Greek Mythology Greek Mythology and the and the OdysseyOdyssey

The Odyssey

1.Epic poem- long, narrative poem that tells about the adventures of a hero who reflects the ideals and values of a nation or race.

2.Composed sometime around 800 B.C. – 600 B.C.

3.Composed by Homer

a. Homer did not create the Odyssey, he told the story orally. However, Homer was rumored to be a blind

storyteller. He would NOT have been able to write.

b. The Odyssey was being told orally through storytellers long before Homer wrote it down (?)

Characteristics of the EPIC:

1.Has an epic hero

2. Often written in poetry form but not always

3. Often includes myths, legends, and history

4. Usually has a serious tone and language

5. Deals with a quest

6. Often based on some truths

7. Includes epithets & flashbacks

8. Usually involves a battle and oftentimes a single combat like Achilles fighting Hector or the final showdown between Harry and Lord Voldemort

Other National EPICS are:

Greek = The Iliad by Homer Spanish = El Cid

Roman = The Aeneid by Virgil

American = Forest Gump

English = Harry Potter Series

Percy Jackson & Olympians

Series

Epic Hero

1. A larger-than-life figure, usually male, who embodies the ideals of a nation or race.

2. Take part in long, dangerous adventures and accomplish great deeds that require courage and superhuman strength.

3. Often, the divine world of the gods or other supernatural forces will interfere with the human world of the epic hero.

Some epic heroes:

- Harry Potter

- Frodo from Lord of the Rings

- Luke Skywalker from Star Wars

Epic Simile

Simile- comparison of two unlike things that uses the word “like” or “as.”

Epic Simile- an elaborate, more involved version of a regular simile.

- great length and detail

- extends for several lines

- also called the “Homeric Simile”

Just as an angler poised on a jutting rockflings his treacherous bait in the offshore swell,whips his long rod—hook sheathed in an oxhorn lure—and whisks up little fish he flips on the beach-break,writhing, gasping out their lives . . . so now theywrithed,gasping as Scylla swung them up her cliff and thereat her cavern’s mouth she bolted them down raw—screaming out, flinging their arms down toward me,lost in that mortal struggle . . .

Epithets

Epithets- brief, descriptive phrases that helped to characterize a particular person or

thing.

- repetition of a phrase

Odysseus is described as:

“master mariner”

“old contender”

“man of twists and turns”

“great tactician”

- remember: he initiated the idea of the Trojan horse-

source of the Greeks defeating Troy

The IliadThe Iliad and theand the Trojan War Trojan War

Paris, Prince of Troy and son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba, fell in love with another man’s wife and took her back to his kingdom of Troy with the interference of the gods, one goddess in particular

Helen, known as the most beautiful woman and the face that launched a 1,000 ships “runs away” with Paris and her absence enrages her husband

Trojan War may have occurred around 1200 B.C. and established the background for Homer’s epics

The mini-version of the Legend is

Family Loyalty—How far would a person Family Loyalty—How far would a person go for his brother?go for his brother?

Menalaus, King of Sparta, is upset and seeks the advice of his brother

Agamemnon, King of Mycenae, who is power hungry and wants control of all lands, especially Troy; he convinces his jilted brother to go after his wife and wage a war against Troy to get her back and regain some of the dignity his brother has lost. Together they utilize their power as kings to gather as many great warriors to fight for their cause.

Agamemnon

•The war lasted The war lasted 10 years10 years, during which , during which time many time many heroesheroes emerged. emerged.

•Fighting for the Greeks ( Under rule of Fighting for the Greeks ( Under rule of King Agamemnon)King Agamemnon)

Odysseus (the hero of Odysseus (the hero of The Odyssey)The Odyssey)

– Ajax (almost giant like warrior who was Ajax (almost giant like warrior who was unable to kill the greatest Trojan unable to kill the greatest Trojan warrior but wounded him)warrior but wounded him)

– Achilles (the Greek hero of Achilles (the Greek hero of The IliadThe Iliad and the greatest warrior)and the greatest warrior)

AJAX

•Fighting for the Fighting for the TrojansTrojans –Brothers –Brothers Prince Prince HectorHector and Prince and Prince ParisParis

Prince Hector (the Prince Hector (the greatest Trojan greatest Trojan warrior) defends warrior) defends his country to the his country to the deathdeath

