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An Introduction
The Odyssey
Myth: a traditional story, usually concerning some superhuman being or unlikely event once believed to be true
Narrative poem: a poem that tells a story and has characters, setting, plot, and point of view which combine to develop a theme
Epic: a long narrative poem about the adventures of a hero whose actions address the ideals or values of a nation
Epic hero: a larger-than-life figure who embodies the ideals of a nation or race
•Odysseus, an epic hero, spends ten years fighting in The Trojan War. The Greeks, thanks to Odysseus, win the war; however, due to some bad choices and bad luck, it takes our hero another ten years to get back home to his wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus.
•The Odyssey is essentially a travel tale about a hero’s struggle to get home, but it also deals with Telemachus’ struggle to become a man.
The Odyssey in a Nutshell
Odysseus’ antagonist among the gods is Poseidon. This presents a particularly difficult situation because Odysseus is traveling by water. Needless to say, Poseidon makes things difficult for our hero!
Because of his intelligence and his ingenious schemes, as well as his skill in battle, Odysseus is Athena’s favorite! It was because of her interference that he went to war, but it was also her help that brings him home safely.
The Odyssey and Greek Mythology
•Polyphemus, a Cyclops, is another character Odysseus must face in the Odyssey. This “wheel-eyed” giant is Poseidon’s son, so it should be clear after we read the encounter why Poseidon is so angry with Odysseus.
•This story offers another opportunity to show Odysseus’ brain-power, but it also reveals how his curiosity can be costly.
Odysseus and the Cyclops
Zeus Domain: ruler of the gods
Also known as: the Supreme Ruler, Lord of the Sky, the Rain-God, the Cloud-Gatherer
Characteristics: not omniscient, known as a womanizer
Symbol: thunderbolt
Hera
Domain: protector of marriage and women (ironic!)
Also known as: Here, Zeus’ wife
Characteristics: jealous, held grudges, punished those whom she thought had done her wrong
Symbols: pomegranate and peacock feather
Poseidon Domain: god of the sea,
earthquakes, and horses
Also known as: the Earth-Shaker, Zeus’ brother and second in command
Characteristics: quarrelsome, greedy
Symbols: trident, fish, dolphin, horse, and bull
Hades Domain: god of the underworld
Also known as: ruler of the dead, Zeus’ brother
Characteristics: greedy, greatly concerned with increasing his subjects, unpitying, terrifying, stern, just
Symbols: Cerberus the 3-headed dog, Cypress tree
Athena Domain: goddess of wisdom,
peace, strategic warfare, handicrafts, and reason
Also known as: Athene, Zeus’ favorite daughter
Characteristics: fights bravely but only to protect her home, Athens is named for her
Symbol: owl
Apollo Domain: god of light/sun,
truth/prophecy, medicine/healing, music/poetry
Also known as: Zeus’ son, Artemis’ twin
Characteristics: wonderful musician, taught man to heal, drove the sun across the sky each day to create sunrise and sunset
Symbols: lyre, bow and arrow
Artemis Domain: goddess of the hunt,
childbirth, forests and hills, and the moon
Also known as: lady of the wild things, huntsman-in-chief to the gods, Zeus’ daughter, Apollo’s twin
Characteristics: chaste, did not want to be confined by marriage
Symbol: bow and arrows
Aphrodite Domain: goddess of love and beauty
Also known as: the laughter-loving goddess, some myths have her as Zeus’ daughter, others say she was born of sea foam, married to Hephaestus
Characteristics: physically beautiful, somewhat conceited, fond of involving herself in the affairs of mortals
Symbols: scepter, myrtle, dove
Hermes
Domain: messenger of the gods, god of commerce and thieves
Also known as: the patron of boundaries and travelers, orators and poets, Zeus’ son
Characteristics: swift, helpful
Symbols: the tortoise, rooster, winged sandals and helmet
Ares Domain: god of war
(unpredictable violence) and bloodshed
Also known as: son of Zeus and Hera
Characteristics: hateful, distrusted, murderous, a coward
Symbols: vulture, wolf, burning torch, bronze armor and spear
Hephaestus Domain: god of technology,
blacksmiths, craftsmen, artisans and volcanoes
Also known as: Aphrodite’s husband, Hera’s son
Characteristics: considered ugly, although well-liked
Symbols: hammer, anvil, tongs
Hestia Domain: goddess of the hearth
(domesticity and family) and the home
Also known as: Zeus’ sister
Characteristics: modest and mild, charitable, disliked quarrels
Symbols: hearth
The Muses Domain: not goddesses, but spirits who inspire the creation
of literature and the arts
Also known as: Zeus’ 9 daughters
Characteristics: considered the source of knowledge, carefree, often invoked by poets, bless humans to aid in healing and comforting
Symbols: each muse had her own symbol, ranging from a pen to a globe to the dramatic masks
It’s all Greek to Me!
“Why is this important?”
• For one thing, we see signs from
the Greeks all the time. Can you
think of any?
• Western literature and culture are
chock-full of Greek goodness.
Any ideas?
• It will make you think, and that is
very important!