BackgroundBackground

The IliadThe Iliad and the and the OdysseyOdyssey contain contain timeless portraits of timeless portraits of several heroes, several heroes, including Odysseus, including Odysseus, king of Ithaca.king of Ithaca.

The themes, The themes, characters, and plots characters, and plots are present in are present in Western literature to Western literature to this day.this day.

Trojan War BackgroundTrojan War Background The Trojan War began after Paris, The Trojan War began after Paris,

prince of Troy, kidnapped Helen prince of Troy, kidnapped Helen from the King of Sparta.from the King of Sparta.

For ten years, Greeks and Trojans For ten years, Greeks and Trojans fought to avenge the kidnapping.fought to avenge the kidnapping.

To break the stalemate, Odysseus, To break the stalemate, Odysseus, “the master strategist”, thought of “the master strategist”, thought of a plan to deceive the Trojans into a plan to deceive the Trojans into thinking the Greeks abandoned thinking the Greeks abandoned the war.the war.

A giant wooden horse was built A giant wooden horse was built and left at the gates of Troy.and left at the gates of Troy.

The Trojans brought the “peace The Trojans brought the “peace offering” into the gates of Troy.offering” into the gates of Troy.

At night, the Greeks that were At night, the Greeks that were hiding in the horse emerged and hiding in the horse emerged and conquered Troy.conquered Troy.

A Trojan War?A Trojan War?•The Iliad and The Odyssey are based on an event that might have actually happened.

•The Trojan War was a war between a number of Greek city states against the city of Troy.

•For centuries, Troy was considered to by a myth fabricated and made famous by Homer.

•In 1871, an archeologist discovered remains of nine ancient cities built on top of one another in northwest Turkey, near where The Iliad placed Troy.

•It is widely believed that one of those cities may have been the site of the legendary Trojan War.

The EpicThe Epic The The epic epic is a long, is a long,

narrative poem that tells narrative poem that tells about the adventures of about the adventures of a hero who reflects the a hero who reflects the ideals and values of a ideals and values of a nation or race.nation or race.

Although Although epicsepics are are based on legends, they based on legends, they contain some truth.contain some truth.

An An epicepic portrays the portrays the past as a time past as a time supposedly better than supposedly better than the time in which we are the time in which we are living.living.

Heroic TraditionHeroic Tradition The Heroic Tradition set standards on the value of The Heroic Tradition set standards on the value of

a man’s honor and a man’s honor and the importance of honorthe importance of honor. . Consider thisConsider this: A king’s wife is kidnapped, and he : A king’s wife is kidnapped, and he

starts a war to avenge this act. A great hero starts a war to avenge this act. A great hero refuses to fight in this war because he too feels refuses to fight in this war because he too feels dishonored in a dispute over a woman. That dishonored in a dispute over a woman. That hero’s dear friend borrows the hero’s armor and hero’s dear friend borrows the hero’s armor and is killed in battle. Now the hero, full of anger, is killed in battle. Now the hero, full of anger, must avenge this death by killing the warrior who must avenge this death by killing the warrior who killed his dear friend in battle. Afterward, he killed his dear friend in battle. Afterward, he must overcome his anger and return the body of must overcome his anger and return the body of his slain enemy to his enemy’s father (this is the his slain enemy to his enemy’s father (this is the honorablehonorable thing to do after killing the enemy). thing to do after killing the enemy). Peace must be made. Honor must be restored.Peace must be made. Honor must be restored.

The events you just heard make up the The events you just heard make up the story of story of The Illiad,The Illiad, which takes place which takes place during the Trojan War. The hero is during the Trojan War. The hero is Achillies.Achillies.

If these events sound familiar, you may If these events sound familiar, you may have seen them in the 2004 movie, have seen them in the 2004 movie, Troy, Troy, starring Brad Pitt as Achillies & Orlando starring Brad Pitt as Achillies & Orlando Bloom.Bloom.

