Download “The Odyssey”

“The Odyssey”
Background Information
Author
• Homer, a blind minstrel or bard
• Wrote two epics:
– The Iliad; a war epic
– The Odyssey; a long journey epic
• Written about 800 bc – told about events that happened in
1200 bc
Author
• Minstrel: an entertainer who told stories and sang songs;
also called a bard, rhapsode, epic singer or song stitcher.
– They were both historians and entertainers.
– Borrowed material from legends, epics and myths already
known.
– Made stories as uncomplicated as possible.
– Stories told repetitively.
• No written history.
• Minstrels traveled from place to place.
• Audiences never tired of them.
Author
• Homer outshone other minstrels in his day…
–Because of his originality of ideas.
–Because of expression and the effect he had on his
audience.
The Iliad
• Tells of war between Greece and Troy (present day Turkey)
• Provides the background for The Odyssey and Odysseus’
journey
• Lasted 10 years long (10 years in Troy, 10 years to get home)
The Iliad
• Events of the Trojan War:
– Possibly began because Greeks tried to control trade routes.
– According to myth, Paris, a prince of Troy, kidnapped Helen, queen of
Sparta and wife of Menelaus, king of Sparta.
– The Greek kings banded together and sent armies in 1,000 ships across
the Aegean Sea to attack Troy.
– Gods and goddesses took sides in the war.
– Finally, Odysseus devised a plan: the Trojan Horse.
– The Greeks conquered Troy; the Trojans were slaughtered and the city
was destroyed.
The Iliad
• Events of the Trojan War (CONTINUED):
– The Greeks set out for home in their ships.
– Many gods and goddesses were offended when Greeks desecrated
temples and did not make offerings.
The Odyssey
• An epic poem of the long journey.
– The Odyssey tells of many adventures of Odysseus trying to sail home
after the Trojan War.
– It took 10 years for him to get home.
The Odyssey
• Characters:
– Odysseus: hero from Ithaca
– Penelope: Odysseus’ wife
– Telemachus: Odysseus & Penelope’s son
– Athena: Goddess of wisdom
– Poseidon: God of the sea; Odysseus’ enemy
– Zeus: king of the gods
The Epic
• Oldest literary form or genre
• Long poem involving the following:
– A great hero having supernatural qualities
– The gods and goddesses take an active part in helping or hindering (ex:
Poseidon is Odysseus’ enemy and Athena helps Odysseus)
– The fate of an entire race of people is often at stake
– Heroes found their greatest glory in battle
– Involves a struggle that the culture of the hero values
– Written in elevated style (format)
The Epic
• CONTINUED…
– Begins with invocation (prayer to the muse of poetry
• Muses: 9 daughters of Zeus who were in charge of the arts
–Calliope was the main one
Greek & Roman Mythology
• Polytheists: believed in many gods
• Gods had many human qualities:
– They were conniving (plot against someone)
– They were quarrelsome (fought)
• Many of the gods lived on Mt. Olympus
• Ambrosia: the food of the gods
Greek & Roman Mythology
• Nectar: the drink of the gods
• Gods interfered in human affairs
• Gods were immortal (they lived forever)
Greek Values & Beliefs
• Greeks believed it was wrong for any man to have hubris
(arrogance or excessive pride)
• The character of a man was very important:
– One important quality was to have courage
– Loyalty to both home (country) and family was the most important
quality
• Man was not master of his own fate or destiny; he was like a
“pawn in a chess game”
Greek Values & Beliefs
• Man could not control his own fate, but he could control how he
reacted to the gods’ meddling.
Greek Life During the Bronee Age
• Era ruled by tribal chiefs
• Violent life; hard times
• Greece consisted of small city-states:
– Ithaca: Odysseus’ home was an island city-state
– Athens (named after Athena) was a larger city-state
The Characteristics of an Epic Hero
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He possesses supernatural abilities or qualities
He is charged with a quest
He is tested often to prove the worthiness of himself and his quest
He receives help by divine beings along the way
He encounters numerous mythical beings, magical and helpful animals and
human helpers and companions
His travels take him to a supernatural world, often one that normal human
beings are barred from entering (aka Underworld/Hell)
He reaches a low point where he nearly gives up his quest of appears
defeated
He gains restitution: this often takes the form of the hero regaining his
rightful place