1. The Odyssey Mr. Eleftheriades English Language Arts

2. Introduction to The Odyssey A man named Homer was credited with gathering numerous stories and forming them into two long works:The Iliad and The Odyssey. A man named Homer was credited with gathering numerous stories and forming them into two long works:The Iliad and The Odyssey. The Iliad deals with a war between the great city of Troy and an alliance of Greek kings. The Iliad deals with a war between the great city of Troy and an alliance of Greek kings. The Odyssey details the attempt of one Greek solider, Odysseus, to get home after the Trojan War. The Odyssey details the attempt of one Greek solider, Odysseus, to get home after the Trojan War.

3. Background Information- The Iliad The Iliad is set in the tenth and final year of the Trojan War. The Iliad is set in the tenth and final year of the Trojan War. The Greeks attacked Troy because a king’s wife (named Helen) ran off with a young prince of Troy. The Greeks attacked Troy because a king’s wife (named Helen) ran off with a young prince of Troy. The Greeks were eventually victorious. The Greeks were eventually victorious.

4. Background Information- The Odyssey The Odyssey deals with Odysseus’s long journey home from the war. The Odyssey deals with Odysseus’s long journey home from the war. In The Odyssey we first meet Odysseus 20 years after leaving Ithaca to fight in Troy and 10 years after having left Troy to return home. In The Odyssey we first meet Odysseus 20 years after leaving Ithaca to fight in Troy and 10 years after having left Troy to return home. The Odyssey is marked by melancholy and a feeling of post-war disillusionment. The Odyssey is marked by melancholy and a feeling of post-war disillusionment. Unlike many heroes of his time, readers can relate with a character like Odysseus. Unlike many heroes of his time, readers can relate with a character like Odysseus.

5. About the Author No one is quite sure who Homer was. No one is quite sure who Homer was. Theories have circulated that Homer was a blind singer or that he was a legend. Theories have circulated that Homer was a blind singer or that he was a legend. Some believe that the work of Homer is actually the work of multiple authors. Some believe that the work of Homer is actually the work of multiple authors. Rhapsodes, or “singers of tales,” were singers who traveled from town to town telling stories of history, recent events, and of gods and goddesses. Rhapsodes, or “singers of tales,” were singers who traveled from town to town telling stories of history, recent events, and of gods and goddesses.

6. What is an Epic? An epic is a long narrative poem that tells of the adventures of heroes who in some way embody the values of their civilization. An epic is a long narrative poem that tells of the adventures of heroes who in some way embody the values of their civilization. For centuries Greeks used The Odyssey in schools in order to teach values. For centuries Greeks used The Odyssey in schools in order to teach values. While there are many different types of epics, The Odyssey is a model for the epic of a long journey. While there are many different types of epics, The Odyssey is a model for the epic of a long journey.

7. How Were the Epics Told? Most stories were sung by people who couldn’t read or write. Most stories were sung by people who couldn’t read or write. The singers followed a basic storyline, but improvised the minor details of the story from night to night. The singers followed a basic storyline, but improvised the minor details of the story from night to night. The Odyssey is 11,300 lines long. It is assumed that many storytellers summarized parts of the works and went into greater detail during the more exciting scenes. The Odyssey is 11,300 lines long. It is assumed that many storytellers summarized parts of the works and went into greater detail during the more exciting scenes.

8. Literary Terminology- Homeric simile These similes compare heroic or epic events to simple and easily understandable everyday events that the audience would recognize… These similes compare heroic or epic events to simple and easily understandable everyday events that the audience would recognize… -Athena prevents an arrow from striking Menelaus “She brushed it away from his skin as lightly as when a mother brushes a fly away from her child who is lying in sweet sleep.”