1. An Introduction (of Epic Proportions)
The Odyssey
An Introduction (of Epic Proportions)

2. Before you take notes...

3. Homer, the Poet
Credited with writing the two most famous epics of all time: the Illiad and the Odyssey
Stories passed down orally during the Homeric Age.
Poetic form and rhyme- easy for the story teller to remember.

4. Who was Homer? True identity is unknown Likely a bard or rhapsody
Could have been a combination of multiple men
Lived around 850 b.c.
Believed he could be blind (Homeros= blind)
Lived in Greece
Bard is professional poet

5. Greek Story Telling
Homer passed his story on via travelling story-tellers called “rhapsodies”
Some stories were turned into plays
Greek theater was performed outside
No actresses, only actors
No scenery
Actors wore mask and high platform shoes- they moved very slowly

6. Greek Theater

7. Homer’s Two Epics
The Illiad tells about a 10 year war fought on the plains behind Troy, Greece
War fought between the people of Troy and the alliance of early Greek kings

8. The Illiad
The war began when Helen, the wife of Greek king Menelaus and the most beautiful woman in the world, ran off with Paris, the prince of Troy.
Isn’t that how every great story starts??

9. The Illiad
The 10 year battle ended when Odysseus, king of Ithaca (a Greek island), broke into the walls of Troy with the Trojan house gift.
Troy was burnt to the ground and many were killed.

10. Odysseus and the Trojan Horse
Odysseus originated the idea of the Trojan horse
His army built a large wooden horse and hid Odysseus and members of his army inside.
The Greek offered it to the Trojans as a sign of their surrender and the Trojans accepted the gift and brought it inside the walls of their city.
In the night, Odysseus and his men crept out, unlocked the gates of the city, and the battle began.

11. The Trojan War Was there even a war?
There probably was a Trojan War but was much different from Homer’s depiction of it.
Archeological evidence shows the war may have taken place around BC and the city Homer calls Troy was likely destroyed by a fire.
The Odyssey was likely composed 500 years after the war.

12. Before The Odyssey
Odysseus is primarily raised by his sister and a family slave.
He loves hunting and is given a special bow as a gift.
He becomes the wise and gentle king of Ithaca and marries Penelope, daughter of Spartan king Icarius.
Odysseus does not want to join the Trojan War, but does so just after his son Telemachus is born.

13. Before The Odyssey
Odysseus really did not want to go to war so when the other kings came for him, he pretended to be insane and not recognize his visitors. He continued to plow his fields.
Because he ignored the other kings, King Menelaus and Agamenon threw Telemachus in front of the plow.
Odysseus revealed his sanity when he turned the plow to avoid running over his son.
Before he leaves, he tells Penelope that she is to remarry when Telemachus gets over if he never returns.

14. The Greek kings parted ways and went home after their victories.
The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus’ 10 year long journey to return home to his family.
He must use his heroic strength to outsmart monsters, gods/ goddesses, and women who try to seduce him.

15. The Odyssey Background
On Odysseus’ way home from war, Athena arranged for storms to blow the Greeks off course as they attempted to sail home from war.
Athena was outraged because a Greek warrior Ajax had desecrated her temple by attempting to rape Cassandra , daughter of the last king of Troy, at her temple.
The Greeks had made no effort to punish the man who tried to rape Cassandra at Athena’s shrine.

16. The Odyssey Background
Athena’s anger lead to the Greeks’ wandering off course.
However, Odysseus was Athena’s favorite Greek warrior, so she does help him on his way home.

17. Odysseus’ Voyage

18. Meanwhile, in Ithaca…
Odysseus’ home is overrun with suitors who want to marry Penelope, his wife.
Penelope and Telemachus, his 21 year old son, do not have the power to eject the suitors from their home.
Telemachus, the heir to Odysseus’ throne, is constantly in danger.

19. Ithaca The city of Ithaca is based on power.
Odysseus, the king of the island of Ithaca maintains control over Ithaca, even though he is away for 20 years, because of his skills which lead to his control.
Odysseus is a great warrior, and excellent sailor, the best carpenter, the best hunter, the finest marksman, and the leading expert on caring for farm animals. He is also extremely intelligent.
Wealth is measured by livestock, household furnishings, servants, slaves, and treasure. Slavery is encouraged. Piracy, war, raids on foreign cities, and the capture of women are all accepted means of increasing wealth.

20. Ithaca
In Ithaca, if Telemachus tried to assume his father’s throne, he would likely be overthrown and killed.
If Penelope does not soon choose a suitor, a civil war may begin in Ithaca.

21. The drama thickens!
If Penelope does choose a suitor, Telemachus’ life is in danger unless he is willing to give up his claim to the throne.
Penelope may have to choose a suitor to save her family’s life and Ithaca.

22. Odysseus’ Journey Home
Flashbacks are used to reveal many years of the journey.
For 3 years Odysseus is blown around the Mediterranean, experiencing adventures with Lotus Eaters, Cyclops, giant cannibals, Sirens, the underworld, and many more monsters.
Eventually he is swept ashore to the island of Calypso where he spends 7 years. It is at this point we first meet Odysseus.

24. The Gods in The Odyssey Athena Poseidon Goddess of Wisdom
Athena was born from her father Zeus’ head
Always at Odysseus’ side, she offered help and advice.
She also aids Telemachus on his journey.
God of the Sea
Odysseus’ enemy
Known for his arrogance and brutishness
Often seen with a trident
Father of the Cyclops (in The Odyssey)

25. Odysseus and the Gods
Homer used both Athena and Poseidon as alter-egos for Odysseus: good vs. evil
Odysseus is known for his cleverness but can also be stubborn and arrogant.

26. Domestic life in Ancient Greece (as seen in The Odyssey)
Real men cry. Crying is a natural expression of emotion.
Even royalty are expected to do chores.
Parents are involved in arranging marriages.
Embracing someone’s knees shows respect, humility, and petition.

27. Domestic Life in Ancient Greece
Poets and poetry were an important part of Ancient Greek life for entertainment and instruction.
Gave gifts to guests upon arrival and departure.
Strangers were always welcome.

28. Themes in The Odyssey
Hospitality as a serious and important obligation in Greek culture.
Always be polite to your guest
The danger of the hubris.
Hubris is excessive pride that leads to destruction. Odysseus is often guilty of hubris and Athena must rescue him.

29. Themes in The Odyssey The importance of moderation.
* Giving into excess or temptation, whether food, drink, or other pleasures, will cause a person harm.
The expected roles for women and men in Greek society.
* Men are almost always superior to women, except in Sparta where women have more rights.

30. Themes in The Odyssey The role of fate.
Characters receive hints as to their fate; however, some choose to ignore the foreshadowing.
The similarities between Greek gods and mortals.
The gods have many of the same negative traits as humans and often cause destruction.

31. Themes in The Odyssey Appearance vs. Reality Spiritual growth
Athena takes on many different characters’ identities and even animals when helping Odysseus or Telemachus.
Spiritual growth
Telemachus and Odysseus both experience struggles which cause them to mature spiritually by the end of the epic.

32. Themes in The Odyssey Loyalty Perseverance Vengeance
There are characters who do not remain loyal to Odysseus and their fate is not good.
Perseverance
Work to survive in any situation
Vengeance
It is acceptable to hurt or kill those who are disloyal.

33. A Hero Ain’t Nothing But A Sandwich