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Homer’s World How Does a Journey Change a person? Examining the Homeric Epics Homeric Epics Composed in Greece around 750-725 BC Iliad and Odyssey are greatest masterpieces of epic poetry First told orally, maybe sung Several gen. later, put in writing Credited to Homer: blind poet Three important elements: Trojan War Heroism of Odysseus Interference of the gods The Trojan War Around 1200BC Earliest accounts in Iliad and Odyssey Background: began after Paris (Trojan Prince) kidnapped the beautiful Helen from her husband, Menelaus, the King of Sparta Menelaus recruited Kings and soldiers from all over Greece to avenge his honor and recover his wife Greeks held Troy under siege for 10 yrs. Siege? Heroic Story of Odysseus Odysseus’ adventures as he heads home from Troy and events that Take place in Ithaca just before and after his return. 1st excerpts: depict wonderings of Odysseus after he leaves Troy with 12 Ships/720 men Opponents are: Monsters who try to devour him Women who try to keep him from Penelope Final Excerpts: Odysseus homecoming and reunion with Penelope and Telemachus (son) Odysseus has: great strength and courage His craftiness or guile (ingenious tricks to get himself out Of difficult situations X Intervention of Gods & Goddesses Mythic elements/ conflicts among Gods and Goddesses on Mount Olympus Most Greeks believed God took an active interest in human affairs and Behaved in human ways Ex. Quarrels Athena supports Odysseus and Greeks Petty jealousies Aphrodite supports Paris and Troy Greek Mythology Homer: The Epic Poet p.1190 Bards? Singers who made Up verses as they sang. Oral HIstory Our knowledge begins with Homer’s epics. Not religious document like a Bible, Quran or Talmud. Only explanations of natural feature or Natural occurrence or for entertainment. Shadowy figure: not sure who he was Lived between 700 and 900 BC Island of Chios, eastern Aegean Sea Blind Modern scholars agree that Homeric poems are work of one or two Exceptionally talented bards Memorized by professional reciters Performed at religious festivals in Greece First works read by Greek school children 300BC many versions existed and scholars began to work to restore them To the original form. Models for the Ages Living Tradition Models for late writers such as: Roman poet Virgil, Chaucer, Shakespeare Helped shape classical Greek culture and develop later Western ideas And values. Still used to inspire today James Joyce: Ulysses (latin form of Odysseus) “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” film “Troy” modern version of Homer’s Iliad. People and Places Troy, Sparta, Ithaca Book I Helios: sun god, raises cattle on Island of Thrinasha Zeus: ruler of Greek gods and goddesses; father of Athena and Apollo Telemachus: Odysseus son Penelope: Odysseus’ wife Book V Hermes: god of invention, commerce, cunning; messenger of gods Calypso: sea goddess who lives on island of Ogiya Laertes: Odysseus’ father The Epic p.1194 Long narrative poem. Recounts adventures of epic hero. Larger than life / great deeds require remarkable strength& cunning Great journey /Gods interfere / wins / has ideals and values of culture Elements Epic Hero Epic Plot See above and previous notes Long journey, complications/ usually begins in medias res Strange creatures/monsters large scale events Divine intervention treacherous weather Epic Setting Fantastic or exotic lands More than one nation Archetypes Suitor? Epic Themes/universal Characters, situations, and images that are recognizable (monomyth) Sea monster buried treasure epic hero Wicked temptress suitor’s contest loyal servant Courage Life and death homecoming loyalty fate of a nation beauty Language of Homer p.1196- Epic simile: a lengthy comparison of two unlike things using like or as Developed by Homer Language cont’d epithet A brief descriptive phrase used to characterize a particular person or thing Used to fill out a line with the right meter and number of syllables Ex. Odysseus is known by various epithets: “son of Laertes” and “raider of cities” allusion Reference to a famous person, place or thing to help the audience relate To or picture something they already knew. Ex. “This is the way the court of Zeus must be.” Allusion to Zeus, ruler of The Gods. Imagery Descriptions to help you visualize through details Use of Epic Simile Alliteration, assonance, Consonance, rhyme Used to reinforce meaning Ex. Of alliteration: “but never have I Seen one like Oydsseus for “Steadiness and a Stout heart.” Read Epic as poetry Listen for sound devices mentioned above Read as narrative Note changing narrators Visualize action Track events and predict outcome Keep track of Gods and goddesses, and Odysseus’ friends and foes What do they do to help or harm him Read as reflection of time Character traits of Odysseus, based on his description, what traits are Valued during this time. How is belief that Gods/Goddesses took interest in affairs of humans Evident? Reading Strategies: Keep track of events, visualize, notice figurative language, reread difficult Passages, use side notes, read outloud Book I: Goddess Intervenes p. 1204 Invocation of muse Invocation? Calls forth the muse Muse: daughter of Zeus credited with divine inspiration. Introduction of Odysseus and his epic struggle to return home, and what Is happening at home /See T chart for character Traits and text ev. Book 5: Calypso the Sweet Nymph, p.1206 Who is she? Epic simile lines 9-12 p.1208 p. 1209 Epic hero qualities lines 43-54 Epithet line 80