English - The Odyssey

Front 1

What were myths primitive forms of?

Back 1

Because people couldn't understand that nature was unpredictable, they used myths to explain nature, and they became primitive forms of history, science, and religion.

Front 2

What were the gods, and how did they act?

Back 2

there were many gods, each with his/her own specific powers and spheres of influence because of the many varied experiences of life and the natural world. these gods often disagreed with each-other. they shared some of the same values, motivations, nobilities, and weaknesses as humans.

Front 3

What are the differences between ancient greek gods and societies idea of god today?

Back 3

god today has good morals, and has the best for humans in mind. gods of ancient greece had no morals and acted foolishly/childish.
Western = Moral, benevolent, just
Ancient = petty, jealous, vengeful

Front 4

what did myths often focus on?

Back 4

they often focused on the relationship between humans and the unknown or spiritual realm

Front 5

what is an epic?

Back 5

a long narrative poem that tells the adventures of a hero who embodies the values of his particular civilization

Front 6

what was the iliad?

Back 6

the iliad was the story of the ten-year war between the trojans and the greeks

Front 7

what is the odyssey?

Back 7

the story of odysseus's attempt to return home after the Trojan war

Front 8

who was homer

Back 8

the guy that wrote the odyssey. he was probably a bard a minstrel called a rhapsode - literally meaning "singer of tales" they were historians/entertainers/myth-makers

Front 9

what is a homeric/heroic simile?

Back 9

similes that compare heroic events to simple events that the audience would easily understand

Front 10

what was a hero typically like?

Back 10

they were in a special class of aristocrats (highest social class) and placed above regular humans, but below gods.

Front 11

what is a patron?

Back 11

a god or goddess that assists the hero

Front 12

who is odysseus's patron

Back 12

athena

Front 13

what is an alter ago?

Back 13

a spiritual or psychological reflection of a hero's best or worst quality

Front 14

who are odysseus's positive and negative alter egos?

Back 14

athena = positive
poseidon = negative

Front 15

what are other words for greeks?

Back 15

acheans, argives

Front 16

what is a myth?

Back 16

stories that use fantasy to express ideas about life that cannot be expressed realistically

Front 17

when does the odyssey begin

Back 17

the 20th year since odysseus left home

Front 18

antinous

Back 18

head suitor, most arrogant and obnoxious

Front 19

eumaeus

Back 19

swineherd, one of the few loyal servants

Front 20

Eurycleia

Back 20

Odysseus's old nanny/nurse

Front 21

laertes

Back 21

odysseus's old father who lives out in the country

Front 22

penelope

Back 22

odysseus's wife

Front 23

philoeteus

Back 23

the cowherd, one of the few other lowal servants

Front 24

helen

Back 24

kind menelaus's wife - was responsible for the Trojan war

Front 25

menelaus

Back 25

king of sparta, brother of agememnon (who was the most powerful of all the greek kings)

Front 26

nestpr

Back 26

wise king of pylos

Front 27

aeaea

Back 27

home of circe

Front 28

circe

Back 28

witch goddess who has the power to turn men into animals

Front 29

alcinious

Back 29

kind of phaeacia, father of nausicaa

Front 30

calypso

Back 30

goddess who lives on ogygia - she falls in love with odysseus and keeps him captive for seven years

Front 31

charybdis

Back 31

female monster who creates deadly whirlpools three times a day

Front 32

cyclops

Back 32

a race of brutish, one-eyed giants who live solitary lives as shepherds

Front 33

erebus

Back 33

the land of the dead

Front 34

nausicaa

Back 34

young princess of phaecia - daughter of alcinious

Front 35

ogygia

Back 35

calypso's island home

Front 36

phaecia

Back 36

kingdom - the phaecians are excellent sailors and boat-makers

Front 37

polyphemus

Back 37

son of poseidon - blinded by odysseus

Front 38

scylla

Back 38

6 headed female monster who eats people

Front 39

sirens

Back 39

sea nymphs whose beautiful music lures sailors onto rocks.

Front 40

teiresis

Back 40

famous blind prophet who meets odysseus in the land of the dead

Front 41

athena

Back 41

favorite daughter of zeus - goddess of wisdom and war/peace, she favors greece in the trojan war and is odysseus's patron and alter ego

Front 42

hermes

Back 42

the messenger god

Front 43

mount olympus

Back 43

mountain home of the gods

Front 44

hades

Back 44

god of the underworld - brother of zeus and poseidon

Front 45

poseidon

Back 45

brother of zeus and hades, god of the sea and earth - enemy of odysseus

Front 46

zeus

Back 46

the most powerful god, who's home is olympus

Front 47

helios

Back 47

the sun god