We will be studying:We will be studying:The OdysseyThe Odyssey

The Odyssey The Odyssey begins where begins where The IliadThe Iliad leaves off. leaves off. Odysseus is a different type of hero. Odysseus is a different type of hero. Odysseus, also known as Ulysses, is the Odysseus, also known as Ulysses, is the

craftiest of all Greeks. He was the mastermind craftiest of all Greeks. He was the mastermind of the end of the war, using a trick horse full of of the end of the war, using a trick horse full of soldiers. After the war, he longs to get home soldiers. After the war, he longs to get home and see a bit of the world along the way.and see a bit of the world along the way.

His struggle to get home and maintain his His struggle to get home and maintain his honor along the way is the story of honor along the way is the story of The The Odyssey.Odyssey.

EPIC HERO?EPIC HERO?

An epic hero is a larger-An epic hero is a larger-than-life figure, usually than-life figure, usually male, who embodies the male, who embodies the ideals of a nation or ideals of a nation or race.race.

They take part in long They take part in long dangerous adventures dangerous adventures and accomplish great and accomplish great deeds that require deeds that require courage and courage and superhuman strength.superhuman strength.

Keep in mind: Because Keep in mind: Because they are human, they they are human, they also display human also display human faults.faults.

Characters We Will MeetCharacters We Will Meet

CalypsoCalypso: A sea goddess who lives on : A sea goddess who lives on the island of Ogygia.the island of Ogygia.

AlciniousAlcinious: The king of the Phaecians.: The king of the Phaecians. LaertesLaertes: Odysseus’ father.: Odysseus’ father. CirceCirce: A sea goddess who lives on : A sea goddess who lives on

the island of Aeaea.the island of Aeaea. ZeusZeus: The chief of the Greek gods; : The chief of the Greek gods;

father of Athena and Apollo.father of Athena and Apollo.

Characters (con’t)Characters (con’t)

CiconesCicones: Trojan allies who live in Ismarus.: Trojan allies who live in Ismarus. Lotus EatersLotus Eaters: Inhabitants of an island : Inhabitants of an island

Odysseus visits.Odysseus visits. CyclopesCyclopes: a race of one-eyed giants.: a race of one-eyed giants. Apollo:Apollo: The god of music, poetry, The god of music, poetry,

prophecy, and medicine.prophecy, and medicine. PoseidonPoseidon: The god of the sea, : The god of the sea,

earthquakes, and horses; father of the earthquakes, and horses; father of the Cyclops that battles Odysseus.Cyclops that battles Odysseus.

Words to KnowWords to Know

1.1. AdversaryAdversary: : noun.noun. Enemy Enemy

2.2. AppalledAppalled: : adjective.adjective. horrified horrified

3.3. AvengeAvenge: : verb.verb. To take revenge on behalf of. To take revenge on behalf of.

4.4. EntreatEntreat: : verb.verb. To beg To beg

5.5. GuileGuile: : noun.noun. Skillful slyness; craftiness Skillful slyness; craftiness

6.6. IndifferentIndifferent: : adjective.adjective. Having no interest or Having no interest or concernconcern

7.7. PonderousPonderous: : adjective.adjective. Bulky Bulky

8.8. WhimWhim: : noun.noun. A sudden impulse or notion. A sudden impulse or notion.

Connecting to Your LifeConnecting to Your Life

Who is your favorite monster?Who is your favorite monster? What science fiction or horror creature do What science fiction or horror creature do

you think is the scariest?you think is the scariest? On a clean sheet of paper, write the On a clean sheet of paper, write the

monster’s name & make 3 columns: monster’s name & make 3 columns: Physical Appearance, Actions, Physical Appearance, Actions, Attitudes. Attitudes. List the qualities of the monster.List the qualities of the monster.

Briefly explain why you think it is the best Briefly explain why you think it is the best (or worst) monster ever created (in 3-5 (or worst) monster ever created (in 3-5 sentences).sentences).

