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Balaska Name: __________________________________________English 9-0 The Odyssey DUE DATE FOR ASSIGNMENT: _________________________

The Odyssey

Overall Quality Time is invested in responses and activities. Entries are insightful and meaningful. All entries are complete. /100

Understanding Responses reveal thoughtfulness and show a higher understanding and interpretation. /50

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Draws extensively on evidence from the text read in the form of direct quotations and specific references to

validate, expand, and reflect on ideas throughout the entries.

/50

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By: Homer


Types of Archetypal Journeys

No matter the hero, be he a warrior, savior, lover, or even an anti-hero, they all go on a quest, collectively known as the “Hero’s Journey.” They can fall into one or more categories.

The quest for identity The epic journey to find the promised land/to find the good city The quest for vengeance The warrior’s journey to save his people The search for love (to rescue the princess/damsel in distress) The journey in search of knowledge The tragic quest: penance or self-denial The fool’s errand The quest to rid the land of danger The grail quest (the quest for human perfection)

Additional Notes:


The Archetype in You!

We know that the archetypal pattern exists in myth and literature, but what about in our own lives? Have you ever struggled with an existing force (i.e. parents) to become your own person? Have you experience a loss of innocence by gaining knowledge about the world (i.e. the death of someone or something close to you)? Have you changed since entering high school (your clothes, friends, the way you speak)?

In three paragraphs, describe a time when your life has reflected at least one of the archetypes above.

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Stages of a Hero’s Journey

Stage 1: Departure: The hero is called to adventure, although he is reluctant to accept.

Stage 2: Initiation: The hero crosses a threshold into a new, more dangerous world, gaining a more mature perspective.

Stage 3: The Road of Trials: The hero is given a supernatural aid, endures tests of strength, resourcefulness, and endurance.

Stage 4: The Innermost Cave: The hero descends into the innermost cave, an underworld, or some other place of great trial. Sometimes this place can be within the hero’s own mind. Because of this trial, the hero is reborn in some way—physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Through the experience, the hero changes internally.

Stage 5: Return and Reintegration with Society: The hero uses his new wisdom to restore fertility and order to the land.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/Heroesjourney.svg


What is a hero?

We have discussed characteristics and qualities that heroes have. Below, write at least three paragraphs about someone you consider a hero. Make sure to include the characteristics that make him or her a hero in your eyes, and to include the journey he or she has taken to become a hero to you.

Picking a sports hero or music star is fine; however you will be graded on how well you explain your choice. Make sure to include characteristics and qualities that make him or her a hero, and the journey that he or she has undergone to become a hero.

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Finding a Hero’s Journey on the Primetime!

Take what we have learned about the Hero’s Journey and apply it to your favorite television show. While watching, consider how the primary characters go through stages, in some cases, more than once! Use the table below to report the stages, what challenges they faced, how they handled the difficulties, if someone helped them, and what was the lesson the “hero” learned by the experience. Make sure you use details from the show (consider that I might not have ever watched it and will need details to understand your explanation of the different stages).

TV SHOW: ____________________________________________________________________

CHARACTER: _________________________________________________________________

Stage of Journey “Hero” CharacterDeparture: Call to adventureA hero might be reluctant to accept or be forced to go on the journey

Initiation: Crossing the threshold into a new and dangerous world; gaining a more mature perspectiveRoad of Trials: heroes are given supernatural aid; endures tests of strength, resourcefulness and endurance. (indicate who helps during the different trials)Innermost Cave: Time of revelation, deepest pit of death and rebirth; through this experience the hero is changed internally

Return to Society: hero uses his new wisdom to return home and restore order to his worldWhat did the hero learn from the adventure that will be invaluable to his life back home?

What is an Epic?


A long, narrative poem, which may be divided into books and cantos. Epics are noted for their lofty, often heroic subject matter. Modern epics have as their models the ancient epics of Homer, the Iliad, and the Odyssey. Essential to the epic is the hero, who is usually of high social station but is nevertheless meant to embody both the happiness and suffering of all human beings. The hero is often at odds with the supernatural forces and beings that control his environment. In terms of narrative strategy, most epics begin "in media res," or in the middle of the action, and only later describe the events preceding the point at which the reader enters the story. - The World's Best Poetry

ELEMENTS OF AN EPIC POEM:

hero who displays many heroic characteristics beginning in media res (in the middle of things) flashbacks and foreshadowing a drastic turning point in the middle of the action repeated themes throughout poem epic poems begin with an "invocation to the muse," which is the author (or narrator)

asking one of the goddesses who watches over the arts to help him/her tell the story

The Odyssey Epic Notes:

Believed to be written by Homer 8th century BC Passed down through oral tradition Considered an "epic poem" -- a long poem that narrates the exploits, or journey, of a

heroic character Main character is Odysseus

o Has been missing from home for 10 yearso Was the hero of the Trojan Waro Has been experiencing several troubles in returning home


The Odyssey: Webquest

PART 1: Introduction and Background

Directions: Write a summary of each section on the following page: http://library.thinkquest.org/19300/data/homerhist.htm

Who was Homer?

