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Introduction to

Introduction to. The Odyssey. Mythology Background Notes. Myths are the stories of a culture . They are also folktales about how things began . They always include marvelous & supernatural events, the deeds & adventures of gods and goddesses, and of heroes & heroines .

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Introduction to

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  1. Introduction to The Odyssey

  2. Mythology Background Notes

  3. Myths are the stories of a culture. • They are also folktales about how things began. • They always include marvelous& supernatural events, the deeds & adventures of gods and goddesses, and of heroes & heroines. • Myths explain the origins of various rituals that people follow, and myths are passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth.

  4. The most important thing about myths is that they explain the human experience. • They tell us in poetic, imaginative terms, the most important things about (a) who we are (b) where we came from (c) what we believe • They give order to the universe; they unite people with a shared ancestry and destiny.

  5. On a more complex level, myths are history, psychology, religion, philosophy, and sociology of a culture. All myths have a basic structure, which is similar. The patterns (archetypes) are the similarities that extend the fact that humans, regardless of culture will ask the same questions: • Where did we come from? • How was the universe created? • Why does the sun rise and set?

  6. Experts view myths as having deeper, symbolic uses; the shared experiences with those who came before happen again with each retelling. • However, others see myths as metaphors for: death, betrayal, fate, tragedy, fertility, evil, luck, war, etc.

  7. 5 General Categories of Myths

  8. 1. Creation Myths • Creation myths answer the questions: • How was the universe created? • How were humans made? • Why is there death? • Example: “In the Beginning”

  9. 2. Golden Age Myths • The Golden Age myths reflect the need to believe the inadequacies that we see in the world around us are not integral to the world. They were not there at the creation. • They reflect hope for a perfect world and fear of the great power of the gods (the unknown).

  10. 3. The Trickster Myths • The Trickster is a favorite archetype. Usually has the most unattractive, non-spiritual human traits; his role is to account for the ills in the world, as well as provide a great form of entertainment. • Example: Br’er Rabbit

  11. 4. Folk Tales • Folk Tales tend to focus on the narrative of a hero’s adventure rather than on Supernatural creation. • They provide entertainment, not explanation; characters are usually legendary in nature, based on real people whose deeds are exaggerated. • Examples: Paul Bunyan, John Henry, Pecos Bill, Johnny Appleseed, etc.

  12. 5. The Monomyth • The Monomyth is the Archetypal Heroic Adventure. • The pattern is remarkably unbroken: The hero is born, goes on a perilous journey, shows off his prowess against enemies, and returns to the community bearing the fruit of his journey. • (Hero follows the pattern: separation, initiation, and return.) • Example: The Odyssey, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, The Wizard of Oz

  13. The Odyssey Background Notes Genre: Epic Poem • A long narrative poem about a national or legendary hero • Oral tradition (bards) • Ancient Greece • TWO epics attributed to Homer

  14. Born 8th century B.C. • Two Schools of thought: • Blind poet • a composite of several poets over the course of 3-4 hundred years • Also wrote The Iliad • Rhapsode-professional performer of poetry Homer

  15. The Iliad First written record of Greece describes the events of 51 days during the last year of the Trojan War The Odyssey Describes the 10-year journey of Odysseus as he tries to go home to Ithaca after the Trojan War 2 Epic Poems written between 750-725BC by Homer ~500 year gap between the actual war & when the story was written down

  16. The Trojan War (The Iliad) • Happened around 1200 b.c. – lasted 10 years • Cause-unknown • Legendary cause: romantic • Helen, Queen of Sparta and wife of Menelaus, is kidnapped by Prince Paris of Troy • True cause: economic (probably) • War (most likely) began over control of the trade route between the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea between the Trojans and Greeks

  17. The Gods and The Trojan War • Gods and goddesses intervened in the war • Respect for the gods was essential for survival • Gods and goddesses wanted the Trojans to win

  18. Peleus marries sea nymph Thetis (mother of Achilles) • All gods on Olympus invited except ERIS, the evil goddess of Discord • Golden Apple - “For The Fairest” • Hera (Queen of Gods), Athena (Goddess of Wisdom/War), Aphrodite (Goddess of Love) all claim apple • Paris, Prince of Troy, will be the judge For the Fairest

  19. Judgment of Paris: The Bribe • Hera - POWER • Athena - WISDOM • Aphrodite - MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN (Helen) Paris chooses Aphrodite—of course!

  20. Helen is Abducted! • Helen- beautiful daughter of King of Sparta (in Greece) (really daughter of Zeus) • Helen has many suitors- they swear oath to protect Helen and her new husband, King Menelaus • Paris abducts Helen • 1000 ships, including Odysseus & Achilles, leave for Troy

  21. TROJANS (Paris, Hector) Aphrodite Ares, God of War Apollo Artemis Zeus (favored, but stayed neutral to please Hera) GREEKS (Achilles, Odysseus) Hera Athena Poseidon, God of the Sea The Gods Take Sides

  22. Surprise Attack • Trojans thought they had won • Greeks create the Trojan Horse and leave it outside the gates of Troy • Sinon (Trojan Captive/Greek “Spy”) tells them horse is an offering to Athena from the Greeks - big so Trojans wouldn’t take it • Trojans fall for it and drag horse into city gates to temple of Athena

  23. Troy is in Flames! • In middle of night Greeks leave horse and attack • Troy is in flames before Trojans know what has happened • King of Troy dead • Helen is returned to Menelaus

  24. Odysseus, King of Ithaca, angers the Gods • Trojans were slaughtered and city sacked and burned • Greeks violated Trojan temples • Greeks did not offer sacrifices to the gods to thank them for their victory • Odysseus, creator of Horse, will suffer the most

  25. Begins in medias res: “in the middle of things” 3rd person omniscient narrator & 1st person (for The Wanderings) 24 books Non-linear plot (modern) Layout (Hero Cycle): The Telemachy Odysseus’ wanderings The Homecoming Structure of The Odyssey

  26. What is an “odyssey,” anyway?! • Odyssey • [od-uh-see] - • –noun • a long series of wanderings or adventures, esp. when filled with notable experiences, hardships, etc. • From dictionary.com

  27. Setting • GREECE • 12th century b.c. • Aegean Sea and Ionian Islands • Journey from Troy to Ithaca Aegean Sea

  28. Modern Adaptations • Cold Mountain • O Brother, Where Art Thou? • Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad • “Lost” (Desmond Hume?)

  29. "All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware." — Martin Buber

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