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Homer was the blind poet credited with the two great epics: The Iliad The Odyssey. Homer’s The Odyssey. Epic poetry. An epic (“primary epic”): long narrative poem covers a large time span covers a large geographical area include myth, legend, folktale:
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Homer was the blind poet credited with the two great epics: The Iliad The Odyssey Homer’s The Odyssey
Epic poetry • An epic (“primary epic”): • long narrative poem • covers a large time span • covers a large geographical area • include myth, legend, folktale: stories of great adventures, gods, men, monsters
Ancient Greek Values • Greeks were polytheistic: • poly = many • theos = god • they believed there were many gods, who together controlled the world • Gods interacted with humans • Gods had great powers • including immortality • Gods had many flaws • jealousy, lustfulness, vengefulness, etc.
Cultural Values – Cont’d • Admirable Qualities • Wit • Loyalty • Devotion • Strength • Hospitality • Optimism Disney.com
The Stories • The Odyssey is named for its epic hero, Odysseus • The Iliad is named for its location, Ilium, akaTroy. • The Iliad was composed between 900 and 700 BCE. • It is centered on the Trojan War. • The Odyssey opens up when Odysseus leaves Troy to go home
Homer • We know almost nothing about him! • There is a tradition that states that he was blind, and an ancient bust of him portrays him as being blind. • Scholars believe he had to have seen at some point because the visual description of the landscape is so extensive, it seems almost impossible he never saw it.
Tradition • Originally, these poems were not written down. • They were passed down orally by traveling poets called rhapsodes. • These poems were very famous and they were recited every four years at the festival of Athena in Athens, Greece.
DRAMA- DRAMA –DRAMA ! • The Golden Apple • Eris was a drama queen so she wasn’t allowed to go to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis (parents of Achilles) • To get back at them, she, of course, wanted to stir up some drama… so she threw an apple into the reception that read: “ To be given to the fairest of them all” (Snow White style) • Hera, Athena and Aphrodite all wanted it
Teenage Hormones • Paris, the most handsome mortal was asked to be the judge • The goddesses tried to bribe him: • Hera promised…. Power • Athena promised…. Wisdom • Aphrodite promised… A beautiful woman • Who did he chose? Let’s remember, he is a teenage boy
The face that launched a thousand ships • Helen was the most beautiful woman in the world and she was promised to Paris • There was only one problem- she was married…to Menelaus, leader of the Greek warriors and brother to the leader of Greece, Agamemnon • The dummy decided to steal her anyway … • Hence, the mythical start of the Trojan War
The Iliad • The Iliad opens in the tenth and final year of the Trojan War. • The war is at a stalemate, and the Greeks are beginning to mutiny among one another. • Achilles vs. Agammemnon • Odysseus • Creator of the Trojan Horse • Responsible for the fall of Troy
Odysseus • The gods were angered by Odysseus’ proud and boastful attitude towards success • To teach him a lesson they vowed he would have a long and difficult journey home. • The trip home is the subject of the Odyssey.
