Betances: English I General/Honors/Pre-IB/Gifted Homer s World The Odyssey: Synthesis Notes When were the Iliad and the Odyssey written? Who wrote them? When did the Trojan War occur? Why was it important? What is the story of The Odyssey? Why do the gods and goddesses of Greece intervene? What is the outcome of their interventions? Who was Homer? What do we know and not know about this man? 1
Characteristics of an Epic Betances: English I General/Honors/Pre-IB/Gifted Epic Hero Epic Plot Epic Setting Archetypes Epic Themes 2
The Language of Homer Betances: English I General/Honors/Pre-IB/Gifted Epic Simile Definition: Example from the text: Epithet Definition: Example from the text: Chapter Notes PART I Book 1: A Goddess Intervenes 3
Book 5: Calypso, the Sweet Nymph Betances: English I General/Honors/Pre-IB/Gifted Book 9: New Coasts and Poseidon s Son I am Laertes son The Lotus Eaters 4
The Cyclops Betances: English I General/Honors/Pre-IB/Gifted Book 10: Circe, the Grace of the Witch Book 11: The Land of the Dead 5
Book 12: The Sirens, Scylla, and Charybdis Betances: English I General/Honors/Pre-IB/Gifted PART II Book 16: Father and Son Book 17: The Beggar at the Manor 6
Book 21: The Test of the Bow Betances: English I General/Honors/Pre-IB/Gifted Book 22: Death in the Great Hall Book 23: The Trunk of the Olive Tree 7
THE ODYESSY: Character List Odysseus - The protagonist of the Odyssey. Odysseus fought among the other Greek heroes at Troy and now struggles to return to his kingdom in Ithaca. Odysseus is the husband of Queen Penelope and the father of Prince Telemachus. Though a strong and courageous warrior, he is most renowned for his cunning. He is a favorite of the goddess Athena, who often sends him divine aid, but a bitter enemy of Poseidon, who frustrates his journey at every turn. Telemachus - Odysseus s son. An infant when Odysseus left for Troy, Telemachus is about twenty at the beginning of the story. He is a natural obstacle to the suitors desperately courting his mother, but despite his courage and good heart, he initially lacks the poise and confidence to oppose them. His maturation, especially during his trip to Pylos and Sparta in Books 3 and 4, provides a subplot to the epic. Athena often assists him. Penelope - Wife of Odysseus and mother of Telemachus. Penelope spends her days in the palace pining for the husband who left for Troy twenty years earlier and never returned. Homer portrays her as sometimes flighty and excitable but also clever and steadfastly true to her husband. Athena - Daughter of Zeus and goddess of wisdom, purposeful battle, and the womanly arts. Athena assists Odysseus and Telemachus with divine powers throughout the epic, and she speaks up for them in the councils of the gods on Mount Olympus. She often appears in disguise as Mentor, an old friend of Odysseus. Poseidon - God of the sea. As the suitors are Odysseus s mortal antagonists, Poseidon is his divine antagonist. He despises Odysseus for blinding his son, the Cyclops Polyphemus, and constantly hampers his journey home. Ironically, Poseidon is the patron of the seafaring Phaeacians, who ultimately help to return Odysseus to Ithaca. Zeus - King of gods and men, who mediates the disputes of the gods on Mount Olympus. Zeus is occasionally depicted as weighing men s fates in his scales. He sometimes helps Odysseus or permits Athena to do the same. Antinous - The most arrogant of Penelope s suitors. Antinous leads the campaign to have Telemachus killed. Unlike the other suitors, he is never portrayed sympathetically, and he is the first to die when Odysseus returns. Eurymachus - A manipulative, deceitful suitor. Eurymachus s charisma and duplicity allow him to exert some influence over the other suitors. Amphinomus - Among the dozens of suitors, the only decent man seeking Penelope s hand in marriage. Amphinomus sometimes speaks up for Odysseus and Telemachus, but he is killed like the rest of the suitors in the final fight. Eumaeus - The loyal shepherd who, along with the cowherd Philoetius, helps Odysseus reclaim his throne after his return to Ithaca. Even though he does not know that the vagabond who appears at his hut is Odysseus, Eumaeus gives the man food and shelter. Eurycleia - The aged and loyal servant who nursed Odysseus and Telemachus when they were babies. Eurycleia is well informed about palace intrigues and serves as confidante to her masters. She keeps Telemachus s journey secret from Penelope, and she later keeps Odysseus s identity a secret after she recognizes a scar on his leg.
