Homer's Odyssey

Homer's Odyssey

After the Trojan War

Epic Poems

The ancient Greeks loved heroes, especially military heroes. They loved hear stories about these heroes, the more mythical and magical the better.

The Odyssey

The Odyssey is one of the first great works of Western literature, alongside the Iliad.The Odyssey is a tale of the Greek hero Odysseus (also called Ulysses) and his epic journey home after the fall of Troy.

Odysseus

The hero Odysseus is known as a clever trickster. In fact, it's his idea to build the wooden horse. He was also a powerful warrior during the sacking of Troy.

The Sin of Hubris

Hubris is excessive pride or self-confidence. The Greeks considered this a major sin. Hubris was especially terrible if a mortal compared himself or herself to the gods. Odysseus did this when the Trojan War was over.

The Long Trip Home

It should have taken about a month for Odysseus and his men to sail back home. But it took Odysseus ten years to make the trip! That's how much trouble he ran into on the way. That's what happens, King Odysseus, finally realized, when you do not give the ancient Greek gods the respect they expect.

Monsters Along the Way...

Homer's Odyssey is full of trickery and magic and monsters and gods and goddesses and heroic actions. The Greeks loved to hear the adventures of King Odysseus and his men, and all that happened to them on their way home. One monster they met was the Cyclops.

The Story of the Cyclops Cave

While sailing home, his men came ashore to restock their food and water. They were thrilled to find a cave full of sheep! They knew the sheep probably belonged to someone, but they were hungry and they hoped, if the owner showed up while they were there, that he would understand. They built a fire in the cave and ate some sheep.

Busted!

There was a giant roar! A Cyclops appeared at the mouth of the cave, swinging a club. (A Cyclops is a one-eyed giant!) Odysseus grabbed the sharpened stick and blinded the Cyclops. Odysseus and his men got safely away by pretending to be sheep. They made bah-bah sounds until they had crawled to safety.

Sirens

Other treacherous monsters were the sirens who would sing love songs to sailors. Then, the sailors would steer their ships into the rocks and die.

Finally Home

After ten years of adventure, all of Odysseus' men have been killed. He is the only survivor who made it back to his home. Odysseus even has to win back the love of his beautiful wife Queen Penelope who doesn't even recognize him. Well, he was gone for 20 years after all!

In conclusion...

Homer's works provided the foundations of Greek education and culture. They still impact Western ideas today.

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Multiple Choice

Odysseus is also known as

• Troy

• Achilles

• Homer

• Ulysses

Multiple Choice

The hero Odysseus has a reputation of being brave and

• lazy

• clever

• quiet

• boring

Multiple Choice

Name this one eyed monster from The Odyssey.

• Siren

• Cyclops

• Man Eater

• Zeus

Multiple Choice

What is the sin of hubris?

• stealing from the gods

• bragging about yourself

• telling lies to the government

• being greedy with gold

Multiple Choice

How did SIRENS kill their victims?

• strangled sailors in their sleep

• sang love songs making sailors crash into the rocks

• drown sailors when they got close to the shore

Multiple Choice

How long did it take for Odysseus to get home from the Trojan War?

• 1 year

• 5 years

• 10 years

• 20 years

Multiple Choice

Why was Odysseus punished? He

• killed Achilles

• said he was as great as Poseidon

• climbed Mount Olympus

• kidnapped Helen from her husband