1. Epic Unit: The Odyssey
Unit Introduction

3. You Should be Able to Answer…
What is a hero, why is one important, and why is Odysseus considered one?
Why is mythology important?
What is an epic poem?
In what context does The Odyssey occur?
In what context was The Odyssey written?

4. What is a hero, why is it important, and why is Odysseus considered one?

5. Hero – What, Who, Why Comes from greek heros for “one who is worthy”
A hero represents what a culture values above all else
Represents the ideal – what we should all strive to be
Who your heroes are tells who what is important to you
Odysseus (from oddusumai for “to suffer pain”), for his combination of strength and intellect and willingness to endure trials, represents what Ancient Greeks believed was most important

6. Epic Heroes
Frodo
Achilles

8. Why is Mythology Important?

9. Myths
Stories that use fantasy (supernatural elements) to express ideas about life
Deal with relationship between human beings and the unknown or spiritual

10. Myth Greeks believed in two aspects of the mind:
Mythos: domain of artistic, intuitive mind
Logos: Domain of logical, factual, practical mind
Two blended seamlessly to the Greeks

11. What Is an Epic Poem?

12. Epic Poem: Definition
Long, narrative poem of adventures recounting episodes important to the history of a nation or race and relating to a central heroic figure

13. Epic: Characteristics
Hero is a figure of imposing stature, great importance, and historical or legendary significance
Vast setting
Action consists of deeds of great bravery
Features supernatural forces and creatures
Style is elevated and objective

14. Epic Poem: Conventions
Poem opens with an invocation of the Muse – prayer to the Muse for inspiration
Begins In Medias Res (“in the middle”) – in mid-action
Catalogs warriors, ships, armies, etc.
Uses epic similes (long comparisons using “like” or “as”)
Uses epithets for description – hyphenated adjectives (“rosy-fingered dawn,” “gray-eyed Athena”)
Uses Deus Ex Machina (“god from the machine”) – supernatural forces that set things right

15. In what context does The Odyssey occur?

16. Context of The Odyssey Trojan War:
Recounted in The Iliad
Also, as seen in “Troy”
Cause: King Menelaus’ wife, Helen, runs off (kidnapped?) with Prince Paris of Troy
Menelaus’ brother, Agamemnon, organizes all Greeks to attack Troy (“a thousand ships”)
After 10 years and many deaths (including Achilles), Troy is sacked, Helen returned to Menelaus, Greeks return home
Victory in Troy?
Agamemnon poisoned by unfaithful wife
Odysseus wanders for another 10 years

17. The Trojan Horse

19. In what context was The Odyssey written?

20. Background Credited to Homer, a rhapsode
Epics like “The Odyssey” were composed orally and then recited by rhapsodes (“singers of tales”) – they were memorized!
Rhapsodes improvised over basic storyline to a particular rhythm or meter
Recounted epics during multiple sittings
The Odyssey and The Iliad were the distant past for rhapsodes’ listeners (like the Revolutionary War is for Americans)

21. Map of Odysseus Journey
Underworld
Cicones
Scheria
Circe
Scylla and Charybdis
Troy
Thrinakia
Cyclops
Ithaca
Laistrygonians
King Aiolos
Calypso
Lotus Eaters

22. Themes
“Where shall a man find sweetness to surpass his own home and his parents? In far lands he shall not, though he find a house of gold.” (Part I)
A soldier’s return to civilized life, conquering the “hero’s heart.” (Part II)

23. What does all of this have to do with The Odyssey?
Odysseus, the epic hero of The Odyssey, is a cornerstone of our concept of heroes/heroism
The Odyssey is a classic example (and among the best) of an epic poem
Although not true in the sense of logos, The Odyssey contains truth from mythos