Prince Paris—the Prince Paris—the one who brought one who brought Helen to his Helen to his kingdom and kingdom and brought destruction brought destruction to his hometo his home

The Iliad The Iliad and the and the Trojan WarTrojan War• The IliadThe Iliad

– Homer’s 1Homer’s 1stst Epic Epic– Serves as a Serves as a prequelprequel to to The OdysseyThe Odyssey– The epic only deals with about The epic only deals with about 20 days20 days in the in the 1010thth and and

final yearfinal year of the of the Trojan WarTrojan War– Homer concentrates on one main Greek hero, Homer concentrates on one main Greek hero, AchillesAchilles, ,

and one main opposing hero for the Trojans, and one main opposing hero for the Trojans, HectorHector..– As the epic begins, As the epic begins, AchillesAchilles is is furiousfurious with with King King

AgamemnonAgamemnon over a slave girl, over a slave girl, BriseisBriseis, and sulking in his , and sulking in his tent, tent, refusing to fight.**The epic begins in the middle or refusing to fight.**The epic begins in the middle or in media res**in media res**

– The Trojans start winning and beating back the Greeks.The Trojans start winning and beating back the Greeks.– But, when Hector kills Achilles’ best friend, But, when Hector kills Achilles’ best friend, PatroclusPatroclus, ,

Achilles becomes enraged and returns to battle for the Achilles becomes enraged and returns to battle for the sole purpose of destroying Hector.sole purpose of destroying Hector.

– After Hector’s death, Achilles is After Hector’s death, Achilles is killed by Pariskilled by Paris, but the , but the Trojans never recover from the loss of Hector and Trojans never recover from the loss of Hector and finally, Troy falls.finally, Troy falls.

The Horse That Ended The WarThe Horse That Ended The War• After Hector is killed, After Hector is killed,

unless the Greeks get unless the Greeks get inside the inside the walls walls of Troy, of Troy, the war would most the war would most likely continue.likely continue.

• OdysseusOdysseus, King of , King of IthacaIthaca and a and a “master “master strategist”strategist” devises the devises the plan of building a giant plan of building a giant Trojan horseTrojan horse to to represent a gift to the represent a gift to the Trojans.Trojans.

• As the Trojans believe As the Trojans believe that the Greeks have that the Greeks have given up and decided given up and decided to go back home, to go back home, they they wheel the large wheel the large wooden horse inside wooden horse inside the walls of Troythe walls of Troy..

• While the Trojans While the Trojans are are sleepingsleeping, after a , after a night of partying night of partying and celebrating the and celebrating the end of the war, end of the war, several Greeks, led several Greeks, led by Odysseus, by Odysseus, crawl crawl out of the horseout of the horse, , open the gates, and open the gates, and after a massive after a massive amount of amount of bloodshed, bloodshed, Troy Troy burns and the Trojan burns and the Trojan War endsWar ends

• Hubris is excessive pride or Hubris is excessive pride or arrogancearrogance– It can lead to rash behavior and to not It can lead to rash behavior and to not

thinking clearly in serious situationsthinking clearly in serious situationsHUBRIS AS A CHARACTER FLAW

AGAMEMNON—King of Mycenae—Allows his pride to get the better of him when he refuses to give Chryseis back causing disease and fire to rain down on the Greeks, courtesy of the god Apollo. Once he does he give her back, he takes someone else’s girl causing another big problem for the Greeks.

ACHILLES—He allows his pride of losing his slave girl Briseis and love interest to Agamemnon get the best of him and refuses to continue fighting at Troy….until his dear friend is slain by the Trojan Prince Hector causing his desire for revenge and eventually his death all because of pride

Odysseus—Hero in The Odyssey also exhibits hubris which angers the gods and leads to many difficulties and hardships for him.

What is the Odyssey about?

- Tells of Odysseus’ adventures as he makes his way home from Troy

•He was gone for a total of 20 years

•10 years at war and 10 more years trying to get home

- He has a fleet of 12 ships carrying about 720 men

- Back at home (Ithaca)

- Penelope (wife of Odysseus) and Telemachus (son of Odysseus) are waiting for Odysseus’ return while suitors have taken over Ithaca, hoping that she will marry one of them

- Odysseus encounters many mythical beings and has to fight his own personal “demons” and overcome his own character flaws during his return home