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Great Books: The Odyssey (Discovery Channel School) DVD 883 O (MSM Library) Apollo 13’s command module was The Odyssey “odyssey” an extended wandering with many changes of fortune The Iliad (story of the Trojan war—Helen—Trojan horse) examples of influence on modern culture: Achilles’ heel and Ajax detergent The Odyssey by Homer “allegory of all our lives writ large” archetype—something generalized, something always with us (recurring themes throughout history) Achilles Odysseus hubris Odysseus=Ulysses a draftee brave, bold, liar very human (full of love and hate, devious) “only complete man in literature” according to James Joyce Action heroes are his descendants. *Odysseus’ goal is to return home Legend has it that Odysseus did not want to go to the war. Instead he feigned insanity. Palamedes put O’s young son Telemachus in the path of O’s plow. When O. swerved to avoid the child, he revealed sanity and, thus, had to go to war. Penelope—wife of Odysseus Ithaca—Odysseus’ kingdom Extended lesson in decorum and hospitality (code—protection of the stranger) Practical aspects of hospitality— Moral aspects of hospitality— Return trip=adventures=tests (more intense than those we would commonly face) Troy to Ithaca (normally a two week trip—extended to 10 years) Hospitality: Good/bad hosts and guests e.g. Cyclops, Polyphemus—a host with poor manners Odysseus’ ego—gives his name to Polyphemus as the one who blinded him Polyphemus’ father is the god of the sea, Poseidon. Myths—efforts of early people to explain the world about them gods—reflect the forces of nature gods—reflect the forces of man Greek goddess Athena (R. Minerva)—symbolizes reason and civilization Greek god Poseidon (R. Neptune)—symbolizes passion, emotion, and forces of nature Who was Homer? No one really knows. He created the first great works of the Western world. (not in TLC video) Many feel that Homer was a blind Greek poet who wandered from town to town chanting his poetry to the accompaniment of a lyre. Some think the Iliad and Odyssey were not written by one person but are instead a collection of Greek poems. When did he live? Authorities do not agree exactly when Homer lived. Dates vary anywhere from the 1100s to the 600s B.C. We do not know where he was born. When did he write? The poetry was written down about the latter part of the sixth century B.C. Before that it had been recited by minstrels. What makes his poetry “classic”? simplicity of language, swift movement of narrative, characters with uncomplicated motives, actions true to human nature, plots that blend the joys of living with the tragic sense of life, long, musical lines (in the original). An endless source of amusement and entertainment, his poem has given generations and generations a past. Trojan War—was it myth or reality? Heinrich Schliemann—traveled to Mycenae (legendary home of Agamemnon) and found gold and a mask (claimed it was the mask of Agamemnon) All reconsidered the historicity of the age. Troy was destroyed and rebuilt many times. The earliest discoverer found a primitive city with stone walls, well-built houses, and hoards of precious metals. In the 20 th century, explorers have found evidence of at least nine cities, some destroyed by earthquakes, others by plundering and fire. They believe the one Homer wrote about was one they have dated to c. 1200 B.C. 1550-1100 B.C. Late Bronze Age Mycenae—rich and powerful civilization that ended abruptly Alphabet—linear B (early form of Greek that was lost) What ended the civilization? famine? disease? invasion? natural disaster? Trojan War coincided with the end of the Mycenaean Empire. 400 years of darkness; bards memorized the tales Legends survived through oral storytelling. Rhythms and structures of music helped make it easier to memorize and recite. (Discuss the epic meter, dactylic hexameter) For the next generation of Greeks, civilization began with the stories from Homer. The Iliad and Odyssey were nation-building myths. No alphabet had survived. In his lifetime, they adapted the alphabet of the Phoenicians. 3rd c. B.C. a definitive copy of the epics was made; these were passed on through generations. Odysseus Island of Circe (Circe turns men into swine for their bad behavior) Sirens Women see him off on all his journeys. Calypso—offers him immortality; he spends seven years there He wants to live, not be immortal. Chooses to be a mortal, a human being. Penelope is always in the background. Middle Ages—Homer’s works existed primarily in monasteries. But the Renaissance resurrected—first printed editions appeared in Florence in 1488. Homer began the epic tradition. (Discuss the epic.) Other writers were influenced by him--Virgil, Dante, Milton, Keats, Tennyson, and Joyce. From the Iliad came tragic drama. From the Odyssey came the novel. Indiana Jones Other qualities of Odysseus: intelligent, willing to lie to get what he wants (unlike Achilles); master negotiator and diplomat (says what is needed not necessarily what is true) Hero who is a survivor, sometimes more of an anti-hero--he is not a paragon of virtue. “Choosing Life” survival visit to the underworld Apollo 13’s Odyssey trip to the moon; adventures had to pass by the moon (like sailors passing by the sirens); tied to the spacecraft like Odysseus was tied to the mast; they learned about themselves adventure of their lives Charybdis—whirlpool or Scylla--monster --lousy choices! “Homecoming” eternal theme or archetype Odysseus and Penelope reunite—coming home has to leave again to make sacrifice but returns Fate vs. free will Literary Terms: epic “Folk epic” a narrative based on heroic legends, author unknown “Art epic” author is known (e.g. Aeneid, Paradise Lost) epic (Homeric) epithet epic (Homeric) simile repetition metaphor simile