The Odyssey Background Notes

Epic

A lengthy narrative poem, that tells adventure of a hero who reflects the beliefs of a nation or race

Epic Poetry

a form of storytelling that combines elevated language with grand themes and characters.

Hero

Odysseus

Villain(s)

Those who anger the gods/go against Odysseus/ Greeks

Damsel in Distress

Penelope (Queen of Ithica)

Vast Setting

Greece/Mediterranean Sea/Underworld

Important traits

Honorable, clever

Homer

Lived around 700 BC greatest Greek Poet

Epic Hero

Odysseus who excels in strength, cleverness, and courage and values honor.

Hubris

Excessive pride toward or defiance of the gods

Epithet

A descriptive phrase that characterized a person or thing

Epic Simile

A comparison between two things, using “like or as” and going on at great length and detail

Media Res

In the middle, Odyssey begins 10 years after the Trojan War

Three stages of a Hero’s Journey

Separation, initiation, return

Separation

Call to Adventure, Refusal of the call, crossing the first threshold

Initiation

The road of trials, Meeting with the goddess, Woman as temptress, Atonement with the Father, Apotheosis, The Ultimate Boone

Return

The Refusal of the Return, The Magical Flight or Rescue, Crossing of the Return Threshold, Master of Two Worlds, Freedom to Live

How did the Trojan War start?

With Paris, the son of the king of Troy, ran off with Helen

How long did the Trojan War last?

10 years

How long is Odysseus away from home?

Twenty years

Trojans Main things

Kind Priam, Paris, Hector, Aphrodite, God punish disobedience and reward loyalty

Achaeans (Greeks) main things

King Agamemnon sacrifices daughter, King Menelaus married to Helen, King Odysseus, Achilles, Athena, “The Trojan Horse