2. BeforeBefore The OdysseyThe Odyssey
• Laertes, King of IthacaLaertes, King of Ithaca
and a great fighter in hisand a great fighter in his
youth, marries Anticlea.youth, marries Anticlea.
• They purchase a slaveThey purchase a slave
woman, Eurycleiawoman, Eurycleia
• Laertes and AnticleaLaertes and Anticlea
have a son.have a son.
• He is named OdysseusHe is named Odysseus
by his grandfatherby his grandfather
Autoclycis, and lookedAutoclycis, and looked
after by Eurycleiaafter by Eurycleia
3. BeforeBefore The OdysseyThe Odyssey
• Odysseus is raised with his younger sisterOdysseus is raised with his younger sister
Ctimene and another family slave Eumaeus.Ctimene and another family slave Eumaeus.
• On a boar-hunt with Autoclycus’ sons, he isOn a boar-hunt with Autoclycus’ sons, he is
badly wounded in the thighbadly wounded in the thigh
• Odysseus loves hunting, especially with his dogOdysseus loves hunting, especially with his dog
Argus.Argus.
• When he is sent of a mission to Messene, heWhen he is sent of a mission to Messene, he
meets Iphitus, son of Eurytus, who gives him ameets Iphitus, son of Eurytus, who gives him a
special bow as a gift. Odysseus uses this inspecial bow as a gift. Odysseus uses this in
Ithaca but takes it nowhere else.Ithaca but takes it nowhere else.
4. BeforeBefore The OdysseyThe Odyssey
• Odysseus becomes the wise and gentleOdysseus becomes the wise and gentle
king of Ithaca and marries Penelope,king of Ithaca and marries Penelope,
daughter of Spartan King Icarius.daughter of Spartan King Icarius.
• He builds their bedroom and constructs aHe builds their bedroom and constructs a
bed around the base of an olive-tree.bed around the base of an olive-tree.
• Odysseus does not want to join the TrojanOdysseus does not want to join the Trojan
War, but he does so just after his sonWar, but he does so just after his son
Telemachus is born.Telemachus is born.
5. BeforeBefore The OdysseyThe Odyssey
• Odysseus and his wife Penelope had oneOdysseus and his wife Penelope had one
son, Telemachus, who was a toddler whenson, Telemachus, who was a toddler when
Odysseus was summoned to join theOdysseus was summoned to join the
kingskings
• Odysseus really didn’t want to go to warOdysseus really didn’t want to go to war
so when the other kings came for him, heso when the other kings came for him, he
pretended to be insane and not recognizepretended to be insane and not recognize
his visitors. He continued to plow hishis visitors. He continued to plow his
fields.fields.
6. BeforeBefore The OdysseyThe Odyssey
• Because OdysseusBecause Odysseus
ignored the other kings,ignored the other kings,
King Menelaus andKing Menelaus and
Agamenon threwAgamenon threw
Telemachus in front ofTelemachus in front of
the plow.the plow.
• Odysseus revealed hisOdysseus revealed his
sanity when he turned thesanity when he turned the
plow to avoid runningplow to avoid running
over his son.over his son.
7. BeforeBefore The OdysseyThe Odyssey
• As he leaves,As he leaves,
Odysseus tellsOdysseus tells
Penelope that if hePenelope that if he
does not return, shedoes not return, she
is to remarry whenis to remarry when
Telemachus comes ofTelemachus comes of
age.age.
• He leaves Laertes inHe leaves Laertes in
charge of the palacecharge of the palace
in Ithaca.in Ithaca.
8. The OdysseyThe Odyssey BackgroundBackground
• Because Odysseus is gone, his home is over-Because Odysseus is gone, his home is over-
run with over 100 suitors (men who want torun with over 100 suitors (men who want to
marry his wife).marry his wife).
• Penelope, his wife, and Telemachus, his 21-Penelope, his wife, and Telemachus, his 21-
year-old son, do not have the power to eject theyear-old son, do not have the power to eject the
suitors from their homesuitors from their home
• Telemachus, the heir to Odysseus, is constantlyTelemachus, the heir to Odysseus, is constantly
in danger.in danger.
• Due to his young age and lack of power, heDue to his young age and lack of power, he
cannot seek help from other Greeks; he cannotcannot seek help from other Greeks; he cannot
eject the suitors from his homeeject the suitors from his home
9. The Setting of IthacaThe Setting of Ithaca
• Odysseus, the king of the island IthacaOdysseus, the king of the island Ithaca
maintains control over Ithaca—even though hemaintains control over Ithaca—even though he
is away for 20 years (10 years at war, 10 yearsis away for 20 years (10 years at war, 10 years
wandering)—because of his skills which lead towandering)—because of his skills which lead to
his control.his control.
• The city of Ithaca was based on powerThe city of Ithaca was based on power
• Odysseus is a great warrior, an excellent sailor,Odysseus is a great warrior, an excellent sailor,
the best carpenter, the best hunter, the finestthe best carpenter, the best hunter, the finest
marksman, and the leading expert on caring formarksman, and the leading expert on caring for
farm animals. He is also extremely intelligent.farm animals. He is also extremely intelligent.
10. The Setting of IthacaThe Setting of Ithaca
• Ithaca has no coined money; wealth isIthaca has no coined money; wealth is
measured by livestock, household furnishings,measured by livestock, household furnishings,
servants, slaves, and treasure.servants, slaves, and treasure.
