the odessey - notes/pt 1 Flashcards
what is an epic?
a long narrative poem that tells of the adventures of heroes who embody the values of their civilization.
what is the foreshadowing of the epic?
athena’s encouragement to challenge telemachus in traveling to sparta
what is the suspense buildup in the epic?
telemachus returns to ithica
what is the climax in the epic?
odysseus kills king antinous
how are epics usually told?
told in rhythm or meter
what is a hero?
a special class of aristocrats somewhere between the gods and the humans
characteristics of a hero?
courageous and strong
what is an invocation?
a type of prayer specifically to call upon a higher power for a blessing, guidance, or presence
what is the oddesey about?
odysseus’ journey back to his home, Ithica, after the Trojan war.
who is odysseus?
a greek hero
where is odysseus’ home?
Ithica
where is odysseus on the beginning of the epic?
he is on an island.
who is odysseus’ wife and son?
penelope and telemachus
what advice does athena give telemachus?
he should kick out the suitors and get in a ship, to visit king nester
how does penelope trick the suitors?
she weaves a burial shroud and unweaves it the next day, and keeps doing it over and over
what does king nestor tell telemachus about the news he has heard?
he hasn’t heard from odysseus since he left
what happened when odysseus didnt make the appropriate sacrifice to the gods?
they marooned him
what is the plot of the suitors while telemachus is absent from ithica?
they plan to kill telemachus when he comes back
who is sent to free odysseus from calypso?
hermes
