Download The Odyssey Unit

Ms. Kucinski’s English I
The attack on Troy
“ Homer’s first epic was the Iliad, which tells us the
story of a ten-year war fought on the plains outside the
walls of a great city called Troy… The Iliad tells us that
the cause of the war was sexual jealousy: The world’s
most beautiful woman, Helen, abandoned her
husband, Menelaus, a Greek king, and ran off with
Paris, a Prince of Troy.” (p.640)
“The Odyssey, Homer’s second epic, is the story of the
attempt of one Greek soldier, Odysseus, to get home after
the Trojan War.” (p.640)
THE TROJAN WAR LAST FOR 10 YEARS AND IT
TAKES ODYSSEUS ANOTHER 10 YEARS TO GET
HOME– HE IS AWAY FROM HOME FOR A TOTAL OF 20
YEARS!!!!
“Epics are long narrative poems that tell the
adventures of heroes who in some way embody the
values of their civilizations.” (p.640)
“It is found in fairytales, novels such as The Incredible
Journey, Moby-Dick, and movies such as The Wizard
of Oz and Star Wars.” (p.641)
“According to the Iliad, the Greeks attacked Troy to
avenge the insult suffered by Menelaus, king of
Sparta, when his wife, Helen, ran off with Paris, a
young prince of Troy.” (p. 641)
“Odysseus’s plan was to build an enormous wooden horse
and hide a few Greek soldiers inside its hollow belly. After
the horse was built, the Greeks pushed it through the
gates of Troy and withdrew their armies, so that their camp
appeared abandoned. Thinking that the Greeks had given
up the fight and that the horse was a peace offering, the
Trojans brought the horse into their city. That night the
Greeks hidden inside the hollow belly came out, opened
the gates of Troy to the whole Greek army, and began the
battle that was to win the war.” (p.643)
“It is ten years since Odysseus sailed from Troy, twenty
years since he left Ithaca to fight in Troy.” (p.644)
20 years
“Odysseus and his family are people searching for the
right relationships with one another and with the
people around them. They want to find their proper
places in life.” (p.644)
“Myths are traditional stories, rooted in a particular
culture, that usually explain a belief, a ritual, or a
mysterious natural phenomenon.” (p. 644)
“…an alter ego, a reflection of a hero’s best or worst
qualities.” (p.644)
“These rhapsodes, or “singers of tales,” were
historians and entertainers as well as the mythmakers
of their time.” (p. 645)
“… scholars suggest that stories like the Iliad and the
Odyssey were originally told aloud by people who
could not read or write.” (p.645)
“… an extended comparison.”
Simile- the comparison of two or more things using
“like” or “as”
“These similes compare heroic or epic events to
simple and easily understandable everyday events the
audience would recognize instantly.” (p. 646)
a brave and noble character in
an epic poem, admired for great
achievements or affected by grand
events
Internal conflict- Mental struggle; struggling with
one’s own mind.
External conflict- Struggle between a person and an
outside force.
Introduction to the Odyssey Activity
Quick Write:
Vocabulary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fwoTWlrfYg
Tell the Story
Complete the While You Read worksheet
1. The Odyssey opens with a convention of epic poetry – the poet’s
prayer to the Muse. What does the poet Homer ask of the Muse:
2. What does Homer tell us about the hero Odysseus
Calypso, the Sweet Nymph
Vocabulary:
1. Nymph: a beautiful young maiden; a lesser goddess in the form of
a maiden
2. Ambrosial: fit for the gods (food that kept the gods immortal)
3. Immortal: not mortal; not subject to death.
4. Racked: to stain with mental effort
5. Mandate: a command, law, or decree by an authority figure
6. Provisions: supplies
7. Pondered: to consider something deeply and thoroughly
8. Forlorn: miserable, wretched, depressed, desolate or lonely
9. Victuals: food supplies, provisions
Calypso, the Sweet Nymph
Complete the While You Read worksheet
1. Identify the following: The characters and what we know about them:
Remember the WHO, did WHAT? When? Where? Why? How?
2. What is happening? How do we know? What words/lines from the text explain what is happening?
3. What TWO significant moments occur on the Island of Calypso that shows Odysseus’ qualities of
an Epic Hero? In particular, how does Odysseus adventure with Calypso show that he is an epic
hero? Use quotes (text evidence to support your answers). Include the line number.
4. How does Homer depict the characteristics of an epic hero through Odysseus? What figurative
language typical of epic poetry does Homer use to describe Odysseus? Use text evidence with line
numbers to support your answer. We will review these techniques in class.
Journal Writing inspired by
Calypso by Suzanne Vega
 For 5 minutes, write as quickly as you can about all that this poem brings to mind for you.
 For 10 minutes, choose any line and write as quickly and as specifically as you can all that
comes to mind, let the line lead your thinking. Be sure to re-write the line you chose BEFORE
you begin your writing.
 For 15 minutes, write about a time went you had to part with something or someone you cared a
great deal about.
o Be specific about the person or the thing/object
o Use descriptive words: adjectives and phrases.
o Use verbs that show how you felt.