The Odyssey

Homer

The Epic Poem

• Lengthy continuous narrative of the life and works of a hero, real or mythical

• Hero: Fulfills what is good and noble with a willingness to sacrifice self for the greater good.

• In literature, heroes may have tragic flaws that lead to their downfall.

The Odyssey

•A Greek epic poem attributed to Homer

•Written about 800-600 BC

•Tells about the travels of the hero Odysseus after the fall of Troy

•After the Trojan war, it takes Odysseus 10 years to return home

The Character of Odysseus

•Cunningly intelligent

•Ability to judge people and situations

•Filled with wanderlust?

Major PlayersAchaeans:• Odysseus• Achilles• Ajax• Menelaus• Helen• Penelope• Telemachus• Agamemnon

Trojans:• Paris• Hector• Priam• Hecuba

Judgment of Paris• Peleus and Thetis (parents of

Achilles) were forced into marriage.

• Eris , the goddess of discontent, was not invited to the ceremony.

• Eris went anyway but did not bring a wedding gift. When she was stopped at the door by Hermes, she became outraged and threw a golden apple in the room.

“To the Fairest”

• The golden apple was inscribed, “to the fairest.”

• Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite all claimed the apple.

• Zeus made Paris decide who would get the apple.

• The goddesses all tried to bribe him.

• Paris gave the apple to Aphrodite who offered him the love of the world’s most beautiful woman.

Paris Aided by Aphrodite

• Paris chose love over wisdom, skill in battle, and political power.

• He awarded the apple to Aphrodite.

• When on a diplomatic mission to Sparta, he met and fell in love with Helen, the most beautiful woman alive.

• A.k.a. Helen of Troy

• Father: Zeus, king of the gods

• Mother: Leda, mortal woman

• Odysseus was one of many suitors, but she chose Menelaus

• Odysseus may not have been as interested since he did not bring gifts.

Helen: The Face That Launched a Thousand Ships

Trojan War 101

• Waged against the city of Troy in Asia Minor, now Turkey

• Paris, son of Priam and Hecuba of Troy, kidnapped Helen

• People of Agamemnon—the Achaeans of Sparta—wage the war over Helen

• Helen was wife of Menelaus, king of Sparta

The Kidnapping—War Begins• Aphrodite made Helen fall in love with

Paris.

• Menelaus received Paris as a guest of court

• Paris violated the important law of hospitality by kidnapping Helen

• Menelaus led troops to Troy where they fought for 10 years.

The Trojan Horse• Troy fell due to

the trickery of the Trojan Horse filled with the Achaean warriors, led by Odysseus.

• After sacking Troy, many Achaeans never returned to Ithica.

The War Lasts 10 Years

• After the deaths of many Achaean (Ithica) heroes: Achilles and Ajax . . .

• And after the deaths of many Trojan heroes: Hector and Paris . . .

The Odyssey: Odysseus’s Travels

• Of all the gods, only Poseidon is angry with Odysseus

• After being held captive for 7 years, Calypso finally releases Odysseus

• His raft is wrecked, and he washes up on an island.

• He is found by Nausicaa where he relates the story of leaving Troy

Upon Leaving Troy . . .

• Odysseus and his 12 ships raided the Cicones

• Visited the Lotus Eaters

• Captured by the Cyclops Polyphemus

After the Cyclops . . .• All but one ship destroyed by the

giant cannibals, the Laestrygonians

• Visit Circe’s island—men turned to swine

• Stayed here for a year

Circe Advised the Men . . .

• How to avoid the Sirens

• How to avoid Scylla

• How to avoid Charybdis

On the Island Thrinacia• Odysseus’s men do not

listen to the advice of Circe and kill the cattle of the sun god Helios.

• They were punished by being shipwrecked.

• Everyone died except Odysseus, who washed up on Calypso’s island.

Back at Home• Phaeacians help Odysseus back

to Ithica• He pretends to be a beggar• Reunites with Telemachus• Tests Penelope• Penelope has a contest—

stringing Odysseus’s bow• Suitors all killed

by Odysseus• Odysseus reveals himself to

Penelope