Monsters We Will MeetMonsters We Will Meet

In Books 9-12 of In Books 9-12 of The The OdysseyOdyssey, Odysseus , Odysseus runs into several types runs into several types of monsters. of monsters.

How he deals with How he deals with them is what makes them is what makes him a hero. him a hero.

After we encounter After we encounter each monster, we will each monster, we will list the characteristics list the characteristics of them and the heroic of them and the heroic qualities Odysseus qualities Odysseus shows as he battles shows as he battles them.them.

Notes TableNotes TableREADING CHECK READING

STRATEGYLITERARY ANALYSIS

INVOCATIONINVOCATION

Evaluate lines 1-Evaluate lines 1-18; what qualities 18; what qualities are described are described about Odysseus about Odysseus that might make that might make him an epic hero?him an epic hero?

En Medias Res: In the middle of En Medias Res: In the middle of thingsthings

In the opening lines the poet (HOMER) calls In the opening lines the poet (HOMER) calls upon the goddess of poetry (MUSE) to give upon the goddess of poetry (MUSE) to give him inspiration in telling the story of him inspiration in telling the story of Odysseus. Almost every epic since The Odysseus. Almost every epic since The Odyssey begins with invoking the muses or a Odyssey begins with invoking the muses or a god of some sort. god of some sort.

During 7 of Odysseus’ 10 years at sea, he is During 7 of Odysseus’ 10 years at sea, he is held captive by Calypso. With Athena’s help held captive by Calypso. With Athena’s help Odysseus finally persuades Calypso to let him Odysseus finally persuades Calypso to let him go, and she helps build a raft to leave her go, and she helps build a raft to leave her island. After Odysseus sails away, his raft is island. After Odysseus sails away, his raft is destroyed by violent storms.destroyed by violent storms.

Now alone, Odysseus washed up on the land Now alone, Odysseus washed up on the land of the Phaecians, where Alcinous is king. of the Phaecians, where Alcinous is king. Alcinious gives a banquet in honor of Alcinious gives a banquet in honor of Odysseus and asks him to reveal who he is Odysseus and asks him to reveal who he is and where he came from. Odysseus tells and where he came from. Odysseus tells about all the adventures that brought him to about all the adventures that brought him to this point.this point.

Internal and External Internal and External StrugglesStruggles

Most stories center on the experiences and Most stories center on the experiences and actions of one or more actions of one or more main characters.main characters.

Other characters who interact with the main Other characters who interact with the main characters and help move the story along are characters and help move the story along are called called minor charactersminor characters..

A conflict, or struggle, may be either external or A conflict, or struggle, may be either external or internal.internal.

EExternal conflictxternal conflict: A character struggles against : A character struggles against an outside force, such as: nature, a physical an outside force, such as: nature, a physical object, or another character.object, or another character.

Internal conflict: Internal conflict: There is a struggle within the There is a struggle within the character’s own mind.character’s own mind.

Character TypeCharacter Type

CharactersCharacters are the people who take part are the people who take part in the action of the story.in the action of the story.

1.1. Major CharactersMajor Characters: the most important to : the most important to the story.the story.

2.2. Minor CharactersMinor Characters: interact with the : interact with the characters and help move the story characters and help move the story along.along.

3.3. Dynamic CharactersDynamic Characters: those that undergo : those that undergo changes.changes.

4.4. Static CharactersStatic Characters: characters that remain : characters that remain the same.the same.

Character TypeCharacter Type

1.1. Round CharactersRound Characters: They have many : They have many personality traits that are revealed by personality traits that are revealed by the author. We learn how they talk, the author. We learn how they talk, think, and behave, and what motivates think, and behave, and what motivates them. them.

2.2. Flat CharactersFlat Characters: Simple characters do : Simple characters do not have a lot of personality traits. They not have a lot of personality traits. They are simple & uncomplicated.are simple & uncomplicated.