The Odyssey Intro notes Flashcards
(17 cards)
What is Hubris?
Hubris is excessive pride or arrogance. hubris is not valued by the Greeks and it leads to punishment .
What happens when characters go against the rules of gods and goddesses?
It angers the gods and goddesses and the character going against the rules will be punished.
What is prophesy?
Fate or destiny
What happens when characters don’t like their prophesy?
They try to do things to change it, but it usually fails.
What is the relationship between a guest and a hostess like?
Its sacred and important.
What is the role of the hostess?
To provide protection and hospitality
What is the role of the guest?
To be a good guest, give a gift to the hostess, but not taking advantage of the hostess.
What happens to bad guests or hostesses?
They are punished
How does one show respect to the gods?
Praying, building temples and shrines, and sacrificing things to them.
What happens if you don’t respect the gods?
You will get punished
How do they respect the dead?
With a proper funeral and certain rites preformed.
What would happen if there was failure to respect the dead bodies?
The soul would be stranded on the wrong side of the river Styx in the underworld.
What is an epic?
A long narrative poem about deeds of gods and heroes who embody values of the culture of which they are a part.
What is an epic hero?
The central hero of an epic. The epic hero has larger than life powers. They are not perfect. They always have courage, a fighting spirit that endears them both to the reader and gods.
What is an epithet?
A brief Character description. Stress quality. Often, there are several given for one character.
What does “in media res” mean?
“In the midst of things”
Epics usually start in the middle of the story, with background information being provided by flashbacks.
What is an epic simile?
Similes developed over several lines, uses descriptions that Homer’s contemporaries would have been familiar with to illuminate and aspect of the plot.
