The The Odyssey Odyssey Background and Background and

Trojan War ReviewTrojan War Review

IMPORTANT BACKGROUND INFORMATION

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 simply wrote it down. 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 rock flings 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 they writhed, gasping as Scylla swung them up her cliff and there at 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

Trojan War and Trojan War and The The Odyssey Odyssey background-Key background-Key PlayersPlayersSpartaSparta• Menelaus-King of SpartaMenelaus-King of Sparta

– Married to HelenMarried to Helen

• HelenHelen– Most beautiful woman Most beautiful woman

• Agamemnon-King of Agamemnon-King of MycenaeMycenae– Menelaus’ brotherMenelaus’ brother– Convinces brother to go Convinces brother to go

to war with Troyto war with Troy

• Greek fightersGreek fighters– OdysseusOdysseus– AjaxAjax– AchillesAchilles

TroyTroy

• Paris-Prince of TroyParis-Prince of Troy– Son of King Priam and Son of King Priam and

Queen HecubaQueen Hecuba– Helen runs off with himHelen runs off with him

• Hector-Prince of TroyHector-Prince of Troy-Paris’ brother-Paris’ brother

The Trojan War in Review

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 lastedThe war lasted 10 years10 years, , during which during which time many time many heroesheroes emerged. emerged.•Fighting for the Greeks Fighting for the Greeks ( Under rule of King Agamemnon):( Under rule of 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 theFighting for the TrojansTrojans –Brothers –Brothers PrincePrince HectorHector and Princeand 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 IliadThe Iliad and theand the Trojan WarTrojan War• The IliadThe Iliad

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

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

and one main opposing hero for the Trojans,and one main opposing hero for the Trojans, Hector.Hector.– As the epic beginsAs the epic begins, , AchillesAchilles isis furiousfurious withwith King King

AgamemnonAgamemnon over a slave girl,over a slave girl, BriseisBriseis, , and sulking in his and sulking in his tenttent, , 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, Patroclus,Patroclus,

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 isAfter Hector’s death, Achilles is killed by Pariskilled by Paris, , but the but the Trojans never recover from the loss of Hector and finally, Trojans never recover from the loss of Hector and finally, Troy falls.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 theinside the wallswalls of Troy, of Troy, the war would most the war would most likely continue.likely continue.

• OdysseusOdysseus, , King ofKing of IthacaIthaca and aand a “master “master strategist”strategist” devises the devises the plan of building a giantplan 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 Troy.the walls of Troy.

• While the Trojans While the Trojans areare sleeping,sleeping, 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.

So what does this have to do with

The Odyssey?

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