Where did he live?

When were these epics composed?

Why does Homeric literature still survive today?

PART 2: Characters/Setting

Directions: Write a one or two sentence definition for each of the following using this link: http://www.pantheon.org/main/search.html

GODS

Aeolus:

Apollo:

Athena:

Balaska Name: __________________________________________English 9-0 The Odyssey DUE DATE FOR ASSIGNMENT: _________________________Helios:

Muses:

Poseidon:

Zeus:

HUMANS

Hector:

Paris:

Achilles:

Helen of Troy:

Laertes:

Nausicaa:

Odysseus:

Penelope:

Telemachus:

Tiresias:

SUPERNATURAL BEINGS

Calypso:

Charybdis:

Balaska Name: __________________________________________English 9-0 The Odyssey DUE DATE FOR ASSIGNMENT: _________________________Circe:

Cyclops/Polyphemus:

Scylla:

Sirens:

LOCATIONS

Olympus:

Underworld:

PART 3: Play the Odyssey game!

Directions: Use this link to play the game: http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~loxias/odchoice.htm

Choose your character, and begin your adventure. In the space below, summarize what happens on your QUEST!

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Topics to Consider While Reading The Odyssey


Fate and Free Will

Piety

Justice

Pride

Lies and Deceit

Tradition and Custom

Suffering

Principles

Loyalty

Perseverance

Family

While we read the The Odyssey, it is your responsibility to fill out the following reading guide for each set of pages that you read. Extra worksheets can be found in Ms. Balaska’s

room. By the end of this unit, you must complete at least 5 reading guides.

Balaska Name: __________________________________________English 9-0 The Odyssey DUE DATE FOR ASSIGNMENT: _________________________Book ________

Pages: ______________

Who are the major characters

introduced in these pages?

What role do they play in the

main event(s) of this book?

Give a detailed summary of your

reading.

List at least 3 questions

(discussion questions and

clarification questions) you can

ask about these pages.

Balaska Name: __________________________________________English 9-0 The Odyssey DUE DATE FOR ASSIGNMENT: _________________________Answer the following reading questions on a separate sheet of paper (hand written or

typed). The answers must be turned in when we finish each book. Each set of

questions will count as a quiz grade (100 points each):

Book 1: Odysseus—Athena Inspires the Prince

1. What is the first characteristic of Odysseus identified by the poet?

2. Are the opening 10 lines of Book 1 more about conquering or enduring?

3. With whom is Odysseus staying at this point in the story?

4. How is the crew of Odysseus characterized?

5. What god bears a grudge against Odysseus, and why?

6. Do you think that Book 1 indicates a universe characterized by justice or by arbitrary suffering?

7. What mythological male character does Mentes suggest that Telemachus emulate, for what is this male character famous, and for what is his mother famous? Does this aspect of the advice of Mentes strike you as odd or not, and why?

Book 5: Odysseus—Nymph and Shipwreck

1. What new appeal does Athena make to the gods to get them to let Odysseus return home? 153

2. What will Odysseus have to do in order to leave the island? 153

3. Calypso states the reason she thinks the gods want her separated from Odysseus. What is the reason? 156

4. What has Calypso offered to Odysseus if he will stay with her? 156

5. What is Odysseus’ initial response when Calypso tells him he may leave the island? 157

6. Which god angrily observes Odysseus from a distance, and how does he interferes with his departure? 161

7. Who is Ino and what role does she play in Odysseus’ survival? 162-163

8. What choice is Odysseus faced with concerning his raft and what decision does he make about it? 163

9. What problems does Odysseus face in trying to make it to shore? 163-165

10. Once on shore, what are the two choices Odysseus faces concerning where the safest place to sleep would be?

167

Balaska Name: __________________________________________English 9-0 The Odyssey DUE DATE FOR ASSIGNMENT: _________________________11. Once Odysseus covers himself with leaves and beds down for the night, what comparison does Homer make?

