Big Idea Overview and Resources

Part 1: Journeys
Part 2: Courage and Cleverness

Part 1: Journeys

Overview

In the following selections in Part 1, Homer sings about the epic hero Odysseus, and his encounters with monsters, powerful witches, and fierce enemies from foreign lands. Odysseus relies on his intelligence to escape dire situations before turning to brute force, and his extraordinary courage and determination distinguish him from other men.

The following selection, the story of Odysseus's perilous journey, is an example of an epic poem. An epic is a long narrative poem that recounts the exploits of a courageous hero. Epics were narrated orally during ancient times and were often accompanied by music. The language of epic poetry is formal and lofty, and the descriptions of various heroes and events are captured in lengthy similes. Homer, considered the most famous Greek epic poet, begins his narration in media res, or in the middle of action—a trait of epic poems. These epics continue to appeal to readers today because they celebrate the triumph of the human spirit.

Web Resources

The Homer Homepage
http://www.gpc.edu/~shale/humanities/literature/world_literature/homer.html
This site contains an extensive list of annotated links to resources on the Odyssey and Homer.

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Part 2: Courage and Cleverness

Overview

Cultures from around the world celebrate the cleverness of characters in their myths, folktales, and stories. The stories in Part 2 feature characters whose cleverness helps them overcome challenges and triumph over foes. Often, these stories, passed down through countless generations, have become classic myths and legends.

Ancient legends and heroes are continually reincarnated in contemporary novels, movies, and short stories. The fight between good and evil, the determination to prove one's courage, the need to find love and grieve its loss—these are situations that people have encountered and will continue to encounter until the end of time. Ideas, characters, stories, or images that are common to human experience across cultures are called archetypes.

Web Resources

Myths and Archetypes
http://www.pbs.org/mythsandheroes/myths_archetypes.html
This site provides a detailed explanation of archetypes and includes descriptions of heroes from different cultures.

In Search of Myths and Heroes
http://www.pbs.org/mythsandheroes/myths.html
This site contains an explanation of four myths that inspired the PBS special “In Search of Myths and Heroes,” as well as video segments.

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