Homer: Homer By: Ann Dunn


Who Was Homer?: Who Was Homer?


“Facts” About Homer: “Facts” About Homer Legendary Greek poet Iliad and Odyssey are important pieces of literature Homer’s job was to transfer stories into writing


Rumors About Homer: Rumors About Homer Was he even a real person? Many Iliad and Odyssey theories Different authors Group of writers Where was Homer from? Reference in Odyssey?


Review of the Odyssey : Review of the Odyssey


Main Characters: Main Characters Odysseus Penelope Telemachus Athena Poseidon Suitors


Plot: Plot About Odysseus’ journey home from Trojan War Is an extensive story told when he is with Phaeacians Journey took him to “mysterious” lands (past Mediterranean Sea)


Homer’s View on Man: Homer’s View on Man


Role of Heroes : Role of Heroes Must have special qualities Prove yourself in battle (Only if human male) “Consider themselves a battleground of arbitrary forces and uncanny power” Usually related to gods


Role of Gods: Role of Gods All gods are to be respected Athena (female) is favorite daughter of Zeus Hespestus is favorite son of Zeus Ares is least liked son


Women’s Roles: Women’s Roles Meant for household chores Held to different standards than men Some women break stereotype Helen Nausicaa Penelope


Women’s Roles: Women’s Roles Meant for household chores Held to different standards than men Some women break stereotype Helen Nausicaa Penelope


Overview of the Iliad: Overview of the Iliad


Main Characters: Main Characters Hector Aphrodite Agamemnon Odysseus Helen Paris Menelaus Priam Achilles


Plot: Plot Mainly about Achilles wrath 10th year of war Achilles gets mad at Agamemnon Hector kills Patroklus Achilles kills Hector Trojan Horse Achilles and Paris die


Role of Fate: Role of Fate Prophecy of Paris Decided that Hector and Achilles would die Fate is unavoidable


Homer’s Writing Style: Homer’s Writing Style


Hexameter Verse: Hexameter Verse Mainly used Hexameter verse Is standard in Greek and Latin English uses iambic pentameter


Powers of a Narrator: Powers of a Narrator


Change of Scene: Change of Scene Unlike most stories, Homer’s characters decide scene Homer’s role is behind the scenes Uses character’s knowledge to explain events


Bird’s Eye View: Bird’s Eye View Gives reader ability to see a large group or event Power usually only given to narrator Always starts from general to specific


Privileged Knowledge of Events: Privileged Knowledge of Events Part function of bird’s eye view Cannot be known “strictly natural means” Homodiegetic Narrator Omniscient Narrator More detail than average person


Inner Vision: Inner Vision Same as gods (even more powerful) Clear mindedness Shallowest = overwhelming emotion Deeper = emotion that is hidden Deepest = characteristic the specific character can’t see


Foreknowledge: Foreknowledge Story future = narrator’s past “Plot of Predestination” Mystery and secrecy is key Homer hints ending and synopses story in prelude


Foreknowledge II: Foreknowledge II Ending not important – journey to endpoint is crucial Characters kept in ignorance Gods know fate of men Homer shares his knowledge Gods take characteristics of narrator (sometimes)


Three Parts to Homer: Three Parts to Homer


Reader: Reader Enjoys the story plot How Homer transports reader Pleasure of reading


Historic: Historic Greek culture Want to know date of original Homer epics Homer’s stories were based on actual events Mixing of time periods


Philologist : Philologist Oldest surviving writings Physical part of the books Writing and speech different Writing able to be preserved English and Greek language very different


Other Extra Pictures: Other Extra Pictures


Extra Gods Pictures: Extra Gods Pictures