Melanthius - The brother of Melantho. Melanthius is a treacherous and opportunistic goatherd who supports the suitors, especially Eurymachus, and abuses the beggar who appears in Odysseus s palace, not realizing that the man is Odysseus himself. Melantho - Sister of Melanthius and maidservant in Odysseus s palace. Like her brother, Melantho abuses the beggar in the palace, not knowing that the man is Odysseus. She is having an affair with Eurymachus. Calypso - The beautiful nymph who falls in love with Odysseus when he lands on her island-home of Ogygia. Calypso holds him prisoner there for seven years until Hermes, the messenger god, persuades her to let him go. Polyphemus - One of the Cyclopes (uncivilized one-eyed giants) whose island Odysseus comes to soon after leaving Troy. Polyphemus imprisons Odysseus and his crew and tries to eat them, but Odysseus blinds him through a clever ruse and manages to escape. In doing so, however, Odysseus angers Polyphemus s father, Poseidon. Circe - The beautiful witch-goddess who transforms Odysseus s crew into swine when he lands on her island. With Hermes help, Odysseus resists Circe s powers and then becomes her lover, living in luxury at her side for a year. Laertes - Odysseus s aging father, who resides on a farm in Ithaca. In despair and physical decline, Laertes regains his spirit when Odysseus returns and eventually kills Antinous s father. Tiresias - A Theban prophet who inhabits the underworld. Tiresias meets Odysseus when Odysseus journeys to the underworld in Book 11. He shows Odysseus how to get back to Ithaca and allows Odysseus to communicate with the other souls in Hades. Agamemnon - Former king of Mycenae, brother of Menelaus, and commander of the Achaean forces at Troy. Odysseus encounters Agamemnon s spirit in Hades. Agamemnon was murdered by his wife, Clytemnestra, and her lover, Aegisthus, upon his return from the war. He was later avenged by his son Orestes. Their story is constantly repeated in the Odyssey to offer an inverted image of the fortunes of Odysseus and Telemachus. Alcinous - King of the Phaeacians, who offers Odysseus hospitality in his island kingdom of Scheria. Alcinous hears the story of Odysseus s wanderings and provides him with safe passage back to Ithaca.
Betances/ English I The Odyssey Part One: TimeLine Trojan War Ends The Cyclops Polyphemus blinded by Odysseus The Land of the Dead Talks to Tiresias The Sirens Overcome by wax in ears and tying Odysseus to the mast The Cattle of the Sun God. Lord Helios on Thrinacia. Ship and men destroyed. Odysseus alone survives. Calypso s Island 7 years Lotus Eaters Lotus makes you lose your hope of home. Circe s Island Changes men into pigs Circe s Island for advice Scylla and Charybdis (6 headed monster and whirlpool. Chooses Scylla. 6 men die. Scylla and Charybdis Odysseus on a raft. Zeus saves him. The Phaecians
Student s Page Name: The Odyssey Date: Mythological Deity Chart Greek god or goddess Description K 1. Artemis A. God of marriage 2. Hermes B. Goddess of women and marriage; wife of Zeus 3. Demeter C. Father of Zeus 4. Apollo D. God of love 5. Hymen E. Supreme ruler of gods and men 6. Persephone F. Messenger for the gods 7. Cronus G. God of fire 8. Irene H. Goddess of corn and the spring; goddess of the dead 9. Eros I. God of wine and fertility 10. Dionysus J. Goddess of the hearth 11. Athena 12. Hera 13. Pan 14. Zeus 15. Poseidon K. Virgin huntress; goddess of the moon L. God of war M. Goddess of wisdom and art N. God of the sea O. Goddess of the harvest 16. Hestia P. God of the underworld 17. Hades 18. Ares Q. Goddess of love and beauty R. Goddess of peace 19. Hephaestus S. God of flocks and shepherds 20. Aphrodite T. God of the sun, music, poetry, and prophesy S - 23 Reproducible Student Worksheet
Odysseus needs a job! xxx Eurymachus offered to pay Odysseus for the meat and wine the suitors had consumed. He knew that after 20 years of feeding guests, the royal treasury was running a little low. He thought the king of Ithaca could probably use some extra cash. Odysseus, of course, chose revenge over money. But now that things have settled down, he has realized a hard fact: the royal budget is very tight. He has decided to get a job. Consider these career opportunities. Decide which would be good for Odysseus, which would be bad, and why. Career GOOD for Odysseus because BAD for Odysseus because Undercover police detective Band director Foreman on factory line Diplomat/ambassador Elementary teacher CEO of shipbuilding corporation Custodian Choose a job (not necessarily one of the above) for Odysseus to pursue. Write a resume based on his activities the past 20 years. Add a cover letter asking for an interview. The address for Odysseus will be 1 Palace Way, Stavros, Ithaca.
