Transcript The Odyssey
The Odyssey By Homer Epic • Epic: a long narrative poem that tells of the adventures of a hero who in some way embodies the values of his civilization • Epic hero: the hero’s primary goal is to save his nation or its people during a time of crisis Myth & Archetype • Myth: a traditional story of anonymous origin • Symbol: an object, person, place or event that • has a literal meaning and a figurative meaning Archetype: a thing, person, or pattern of circumstances that appears repeatedly in literature – Ex. The evil villain, the lovesick suitor, and the fool or themes such as the hidden treasure or the rite of passage Epic • Intertwines myths, legends, and history reflecting the values of the societies in which it originates • The purpose of an epic is – To entertain, to teach, and to inspire with examples of how people can succeed against great odds Epic characteristics • The speaker is a narrator • Setting is expansive • There is an epic hero • The action includes extraordinary or superhuman deeds • Gods or supernatural beings may take part in the action, sometimes intervening to affect the course of events Purpose of an Epic Poem • Not only to entertain, but also to teach and inspire the listener or reader w/ examples so how people can strive and succeed against great odds Epic narration • An invocation – The poet-narrator begins by stating the tale's subject and asking for poetic inspiration from a guiding spirit Epic narration • Includes speeches by principal characters • Narrative’s tone and style are formal rather than conversational • The use of figurative language makes the narrative vivid and exciting Structure: The way an author organizes images, ideas, words and lines • The Odyssey begins with an invocation – Invocation: a request to a muse to provide inspiration – Muses: nine goddesses who preside over the arts and sciences and inspire those who show talents in these areas • In medias res – The narrator begins telling the tale in the “middle of things” describing what is happening after certain important events that have already occurred Homer • Composed his works orally and recited or sang • • them aloud He could probably neither read nor write He composed and recited his poems over 2,700 years ago – Sometime before 700 B.C. • Homer is believed to have been a blind bard – Bard: someone who recited poems about heroes Homer’s style • Composed the Iliad and the Odyssey • Repetition: used “formulas” for describing people or things – Ex. “gray-eyed Athena” to refer to the goddess Athena • Homeric simile (aka an epic simile) – Extends a comparison w/ a lot of description over several lines of verse Trojan War/ Helen • Began when a prince of Troy eloped with the wife of a Greek king • The Greeks sailed to Troy and fought with the Trojans for 9 years Helen of Troy • The woman’s name was Helen • She became infamous as Helen of Troy • Hers was “the face that launched a thousand ships,” according to playwright Marlowe because all the kings of Greece rallied to get her back Iliad • This epic concerns the siege and the many individual battles that were fought by the heroes on both sides Trojan Horse • 10th year of the Trojan War, the Greeks • • • tricked the enemy into bringing a colossal wooden horse within the walls of Troy The Trojans had no idea that Greek soldiers were hidden inside under the command of Odysseus That night the Greeks emerged and opened the city gates to a Greek army Troy was destroyed Odyssey • Odysseus and the other Greeks set to return to their kingdoms across the sea • Here begins the tale of the Odyssey, as sung by the blind bard, Homer Tantulus • Sent to the • • Underworld’s region of eternal punishment He stood in a pool of water under delicious fruit, yet could not satisfy hunger or thirst Tantalize: entails holding something desirable just out of reach Sysyphus • “Sysphean task” • Paid eternally by • • rolling a boulder uphill Every time it reached the top, it rolled back down again Sysyphus was compelled to start again Midas • “The Midas touch”: (a gift of profiting from whatever one undertakes) Named for legendary king Midas Granted the power to transmute whatever he touched to gold Atlas • Book of maps • Its name was forced from Atlas, the Titan who supported the heavens on his shoulders Titans • Something colossal in • size or power (such as a supposedly unsinkable ship) is said to be titanic Comes for the Titans, the gargantuan first born sons of the goddess Earth Achilles • A point of • vulnerability is an Achilles’ heel Mythological warrior Achilles had been magically protected except for this part of his body Pan • Panic: Sudden cause • of fear or death Comes for the goatgod pan Greek gods and goddesses • Mount Olympus