The Odyssey Background and Trojan War Review

1. The Odyssey Background and Trojan War Review

2. IMPORTANT BACKGROUND INFORMATION

3. The Odyssey • Epic poem-long, narrative poem that tells about the adventures of a hero who reflects the ideals and values of a nation or race. • Composed sometime around 800 B.C. – 600 B.C. • Composed byHomer • 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

4. 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 SeriesPercy Jackson & Olympians Series

5. Epic Hero 1. Alarger-than-life figure, usually male, who embodies the ideals of a nation or race. 2. Take part inlong, dangerous adventuresand accomplish great deeds that requirecourage andsuperhuman strength. 3. Often, thedivine world of the godsor other supernatural forces will interfere with the human worldof the epic hero. Some epic heroes: - Harry Potter - Frodo from Lord of the Rings - Luke Skywalker from Star Wars

6. 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 forseveral 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 . . .

7. Epithets Epithets-brief, descriptive phrases that helped to characterize a particular person or thing. -repetitionof a phrase Odysseus is described as: “master mariner” “old contender” “man of twists and turns” “great tactician” - remember: he initiated the idea of theTrojan horse-source of the Greeks defeating Troy

8. Trojan War and The Odyssey background-Key Players Sparta Troy Paris-Prince of Troy Son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba Helen runs off with him Hector-Prince of Troy -Paris’ brother • Menelaus-King of Sparta • Married to Helen • Helen • Most beautiful woman • Agamemnon-King of Mycenae • Menelaus’ brother • Convinces brother to go to war with Troy • Greek fighters • Odysseus • Ajax • Achilles

9. The Trojan War in Review

10. Paris,Prince ofTroyand son ofKing Priamand Queen Hecuba,fell in love with another man’s wife and took her back to his kingdom ofTroywith the interference of the gods, one goddess in particular Helen,known as the most beautiful woman and theface that launched a 1,000 ships“runs away” with Paris and her absence enrages her husband The Iliadand the Trojan War Trojan War may have occurred around1200 B.C.and established the background forHomer’s epics. The mini-version of theLegend is

11. Menalaus,King ofSparta, is upset and seeks the advice of his brother Agamemnon, King ofMycenae, who ispower hungryand 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. Family Loyalty—How far would a person go for his brother? Agamemnon

12. The war lasted10 years, during which time many heroes emerged. • Fighting for the Greeks ( Under rule of King Agamemnon): -Odysseus (the hero of The Odyssey) • Ajax (almost giant like warrior who was unable to kill the greatest Trojan warrior but wounded him) -Achilles (the Greek hero of The Iliad and the greatest warrior) AJAX

13. Fighting for theTrojans–Brothers PrinceHectorand PrinceParis Prince Paris—the one who brought Helen to his kingdom and brought destruction to his home Prince Hector (the greatest Trojan warrior) defends his country to the death

14. The Iliadand theTrojan War • The Iliad • Homer’s 1st Epic • Serves as aprequeltoThe Odyssey • The epic only deals with about20 daysin the10th and final yearof theTrojan War • Homer concentrates on one main Greek hero,Achilles,and one main opposing hero for the Trojans,Hector. • As the epic begins, AchillesisfuriouswithKing Agamemnonover a slave girl,Briseis, and sulking in his tent, refusing to fight.**The epic begins in the middle or in media res** • The Trojans start winning and beating back the Greeks. • But, when Hector kills Achilles’ best friend,Patroclus,Achilles becomes enraged and returns to battle for the sole purpose of destroying Hector. • After Hector’s death, Achilles iskilled by Paris, but the Trojans never recover from the loss of Hector and finally, Troy falls.

15. After Hector is killed, unless the Greeks get inside thewallsof Troy, the war would most likely continue. Odysseus, King ofIthacaand a“master strategist”devises the plan of building a giantTrojan horseto represent a gift to the Trojans. As the Trojans believe that the Greeks have given up and decided to go back home,they wheel the large wooden horse inside the walls of Troy. While the Trojans aresleeping,after a night of partying and celebrating the end of the war, several Greeks, led by Odysseus,crawl out of the horse, open the gates, and after a massive amount of bloodshed,Troy burns and the Trojan War ends The Horse That Ended The War

16. HUBRIS AS A CHARACTER FLAW AGAMEMNON—King of Mycenae—Allows his prideto get the better of him when he refuses to giveChryseis 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 girlcausing another big problem for the Greeks. • Hubris is excessive pride or arrogance • It can lead to rash behavior and to not thinking clearly in serious situations ACHILLES—Heallows his pride of losing hisslave girlBriseis and love interest toAgamemnon get the best of him andrefuses to continue fighting at Troy….until his dear friend is slain by the Trojan Prince Hector causing hisdesire for revengeand eventually his death all because of pride Odysseus—Hero in The Odyssey also exhibitshubriswhich angers the gods and leads to many difficulties and hardships for him.

17. So what does this have to do with The Odyssey?

18. What is the Odyssey about? • - Tells of Odysseus’ adventures as he makeshis way homefrom Troy • He was gone for a total of20 years • 10 years at war and 10 more years trying to get home • - He has a fleet of12 shipscarrying about720 men • - Back at home (Ithaca) • -Penelope (wife of Odysseus)andTelemachus (son of Odysseus)are waiting for Odysseus’ return while suitors have taken over Ithaca, hoping that she will marry one of them • Odysseus encounters manymythical beings and has to fight his own personal “demons” and overcome his own character flawsduring his return home