ELA- The epic poetry of Homer

Mythology

The study of myths. Stories used to explain something.

Minstrel

A musician or performer who sings or recites poetry to the upper class.

Lyre

A stringed U-shaped harp, used by a minstrel

Token

A symbol or souvenir

Plundered

To steal God’s from a place or person by force

Suitors

Men available to be in relationships

tabloid

The way something is talked about

Foil

To prevent something or someone from succeeding.

3 Facts about Homer

1\.) He was alive in ancient Greece around 800 BCE

2\.) He might have been a traveling minstrel.

3\.) He focuses his poems on the mythology around the Trojan war.

Paris (Character)

Son of King Priam of Troy. Eloped with Helen which starts the Trojan war. Wounds Achilles.

Helen Of Troy

Guided armies to victory. Married to King Menelaus of Sparta. Ra off w/ Paris and starts a war. Supposedly was the most beautiful women in the world.

Menelaus

Agamemnon’s brother. Helped lead the war. King of Sparta. Starts a war with Troy to get Helen back.

Agamemnon

Started war between Achilles. King of Mycenae and commander of Greek forces in the Trojan War.  Is killed by his wife and her boyfriend when he returns from the war.

Achilles

Greatest warrior, angry at Agamemnon for taking one of his captives. Fights for the Greeks is wounded in the ankle.

Odysseus

Went to fight in the Trojan war. Didn’t return to Ithaca for ten years. Thought of Trojan Horse plan. King of Ithaca, wife is Penelope and son is Telemachus.

Troy/ Trojans

Trojans are the people from Troy which is taken over by the Greeks. They invite the Trojan horse into their city.

Trojan Horse

A wooden horse disguised as a gift for the Trojans.

Ithaca

Odysseus's home. Island in western Greece.

Athena

Goddess of wisdom and strategic battle. Trojans thought the Trojan horse was a gift for her. She helps Odysseus get home.

Poiseidon

The God of the sea, punished Odyssius for tricking his son.