Homer’sHomer’sTHE ODYSSEYTHE ODYSSEY

ODYSSEY

• Is a Greek word, meaning “the tale of Odysseus.” This book is concerned with the adventures and exploits of Odysseus, a hero of the Trojan War.

• The Odyssey is great poetry and one of the foundation stones of the western world’s cultural heritages. It is also, in a sense, the earliest and one of the finest books ever written.

• Little is known about Homer.

• Probably lived and wrote sometime in the 8th or 9th centuries B.C.

• More than likely he came from the Island of Chios, on the western coast of Asia Minor.

• The dialect in which he composed his works is that of the Asian (Ionian) Greeks.

• Tradition has visualized Homer as blind.

• Author of the Iliad and the Odyssey.

Homer

Synopsis: Part One• In the Invocation(pg 813 ) , the poet

capsulizes major adventures of Odysseus.

• Odysseus begins recounting his travels to King Alcinous: Weathering storms, he and his men reach the land of Lotus Eaters.

• When they lose all desire to leave, he forces them to ships.

• In the land of Cyclopes, Odysseus and twelve men explore the cave of Polyphemus and are trapped.

Synopsis: Cont

• The giant eats six of Odysseus’ men before the general contrives a plan for escape.

• They get the giant drunk, and, when he falls asleep, blind him with a sharpened tree trunk.

• In the morning, when he rolls the stone from his cave opening, the adventurers tie themselves to the bellies of the sheep and escape.

• Odysseus wisely tells Polyphemus his name as he sails away.

ACTIVE READINGSTRATEGIES

• List things you have discovered so far that Odysseus values.

• On page 817, identify the metaphor and explain why it is appropriate for the Cyclops.

• Compare the Host Maron to the Cyclops and his treatment of the men (pg 817, lines 84-94.)

Group WOrk

• Analyzing- Part One

• Pg 829

• #’s 1-10

• When finished under Extend Your Response complete “A Hero’s Actions.