Lesson Aim:How can a concise understanding of both an epic poem and the Iliad enhance our reading of the Odyssey?
Do Now: Think/pair/share
For the following quotation:
"The ordinary man is involved in action, the hero acts. An immense difference."
- Henry Miller
Interpret it in your own words
I think this statement means that ordinary people just follow what they are told. They won’t act on their own, and don’t act because they truly want to, but rather because they are told to. However, a hero will take action, and try to change the problems happening. They truly care, and want to help solve whatever is wrong. They are leaders.
Then Agree or disagree with the sentiment being expressed and explain why or why not.
I agree with the sentiment. Heroes are the ones who have enough courage, and care enough about the people to actually take action. Most regular people either just sit and watch, or only join in after the hero has already started.
Story: The Golden Apple of Discord
Video-The Trojan War : Part One : The Apple of Discord [6:37]
How do the gods and goddesses in the story display human qualities?
The gods and goddesses in the story display human qualities because like humans, they are very competitive and get jealous. They are also petty, vain, and quite manipulative. The goddesses were trying to bribe Paris to pick them for the most beautiful goddess. They didn’t actually care who should be the winner, they just wanted to win for the sake of winning.
What is the role of prophecy and fate in “The Golden Apple of Discord” ?
The role of prophecy and fate in“The Golden Apple of Discord” is: it is the whole reason that the Trojan war happened. Because they heard a prophecy, Paris’ parents sent him away. He survived, and ended growing up as a shepherd. Due to his actions, he was chosen to be the judge of which goddess is most beautiful. He chose Aphrodite, and in turn, Aphrodite made Helen of Troy fall in love with Paris. That caused Helen to leave her husband, causing the Trojan war. Basically, you can’t escape your fate.
How does xenia play a role in King Menelaus’ treatment of Paris?
Xenia plays a role in King Menelaus’ treatment of Paris because it caused him to be nice and friendly towards Paris. Had he known Paris’ intentions for coming, the King would have definitely not been kind to Paris.
How is this ironic?
This is ironic because the King was treating Paris well, but Paris did not reciprocate the action at all. The King gave Paris food, shelter, etc. Paris ended up stealing the King’s wife.
Xenia
Xenia is the ancient Greek concept of hospitality, the generosity and courtesy shown to those who are far from home and/or associates of the person bestowing guest-friendship. The rituals of hospitality created and expressed a reciprocal relationship between guest and host.
The Greek god Zeus is sometimes called Zeus Xenios in his role as a protector of guests. He thus embodied the religious obligation to be hospital to travelers.
Many stories cautioned mortals that any guest should be treated as a potentially disguised god or goddess and helped to establish the idea of xenia as a fundamental Greek custom.
Video- What is XENIA? Greek Myth Comix explaining Homeric literature [4:41]
The Trojan War
Spartan King Menelaus’ wife Helen (the face that launched a thousand ships) left him for the young Prince Paris of Troy.
Paris, Prince of Troy, had sailed to Sparta to seize Helen
King Menelaus of Sparta treats him as an honored guest (xenia)
Aphrodite is true to her word and makes Helen fall in love with Paris. Paris takes Helen and they sneak off in a ship together to head back to Troy
Because all of Helen’s suitors took an oath, they are now obligated to help Menelaus go to Troy to take her back (they swore to respect and protect her marriage regardless of who was chosen as the husband)
The Greeks attack Troy
Odysseus in the Trojan War
Odysseus (main character in the Odyssey) was one of the heroes of the Trojan War
Odysseus knew from a prophecy that if he went to Troy it would take him a very long time to return home, but as one of Helen’s previous suitors he had sworn an oath to protect her
Known not only for his strength but also for his cunning (he is a trickster)
It was Odysseus’ idea to construct the Trojan horse and try to break the 10 year stalemate of the war
He helped to lead the Greeks to victory
Wife: Penelope
Son: Telemachus
Great soldier of the war
Originally tried to get out of going to the war—pretended he was crazy
Came up with the strategy of using the Trojan Horse which would successfully lead to Troy’s collapse.
The Odyssey is the account of Odysseus’ journey home after the war.
Another hero that you may have heard of, Achilles, died in the final year of the war.
Greek forces were victorious
Trojan Horse:
Greeks constructed a giant wooden statue of a horse (a symbol of Troy) which they present to the city as a “gift”
Take their ships a mile away to look as though they had given up
BUT there are Greek soldiers hiding in the horse
Once inside the city, the wreak havoc by destroying the temples, slaughtering children, and enslaving the women
Troy is utterly destroyed.
Thanks to Odysseus the Greeks are victorious in the war
Importance of Homer’s Epics
The Iliad and the Odyssey were used in schools to teach Greek virtues.
-Values: honor, bravery, hospitality—"xenia", intelligence, respect for the gods, loyalty to home and family
-Major faults: disrespect for the gods, lack of hospitality, excessive pride—"hubris"
-Iliad is the primary model for epic of war
-Odyssey is the primary model for epic of the long journey
What IS this story—Odyssey?
Sequel to the Iliad (900 and 700 BC)
The Iliad focuses on the days toward the end of the
Trojan War (mid 1200s BC)
The Odyssey focuses on one of the soldiers who fought in the Trojan War returning home 19 years after the war—Odysseus
The Iliad and the Odyssey together were considered
sacred to the Greeks—much like the Bible to many
people today.
Neither books were originally written down. Both were originally recited orally.
Three Major Plot Strands
Story in Ithaca about Odysseus’ wife and son as they await his return (called the Telemachy)
Tale of Odysseus’ wanderings during the ten years following the Trojan War
Deals with the adventures he has to overcome as he tries to make his way home to Ithaca, Penelope, and Telemachus, whom he has not seen since Telemachus was just born.
He leaves Troy with 12 ships and approximately 720 men.
He does not encounter military opponents, but monsters and enchanting women who try to keep him from his wife.
Merging of the strands when Odysseus returns to Ithaca and joins forces with his son, Telemachus, to destroy their enemies
The first lines of an ancient epic poem typically offer a “capsule summary” (a shortened version of a written work) of the subject of the poem.
Extra Enrichment videos:
Eris: The Goddess of Discord and Strife - Mythology Dictionary #05 - See U in History (Fixed) [2:28]
How and why the Trojan war started [3:22]
Zeus and the Myth of Hospitality (Philemon and Baucis) Greek Mythology Ep. See U in History [3:54]
Reflection
Overall, this lesson was an overview on the Trojan war, and the Odyssey. I found the story of Paris interesting. It shows that you can’t escape your fate. Paris’ parents got rid of him because they were scared of a prophecy. However, the prophecy still came true. Also, it was interesting that the gods and goddesses were depicted to have human qualities. Normally, people think of their god(s) as an amazing person, who does no wrong. However, in Greek mythology, the gods did plenty of bad things. They were manipulative, petty, chaotic, and a lot more. Additionally, you can see the difference in how the ancient Greeks lived, vs. now. The ancient Greeks believed in xenia, because they were scared to accidentally be rude to a god. They accepted guests, and treated them kindly without question. Nowadays, that definitely doesn’t happen. People can use these ancient stories and traditions to get a better understanding of what life was like back then, and why.
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