The Odyssey

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The Odyssey
By Homer
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Homer

• Poet
• Lived around
• 1200 B.C.
• Blind
• Wandering
• minstrel
• (singer)
• Rhapsodes

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What is an Epic?

• A long narrative poem that tells the adventures
  of a legendary hero who in some way embodies the
  values of their civilization.
• Tone and language

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Characteristics of an Epic?

• Impressive/important hero
• Vast setting
• Quest
• Supernatural
• Glorification of hero
• Specific culture and society

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Characteristics of an Epic Hero?

• Usually of high/noble stature
• Larger than life
• Embodies values of culture
• Extraordinary
• strength/intelligence
• Tragic flaw

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How was an epic told?

• Most of the story was improvised
• Told aloud
• Fit a particular rhythm
• Repetition and formulas
• Homeric similes used
• Epics are longThe Odyssey is over 11,000 lines!

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• Wrote The Illiad and The Odyssey
• The Illiad tells of the tenth year of the Trojan
  war
• Between the Trojans and the Greeks
• The cause of the warjealousy over a woman

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• The Greeks finally won the war
• Odysseus thought of a way to get into the walled
  city of Troy
• The trickthe Trojan Horse

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• The Odyssey, Homers 2nd epic, tells of Odysseus,
  who is trying to get home after the war

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• Odysseus and his men act like pirates on their
  way home to Ithaca.

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Human Characters

• Odysseus
• (The Greeks in The Odyssey are often known as
  Acheans)

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Human Characters

• PenelopeOdysseus wife

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Human Characters

• TelemachusOdysseus son

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Human Characters

• AntinousOne of Penelopes
• main suitors

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Human Characters

• AlcinousKing of Phaeacia

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Supernatural Creatures

• Calypso--Beautiful nymph
• goddess

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Supernatural Creatures

• Circe
• Enchantress
• and goddess

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Supernatural Creatures

• Polyphemusone of the race of
• one-eyed giants

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Supernatural Creatures
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Supernatural Creatures

• CharybdisFemale monster who sucks in water three
  times a day to form a deadly whirlpool

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Supernatural Creatures

• Scyllafemale monster with six serpent heads,
• each with a triple row of fangs

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Supernatural Creatures

• SirensSea nymphs whose beautiful music
• lures sailors towards danger

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The Gods

• ZeusThe
• Most
• Powerful
• God.

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The Gods

• Athenafavorite daughter of Zeus goddess of
  wisdom as well as war and peacea reflection of
  Odysseuss best qualities

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The Gods

• HermesMessenger god.

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The Gods

• HeliosSun god.

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The Gods

• PoseidonGod of the sea brother
• of Zeus Odysseus has traits similar
• to Poseidon

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Themes in The Odyssey

• Search for Home
• Search for Self
• Effects of Arrogance
• and.