BOOKS I-V

By: Alex, Paul and Sydney

What is Oral Tradition?

A story told and not written. Passed down from generation to

generation Great importance Changes over time from tellers

Repetition is found. Told as now-a-day bedtime stories

Repetition in The Odyssey “If all the gods now agree what

Odysseus shall return to his own home. Then let us dispatch our messenger Hermes…” Pg 13 said by Athena

“Hermes you are my messenger, and here is an errand for you. Go and declare to Calypso our unchangeable will, that Odysseus shall return after all his troubles.” Pg 62 said by Zeus

What creates an Epic?

Long Narrative National importance- importance for

an area/region Greatness- Good literature Hero- Odysseus

National Importance

“First go to Pylos, and ask that noble prince Nestor; then go to Sparta and Menelaos (good old red-head!), for he was the last to come home from all the army. ..” Pg. 17

This quote is basically stating that Odysseus’s journey is of national importance because all these people are people who know of him and know of his troubles getting back home.

Hero

A Hero’s Journey

1.Call2.Threshold-Start of Journey3.The challenge4.The abyss-void, deep trench5.Transformation-Change by

journey6.Revelation-Learning

something of great importance

7.Atonement-Facing punishment, punishment

8.The return-With a gift (idea)

“But Poseidon Earthholder bears him unrelenting hatred, because of the Cyclops whose eye he put out; I mean Polyphemos, who has our blood in his veins, the most powerful of all the Cyclopians” Pg. 12

Zeus is stating that Odysseus strong enough to defeat the strongest cyclops of all.

The call

Before the book was written, Odysseus was called to fight in the Trojan War.

Telemachos was called by Athena (Mentes) to go and find out the truth of Odysseus and the truth of his Journey. “My advice to you is this, if you will let me

advise you. Get the best ship you can find, put twenty oars men aboard, go and find out about your father and why he is so long away. Perhaps some one may tell you, of you may hear some rumor that Got will send, which is often the best way for people to get news.” Pg 17

Conclusion

Is Odysseus a hero? What makes up an epic? What makes up a hero? Who else is a hero besides

Odysseus?