Epic Literature

1
Epic Literature

• The Odyssey
• Definitions Terms

2
Oral Tradition

• collection of stories handed down generation
  after generation consolidated by Greek poet Homer
• poems meant to be said aloud rather than read, so
  key words phrases often repeated

3
Epic

• long, narrative poem which celebrates the deeds
  of legendary heroes

4
Epic Hero

• seems to conquer most problems
• usually protected by or descended from gods
• does not possess any god-like powers himself
• Larger than life
• performs supernatural feats
• important in his country or races culture
• Examples
• Luke Skywalker
• Neo

5
Epic Characteristics

• Supernatural elements
• Stories told in episodes
• Archetypes
• Epic hero
• Venerable guide
• Good son
• Virgin goddess
• Domestic angel
• Temptress

6
Epic Characteristics

• Recurring themes
• call to adventure
• vague, imaginary settings
• gathering of companions
• concealed identities
• monsters
• magical weapons/ objects
• descent into underworld
• betrayal of friend
• reconciliation with the father
• homecoming

7
Epithets

• adjective or phrase which describes a personality
  by the attributes possessed by the person
• Ex. grey-eyed Athena

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in medias res

• story begins in middle of action (audience knows
  most of the information already)

9
The Odyssey

• Chapters 1 2

10
Family

• Odysseus king of Ithaca
• Penelope queen of Ithaca
• Telemachus son of Odysseus Penelope
• Laertes father of Odysseus
• Eurycleia devoted nurse of family

11
And the story begins

• most war soldiers already returned home
• Odysseus men were killed for eating cattle of
  sun god on way back

12
Calypso

• Odysseus held prisoner by Calypso
• Hermes goes to demand Ody be released

13
Agamemnon story revisited

• Zeus sent Hermes to warn Aegisthus not to kill
  Agamemnon but he didnt listen
• Aegisthus killed by Orestes

14
Poseidon

• Mad at Odysseus for blinding Polyphemus, his son
• Makes it hard for Odysseus to return home

15
Athena

• Asks Zeus to help Odysseus return home
• She visits Telemachus, Odysseus son

16
Zeus helps Ody

• Odysseus
• clever
• brave
• heroic
• willing to offer sacrifices to gods

17
Hermes, the messenger

• Goes to Ogygia to demand Odys release
• Calypso complies

18
Athena in Ithaca

• Telemachus to go find dad
• Athena appears as Mentor, Mentes, Odys son
• Phemius plays lament on lyre

19
Suitors

• Led by Antinous Eurymachus
• Eat up the place
• Going after Penelope

20
Telemachus calls Assembly

• Elders
• Suitors blame Penelope for not choosing husband
• 3 years weaving shroud for Laertes
• Each night unraveled shroud

21
Omen

• Halitherses sees eagles as omen of Odysseus
  killing suitors
• Eurymachus omen means Odysseus is dead

22
Getting the Crew Together

• Athena Telemachus get rations, crew, ship
  together for journey to find Odysseus
• Suitors mock Telemachus