"The Odyssey" Background Note Flashcards

Background Notes

Epic

A long, narrative poem the tells about the adventures of a hero who reflects the ideals and beliefs of a nation/race

The Odyssey Hero

Odysseus

The Odyssey Villain(s)

Those who anger the gods/go against Odysseus/Greeks

The Odyssey Damsel in Distress

Penelope (Queen of Ithaca)

The Odyssey Vast Setting

Greece/Mediterranean Sea

The Odyssey Supernatural Powers

Gods/Goddesses/Monsters

The Odyssey Glorification of the hero in the end

Odysseus is revered for his heroic prowess

What is The Odyssey?

The Odyssey is an epic that recounts the adventures of Odysseus, embodying the ideals/beliefs of the Greeks, Odysseus’s journey takes him all around the are of Greece and/Mediterranean Sea (Vast Setting).

Who was The Odyssey written by? Details.

The Odyssey was written by the blind Greek poet Homer.

_{Lived around 700 BC}

_{Greatest of ancient Greek poets: his works are known to be the oldest works of Western literature.}

Describe the Epic Hero in The Odyssey

Odysseus (is not like ordinary people), excels in strength, a specific skill (his craft or guile; often seen as quick-thinking), and courage. He values honor and has the help of Athena (goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare)

Hubris

(in Greek tradegy) excessive pride toward or defiance of the gods, leading to nemesis.

Epithet

A brief, descriptive phrase that helps to characterize a person or thing, ONLY and epithet is repeated!

_{Odysseus is referred to as “master mariner and soldier” or “old contender”}

_{Dawn comes with “fingertips of rose”}

_{The ocean becomes a “wine dark sea”}

Epic Simile

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

In Media Res

In the middle

_{The Odyssey begins its story ten years after the Trojan War. It will take Odysseus another ten years to get home.}

What are the three stages of a hero’s journey

1. Separation

   1. Call to adventure

   2. Refusal to the call

   3. Crossing the first threshold

2. Initiation

   1. The road of trials

   2. Meeting with the goddess

   3. Woman as temptress

   4. Atonement with the Father

   5. Apothesis

   6. The Ultimate Boone

3. Return

   1. The Refusal of the Return

   2. The Magical Flight or Rescue

   3. Crossing the Return Threshold

   4. Maste of Two Worlds

   5. Freedom to Live

The Trojan War

• Started after Paris

• Son of King Troy (King Priam) ran of with Helen, the Queen of Sparta

• This caused the Greeks and Trojans to be at war for ten years

• Odysseus’ story is told in The Odyssey

• Odysseus is away from home for a total of 20 years

Who were the Trojans/Troy

• King Priam

• Paris

• Hector

• Aphrodite

Gods/Goddesses vacillate between both sides

• Reward loyalty

• Punish disobedience

Who were the Achaeans (Greeks) / Greece

• King Agamemnon (Mycenae)

  • Sacfafices his daughter

    • Iphigenia

• King Menelaus (Sparta)

  • Married to Helen (She leaves/ stolen by Paris)

• King Odysseus (Ithaca)

• Achilles

• Athena*

• “The Trojan Horse”

  • Beware of Greeks bearing gifts