Download Introduction to Homer, the Epic Poem, Mythology, and

Introduction to Homer,
the Epic Poem,
Mythology, and The
Odyssey
A _______ is a traditional or legendary
story, usually concerning some being or
hero or event, with or without a
determinable basis of fact or a natural
explanation, esp. one that is concerned
with deities or gods and explains some
practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature.
 Mythology is simply the study of myth or
a body of myths (most commonly referred
to as Greek mythology).
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Mythology
• The people of ancient Greece shared
stories called myths about the gods,
goddesses, and heroes in which they
_____________.
• Each god or goddess was worshipped as
a deity and ruled over certain areas of the
Greeks’ lives.
Greek Mythology
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Explained the ____________
Justified __________ practices
Gave ________ to leaders
Gave ________
____________ (more than one god)
Centered around the _________
Olympians (primary Greek gods)
The Myths – Why they were
written
• The Ancient Greek culture
has been kept alive by the
________ and later written
stories handed down
through thousands of
years.
• Modern plays, novels,
television programs,
movies and even
advertisements refer to
Greek gods, goddesses,
heroes and their stories.
• Adventurous and exciting
stories delight and
entertain us.
Why should we study mythology?
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_______ – leader of the Greek gods and is god of the sky, carried
thunderbolt
_______- wife of Zeus, queen of gods, childbirth, marriage
_______ – god of the sea, earthquakes, horses and was the
brother of Zeus
_______ – god of the underworld, brother of Zeus and Poseidon
_______ – goddess of war and peace, daughter of Zeus
_______ – goddess of love and beauty
_______ – messenger of the gods
_______ (Helios) – god of sunlight, music, poetry, medicine, etc.
_______ – god of fire, craftspeople, metalworkers
_______ – goddess of the harvest, fertility, agriculture
_______ – goddess of the hearth, home, and community
_______ – goddess of hunting and the moon
The 12 Olympians (Main Greek
gods and goddesses)
Composed and recited poems around
______ B.C.
 All were told and never written down by
him.
 Probably ______ and __________
 Most famously noted for the epic poem
The Illiad and The Odyssey.

Homer (Not that yellow guy who is
Bart’s father)
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Focuses on the _______ War.
War begins when Prince Paris of Troy
steals the gorgeous Helen of Greece from
her husband King Melanous the King of
Greece.
The Greeks are referred to as ________
and are led by Achilles and Odysseus.
Battle lasts _______ years and is
eventually won by the Achaeans (Greeks)
Trojan Horse – created by
___________.
The Illiad
Revolves around Odysseus’s journey
home to Ithaca.
 Elements of an Epic Poem
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Long narrative poem
Speaker is a narrator
Setting is huge (sea, region, world, universe)
Main character often a hero
The action normally involves superhuman
deeds.
◦ Gods or supernatural beings take a part in the
action.
◦ Purpose is to teach and inspire.
The Odyssey