intro to mythology/facts for the odyssey

myth

story involving fantasy that accomplishes several tasks

• based in truth - embellished over time

• usually based on real events to explain

→expresses ideas of life and religious ideas (gods)

epic poetry

genre of long narrative poems of the adventures of heroes who embody certain values of society

• includes symbolism, rhythm, imagery

hero in epic poetry

usually on a quest for self knowledge

• usually comes from aristocratic class of mortals

• always confident in his actions

homer

blind poet who wrote the illiad and the odyssey

lived around 8th/9th century BC after events of the poem took place

the Iliad

chronicles the events of the trojan war, which lasted 10 yrs

begins with story of Menelaus’ wife Helen, who ran off with the Trojan prince Paris

important motifs in the odyssey

searching for good relationships with others

hospitality

bildungsroman the tale of a boy seeking manhood and the subsequent maturity process

a soldier must return home from war

a king must struggle to reclaim his kingdom

odysseus

warrior who fought in the Trojan war

takes 10 yrs to return to Ithaca - mid life crisis for true identity after experience of war

human - phys/men strength for goals

responsible for the Trojan horse

Penelope

married to odysseus - courted in his absence

telemachus

son of Odysseus - goes on a bildungsroman guided by Athena