• Slavery is encouraged in Ithaca; having slaves isSlavery is encouraged in Ithaca; having slaves is
a symbol of power and wealtha symbol of power and wealth
• Piracy, war, raids on foreign cities, and thePiracy, war, raids on foreign cities, and the
capture of women are all accepted means ofcapture of women are all accepted means of
increasing wealthincreasing wealth
11. The OdysseyThe Odyssey BackgroundBackground
• In Ithaca, ifIn Ithaca, if
Telemachus tried toTelemachus tried to
assume his father’sassume his father’s
throne, he wouldthrone, he would
likely be overthrownlikely be overthrown
and killedand killed
• If Penelope does notIf Penelope does not
soon choose a suitor,soon choose a suitor,
a civil war may begina civil war may begin
on Ithaca.on Ithaca.
12. The OdysseyThe Odyssey BackgroundBackground
• If Penelope doesIf Penelope does
choose a suitor,choose a suitor,
Telemachus’s life is inTelemachus’s life is in
danger unless he isdanger unless he is
willing to give up hiswilling to give up his
claim to the throneclaim to the throne
• Penelope may havePenelope may have
to choose a suitor toto choose a suitor to
save her family’s lifesave her family’s life
and Ithacaand Ithaca
13. Odysseus’s Journey HomeOdysseus’s Journey Home
• (will be reveled in detail in(will be reveled in detail in TheThe Odyssey in flash-Odyssey in flash-
back)back)
• ForFor 3 years3 years Odysseus is blown around theOdysseus is blown around the
Mediterranean, experiencing adventures with theMediterranean, experiencing adventures with the
Cicones, the Lotus Eaters, the CylopsCicones, the Lotus Eaters, the Cylops
Polyphemus; Aeolus, the wind-god, giantPolyphemus; Aeolus, the wind-god, giant
cannibals; the witch Circe; the underworld; thecannibals; the witch Circe; the underworld; the
Sirens; more monsters;Sirens; more monsters;
• Eventually he is swept ashore to the island ofEventually he is swept ashore to the island of
Calypso where he spendsCalypso where he spends 7 years7 years. (It is at this. (It is at this
point where we first meet Odysseus.)point where we first meet Odysseus.)
14. Themes inThemes in The OdysseyThe Odyssey
• The danger of hubrisThe danger of hubris : hubris is excessive: hubris is excessive
pride that leads to destruction. Odysseus ispride that leads to destruction. Odysseus is
often guilty of hubris and Athena must rescueoften guilty of hubris and Athena must rescue
himhim
• The importance of moderationThe importance of moderation : Giving in to: Giving in to
excess or temptation, whether food, drink, orexcess or temptation, whether food, drink, or
other pleasures, will cause a person harm. Theother pleasures, will cause a person harm. The
Sirens’ song leads to destruction and the suitors’Sirens’ song leads to destruction and the suitors’
desires lead to their destruction.desires lead to their destruction.
15. Themes inThemes in The OdysseyThe Odyssey
• The expected rolesThe expected roles
for women and menfor women and men
in Greek societyin Greek society : Men: Men
are almost alwaysare almost always
superior to women,superior to women,
except in Sparta whereexcept in Sparta where
women have more rights.women have more rights.
• The role of fateThe role of fate::
Characters receive hintsCharacters receive hints
as to their fate; however,as to their fate; however,
some choose to ignoresome choose to ignore
the foreshadowingthe foreshadowing
16. Themes inThemes in The OdysseyThe Odyssey
• The similarities between Greek gods andThe similarities between Greek gods and
mortalsmortals: The gods have many of the same: The gods have many of the same
negative traits as humans and often causenegative traits as humans and often cause
destruction.destruction.
• Gods may choose to save one person and manyGods may choose to save one person and many
others will die as a result.others will die as a result.
• The gods are given credit for all that is good,The gods are given credit for all that is good,
they are sometimes blamed for bringingthey are sometimes blamed for bringing
destruction to mortals.destruction to mortals.
• Why do you think their gods are so similar toWhy do you think their gods are so similar to
humans?humans?
17. Themes inThemes in The OdysseyThe Odyssey
• LoyaltyLoyalty: Penelope is: Penelope is
expected to wait forexpected to wait for
Odysseus, gone for moreOdysseus, gone for more
than 20 years.than 20 years.
• Telemachus must standTelemachus must stand
for his father, who hefor his father, who he
does not even remember,does not even remember,
against the suitors.against the suitors.
• However, there areHowever, there are
characters who do notcharacters who do not
remain loyal to Odysseusremain loyal to Odysseus
and their fate is not good.and their fate is not good.
18. Themes inThemes in The OdysseyThe Odyssey
• PerseverancePerseverance: work: work
to survive in anyto survive in any
situationsituation
• VengeanceVengeance: It is: It is
acceptable to hurt oracceptable to hurt or
kill those who arekill those who are
disloyal. The end ofdisloyal. The end of
the epic shows whatthe epic shows what
happens to those whohappens to those who
defy Odysseusdefy Odysseus
19. Themes inThemes in The OdysseyThe Odyssey
• Appearance vs.Appearance vs.
RealityReality: Athena takes on: Athena takes on
many different characters’many different characters’
identities and evenidentities and even
animals’ when helpinganimals’ when helping
Telemachus orTelemachus or
Odysseus.Odysseus.
• Athena can even changeAthena can even change
others’ appearances forothers’ appearances for
reasons such as checkingreasons such as checking
on someone’s loyalty oron someone’s loyalty or
making a goodmaking a good
impression on a king.impression on a king.
20. Themes inThemes in The OdysseyThe Odyssey
• Spiritual GrowthSpiritual Growth ::
Telemachus andTelemachus and
Odysseus bothOdysseus both
experience strugglesexperience struggles
which cause them towhich cause them to
mature spiritually bymature spiritually by
the end of the epic.the end of the epic.
