1. The Odyssey

2. About the Author Homer is credited with creating The Illiad and the Odyssey Some scholars disagree over the accuracy of this, and some whether Homer even existed at all! According to legend, he was born in Western Asia Minor and was blind

3. Background and History The Odyssey describes what happens to the Greek hero, Odysseus, king of Ithaca, a small island west of Greece on his way home after the Trojan War.

4. Background and History The Trojan War was sparked when Paris, son of the King of Troy, ran off with Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world and the wife of Menelaus of Sparta. A Greek force attacked Troy to recapture her and was finally victorious after ten years of fighting

5. Background and History The capture of Troy finally ended when the Greeks pretended to depart, leaving a giant wooden horse behind. Thinking they had won the war, the Trojans dragged the horse inside the walls of their city. That night, Greek warriors who had hidden within the hollow horse crept out and opened the city gates to their waiting comrades who then conquered the city

7. Literary Analysis An EPIC is a long poem about the adventures of gods or heroes The EPIC HERO is the central character, a larger than life figure from history or legend who undertakes a dangerous voyage while demonstrating traits such as courage, loyalty and honor.

8. About the selection The Odyssey is a long Greek epic poem, attributed to Homer, describing the ten years of wandering of Odysseus after the Trojan War and his final return home. The story combines realistic elements of historical events with wildly imagined scenes of fantastic places and creatures.

9. About the Selection The epic also includes skillful characterizations. Odysseus, for example represents the model epic hero: a leader of courage, daring and wit, he pursues his goal – to return home after many years of war in the face of many setbacks.

10. About the Selection However, he has human traits and failings that make him seem like a real person: He enjoys life, is too curious for his own good, is foolishly cocky at times, and is clever to the point of being tricky.

11. About the Selection Some critics have interpreted the Odyssey as representing an individual’s journey through life and the search for self-knowledge.