Student s Page Name: The Odyssey Date: Pre-reading Advertising Objective: Creating an advertising poster Activity During Homer s time, printing technology was non-existent and writing was uncommon. Early poets did not have the convenience of advertising their compositions with television, radio, or the Internet; stories were primarily passed along through word of mouth. The Odyssey was a verbal performance before it was written. Divide the class into small groups. Each group will design an advertising poster for a recital of The Odyssey. The announcement should fit on one page, preferably poster board, and it must be interesting enough to attract an audience. Include the poem s title, the name of the poet, the time and location of the performance, and the names of the major characters. Use any available resources to make the posters. Illustrations can be hand drawn, computer generated, or any combination of the two. Drawings must be related to The Odyssey and attention grabbing, and the text should be easy to read. Complete one poster per group. S - 17 Reproducible Student Worksheet
Student s Page Name: The Odyssey Date: Chapter II Creative Thinking Objective: Devising a strategy and creating a bulletin Activity Odysseus fails to return after the Trojan War, and many suitors attempt to force Penelope, Odysseus wife, to remarry. Penelope, in an attempt to delay the marriage, announces that she must finish weaving a robe for her father-in-law before choosing a new husband. She deceives the suitors by unraveling her work at the end of the day. Her plan is discovered after four years of deceiving the suitors. Devise a new plan for Penelope to use to delay the marriage further. The plan may be a challenge for the suitors to carry out, or a new project that Penelope must complete. Be sure that the idea is plausible and convincing. Draft a memo that outlines the proposal. In the memo, clearly state the purpose, any applicable rules, and the allotted timeframe. The project may be either hand-written or computer generated. If you wish, add pictures to enhance the bulletin s appearance. Be creative in your design. Example: NOTICE TO ALL SUITORS A CONTEST IS TO BE HELD FOR ANY MAN SEEKING THE HAND OF PENELOPE: QUEST FOR THE GOLDEN FLEECE The rules: 1. One ship per contestant. 2. The crew is not to exceed forty-two men. 3. The quest must be completed in three years. 4. The contest begins next lunar cycle. 5. First contestant to return with the fleece wins. All contestants must notify Telemachus for contest entry. S - 29 Reproducible Student Worksheet
Student s Page Name: The Odyssey Date: Chapter IX Drama Objective: Changing a scene into a radio production Activity Oral tradition has been essential in preserving the legend of The Odyssey. For centuries, the adventures of Odysseus have been passed down by word of mouth as well as in manuscripts. Write a script for a radio show. In addition to the characters lines, be sure to indicate when sound effects should be made. Character lines do not need to exactly reflect the book; groups may choose to change the style of speech, such as modernizing the language. Revisions may be made as long as the plot and action remain the same. Sound effects may be performed by one student, usually the narrator, or shared by the group. Perform the final production for the class or play a recorded version. S - 51 Reproducible Student Worksheet
Student s Page Name: The Odyssey Date: Chapter XIII Letter Writing Characterization Objective: Writing a letter for Odysseus Activity Imagine that you are Odysseus and you have a lot of free time for writing while aboard the Phaeacian ship. Choose one of the following three scenarios and write a letter from Odysseus. The letter should be at least one page in length. Odysseus writes a letter to Penelope telling her that he will soon be arriving home. After twenty years abroad, what does Odysseus have to say to his wife? Odysseus writes a letter to Athene expressing his appreciation for the help she has given him. What can Odysseus say or promise to do to repay Athene s kindness? Odysseus writes a letter to Poseidon expressing his anger for the hardship the god has caused him. How does Odysseus address the god; is he fearful of Poseidon s wrath or arrogant for defeating the god? An example is provided. S - 67 Reproducible Student Worksheet
Student s Page Name: The Odyssey Date: Chapter XIV Creative Writing Myth Objective: Creating a myth Activity Using the Mythological Elements Chart, circle the element in each column that corresponds to the last four digits of your phone number. For example, if the phone number ends with 8926, the elements are a king, the North Pole, an ivory box, and separation of social classes. Complete the Selected Elements Chart. Next, incorporate the elements to write an original myth. In five minutes, write a page-long introduction to the story. Be sure to write in third person and to give the story a title. When you have finished writing, pass the papers to the left. Include the Selected Elements Chart so that the next student understands the criteria for that particular myth. Each student then writes a page-long body for the next myth. After another few minutes of writing, pass the stories to the left, and write a page-long conclusion. When this activity is complete, each student will have had a chance to write the beginning, middle, and end of a myth. S - 71 Reproducible Student Worksheet
Student s Page Name: The Odyssey Date: Mythological Elements Chart Main Character Setting Key Object Theme 0. an elf 0. a colony on Mars 0. a staff 0. duty to oneself 1. a sorceress 1. the Old West 1. a sword 1. importance of family 2. a basket weaver 2. medieval England 2. an ivory box 2. downfall through misdeeds 3. an ogre 3. ancient Egypt 3. a magical book 3. coming of age 4. a hermit 4. Atlantis 4. a talisman 4. loyalty of friends 5. a fisherman 5. your neighborhood 5. a silver bracelet 5. star-crossed lovers 6. a princess 6. a park 6. a hat 7. a thief 7. a shopping mall 7. a giant ruby 6. separation of social classes 7. child s perception of a parent 8. a king 8. a Scottish castle 8. an ancient crown 8. fate 9. a tailor 9. the North Pole 9. a cloak 9. mental instability Selected Elements Chart Category Digit Description Main Character Setting Key Object Theme S - 73 Reproducible Student Worksheet