167

12. Athena again proves her concern for Odysseus by aiding him three times during and after the storm. What are

the three kinds of assistance she offers? 152, 164, 166

Book 9: In the One-Eyed Giant’s Cave

1. Where do Odysseus and his men go first when they sail away from Troy? What happens there? What was the

mistake his men made? 212-213

2. After two storms, they come to the land of the Lotus Eaters. What is lotus? What is the danger to the men? How

does Odysseus save himself and rescue his men? 214

3. The next island is inhabited by Cyclops. What are they like? 215

4. When Homer compares them to civilized people, what do we learn about Greek civilization? (How people are

expected to behave and what they value?) 215

5. Odysseus and his men were safe enough on the island of the wild goats. Why does he cross to the mainland?

What does he want to find out? 217

6. After the men gather provisions from the Cyclops cave they want to leave but Odysseus insist on staying. Why?

218

7. How does the Cyclops close the entrance to his cave? 219

8. What does the Cyclops first ask Odysseus and his men? Why is this bad-mannered? 219

9. Early in Book 9 Odysseus says he is famous for his guile, and now he does not hesitate to tell a lie. Why? 220

10. Why doesn’t Odysseus kill Polyphemus after the giant’s supper of manflesh? 221

11. After Polyphemus leaves, what plan does Odysseus make for the giant’s return? 221

12. What name does Odysseus give when the giant asks him? How does this turn out to be a trick? 223

13. Why will none of the other Cyclops help Polyphemus? 224

14. With what final trick does Odysseus escape? 225

15. Why does Odysseus reveal his true name? 227

Balaska Name: __________________________________________English 9-0 The Odyssey DUE DATE FOR ASSIGNMENT: _________________________16. After Odysseus reveals his identity, what does Polyphemus recall from years ago? 227

17. What appeal does Polyphemus make to his father Poseidon? 228

Book 10: The Bewitching Queen of Aeaea

1. Why does the wind fail and send Odysseus back to Aeolus? 232

2. Why won’t Aeolus help Odysseus a second time? 232

3. How do the Laistrygonians greet Odysseus’ men? 234

4. Why is Odysseus’ ship the only one able to escape? 234

5. What are Circe’s strengths and powers? What does she do to Odysseus’ men? 237

6. How does Odysseus avoid the misfortune that befalls his men? 239

7. How long does Odysseus stay with Circe, and what does it take to get him to leave? 245

8. What does Circe symbolize?

9. Where does Circe tell Odysseus he must go first before returning to Ithaca? 245

10. How is Tiresias unique among all the others in the land of Persephone? 245

11. What must Odysseus do so Tiresias will speak to him? 246-247

12. What happens to Elpenor, youngest of Odysseus’ men, before they leave Circe’s island? 247

Book 12: The Cattle of the Sun

1. What danger do the Sirens pose to those that travel by them? 272

2. Why would Circe think Odysseus might wish to hear the Sirens, when his men must plug their ears? 273

3. What are Scylla and Charybdis? 274

4. What advice does Circe give Odysseus for sailing through the straits of Scylla and Charybdis? 274-275

5. In spite of the warning, when Odysseus’ men land on Thrinacia, why do they kill and eat the sacred cattle of the

Sun? 281

6. Why is Odysseus not able to stop them? 281

Balaska Name: __________________________________________English 9-0 The Odyssey DUE DATE FOR ASSIGNMENT: _________________________7. Is Odysseus’ complaint in lines 398-401 justified, or is this more of mortals blaming the Gods for their own

failings, as Zeus exclaims in Bk. 1? 282

8. How does Odysseus make it past Scylla, alone, a second time? 285

Book 21: Odysseus Strings His Bow

1. What is the “test of the bow”? 426

2. Why does Odysseus signal to Telemachus not to string the bow? 428

3. Compare the reactions of the cowherd and swineherd to the sight of Odysseus’ bow with Antinous’ reaction. 427

4. What are we told about Antinous after he criticizes Eumaeus for his reaction? 427

5. How do Leodes comments after his failed attempt at stringing the bow set him apart from the rest of the suitors

(lines 163-170)? 429

6. What test of loyalty, and then what proof of identity, does Odysseus give to Eumaius and to the cowherd? 430

7. What task does he assign to each of them? 431, 432

8. Explain how Penelope speaks to the suitors, and why Telemachus rebukes her, in lines 350-394.

9. What does Penelope say to Antinous to get him to give the beggar a chance at the bow? 434-435

10. What is suggested by the image of Odysseus and Telemachus armed and standing side by side? 438


Final Response Questions

1. What kinds of roles do women play in the Odyssey? Which females hold the most power and why?

2. How does the Odyssey define love? Why are Odysseus’s affairs with Circe and Kalypso not considered

true love?

3. What’s up with the structure of the Odyssey? What is the effect of Homer starting in media res (in the

middle of things)?

4. Is it possible for a modern reader to accept Odysseus’s killing of the suitors? If not, how does this

change in values affect our enjoyment of Homer’s poem?

5. What is it about the Odyssey that makes it so timeless? What’s so appealing that it’s resulted in

dozens and dozens of spin-offs?

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