The Odyssey Review Flashcards
(21 cards)
very long poem, details a hero’s journey
an epic
characteristics of an epic hero
superhuman strength, confidence, helped/harmed by gods/fate, overcomes dangerous situations, has valued qualities
long, strange journey filled with complications: strange creatures, bad weather, divine intervention, large-scale events, etc.
epic plot
What does an epic theme reflect?
universal concerns - courage, loyalty, beauty, fate, life & death, etc.
allusion
a reference to another character/text
epithet
an adjective/descriptive phrase of a characteristic
a detailed, complex simile over a span of multiple lines
epic simile
an elaborate comparison between heroic/exceptional events in epic poetry and everyday occurences
Homeric simile
characters/situations recognizable across times and cultures (ex. Brave Hero, Sea Monster, Evil Temptress)
archetypes
What is Xenia?
the ancient code of hospitality
What is significant about the fact that we can read the Odyssey?
It was composed before the Greek Alphabet existed.
How many lines does the Odyssey contain?
12,000
What does the word “rhapsode” mean?
“stitching together”
Who is the author of the Odyssey, and what is interesting about them?
Homer; no one knows if he was a real person/actually wrote the Odyssey
What did rhapsodes use to aid them in memorizing and reciting their poems live?
A steady meter, mnemonic devices, and repetition
What is the prequel to the Odyssey? What story does it tell?
The Iliad, which tells the story of the Trojan War
What is the major theme connecting both the Odyssey and the Iliad?
Don’t incur the wrath of the gods
What is the cause of many humans’ problems in these poems?
Hubris - excessive pride and believing themselves superior to the gods
Why would ancient Greeks welcome strangers into their homes?
To please them, lest they be gods, under Xenia (the ancient code of hospitality)
What role does Xenia play in the Odyssey?
Odysseus is always the receiver of it, while his wife Penelope always provides it
Where does the narrative begin? What does this literary term mean?
Mediaress - term for beginning a story right in the action
