

4. The Fall of Troy by J.G. Trautmann

5. A New Age 800s-700s beginning of “Archaic period”
Emergence of new activity in a variety of fields
Growth in population and colonization
Greater contact of Hellenic communities—Oracle of Apollo, Olympic Games (founded 776 B.C.)

6. The Olympic Games—776 B.C. Temple of Hera, Olympia (Elis), Greece
Discus Thrower

7. It’s Greek to me! Hellenic peoples traded with Phoenicians
Learned from them a system of writing with an alphabet
Greek Linear A writing
This alphabet (combined Greek, Phoenician, and Etruscan) would become the Roman alphabet—adopted by other languages, including English.

8. Greek Alphabet

9. Greek Literature Begins
The new language spread and was put to use.
Iliad and Odyssey came into being
Epic poetry

10. Who was Homer?
Greek literature’s two greatest epics are attributed to Homer.
The works cannot be accurately dated.
We know virtually nothing about Homer.
The Greeks believed he was blind because of the blind bard in the Odyssey.

11. Homer again Seven different cities claim to be his birthplace—
all in Ionia on
the western
coast of Asia Minor.
Late 800s-700s
B.C.

12. Definition of Epic
A long narrative poem written in an elevated style that presents characters of high position in adventures—usually related to a central heroic figure and episodes important to the history of a race or nation

13. Art Epic
Epics of known authorship
The Aeneid by Vergil is an example.

14. Folk Epic Epics without certain authorship are called folk epics.
Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey are examples.

15. Characteristics of Epic
Hero is of imposing stature, or national or international importance, and of great historical or legendary significance.
The setting is vast, covering great nations, the world, or the universe.
The action consists of deeds of great valor or requiring superhuman courage.

16. Conventions continued
Supernatural forces—gods, angels, demons—interest themselves in the action.
A style of sustained elevation is used.
The poet retains a measure of objectivity.

17. Common Epic Devices Poet states theme. Invokes Muse
Opens in medias res
Includes catalogues of warriors, ships, armies, etc.
Extended formal speeches by main characters
Frequent use of epic simile
(elaborate comparisons—also called Homeric simile)

18. Epic Meter Dactylic Hexameter—based on quantity of vowels/syllables
Six feet (measures) of dactyls
Dactyl=One long syllable followed by two short syllables (-uu)
A line of dactylic hexameter scanned looks like this:
-uu/-uu/-uu/-uu/-uu/--

19. The Odyssey Homer took oral tradition and reshaped into two poems
Various pieces used to create poems:
Myths about gods and heroes of old
Myths about war with Troy
Folk tales
Set passages describing scenes of sacrifices, fighting, and funerals
Descriptive phrases, epithets, about people and nature

20. The Odyssey
Prime values of Greek culture included courage, strength, skill, intelligence, loyalty, respect for all forms of life and hospitality.
Principal goals sought by Greek men were glory and honor.

21. Homeric Hero Homer’s heroes were aristocrats, born to be warriors.
Heroic values
Hero faces death—concentrates on what he can control—quality of life, nature of death—how he faces death, how heroic his adversaries are, how well he fights

22. Hero continued What others think of the hero is important
Greatest insult to the hero is for others not to give the hero the honor due him
Everlasting fame is the ultimate honor.

23. Greek precepts “Know thyself.” “Nothing in excess”
Warriors who forgot these failed to realize their limitations and suffered from excessive pride and arrogance is called hubris.

24. The end