Transcript The Odyssey Unit Test - Sacred Heart Academy

Introduction to The Odyssey
Mrs. Brown
Mrs. Gorman
Freshman English
Homer
• Homer (800 B.C.) the poet credited
with writing the Iliad & Odyssey.
• He may have been one in a long line
of Greek epic storytellers.
The archetype of an epic hero
• An archetype is
a basic plot,
character,
symbol, or idea
that recurs in
the literature of
many cultures.
• An epic hero is
an archetype!
• EPIC HERO
Epic Hero
• He can do extraordinary
things, both good and bad
• Through adventurous deeds,
the epic hero demonstrates
traits valued by society.
The Hero’s Quest
• The hero’s quest is a plot in
which an extraordinary person
(hero) goes on a difficult
journey or mission
• The hero may search for a
person, place, or object of
value, the answer to a
question, or some other kind of
special knowledge
Epic Poems
• An epic is a long, narrative
poem celebrating the heroic
achievements of a hero.
• Combination of legendary
(loosely based on fact),
mythical (made up), and
historical stories that
originated in oral tradition.
The Epic Hero
• The ancient Greek hero is
motivated by or possesses:
• 1. Kleos (clee-os) immortal
fame; reputation outlives them
• 2. Timé (teem-ah) personal
honor; in others eyes, too
• 3. Areté (are-a-tay) excellence
or being extraordinary
*Fame, honor, excellence
The code of hospitality
• Xenia: must take care of
travelers, guests, beggars
• Zeus takes this very seriously!
The Epic Poem
•
•
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The epic poem may begin after
major events ~ in media res (in the
middle of things)
Important action already
happened!
A flashback is a scene that
interrupts the sequence in a
narrative to relate to earlier events