Odyssey Unit TERMS

theme

Central idea of a work of literature

epithet

an adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing mentioned.

Homer

ancient Greek epic poet who is believed to have written the Iliad and the Odyssey (circa 850 BC)

epic plot/Action

involves a long journey full of complications, such as strange creatures, large- scale events, divine intervention, & treacherous weather.

Epic

long narrative poem

rhapsode

person who recited poetry or stories in ancient Greece

epic themes

reflect universal concerns including desire for home, hospitality, and revenge

The Call

the first stage of the Hero's journey where the hero faces separation from his/her known world

personification

the giving of human qualities to an animal, object, or idea

The Threshold

the second stage of the hero's journey called the "jumping off point" or no going back point

the challenges

the third stage of the hero's journey where he/she encounters many obstacles to overcome that become more difficult as the hero goes along.

foreshadowing

the use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in a plot

the transformation

this is the 5th stage of the hero's journey where the "old" way of thinking dies to make way for the "new."

the revelation

this is the 6th stage of the hero's journey where the hero experiences dramatic change in our thinking or views.

the Atonement

this is the 7th stage of the hero's journey where amends, reparation, or expiation made from wrong or injury.

The Return

this is the 8th stage of the hero's journey when he/she has successfully completed the challenges, the hero "returns" to his/her world.

epic setting

Includes fantastic or exotic lands; involves more than one nation

dramatic irony

Irony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.

archetype

A detail, image, or character type that occurs frequently in literature and myth and is thought to appeal in a universal way to the unconscious and to evoke a response

pun

A play on words

allusion

A reference to another work of literature, person, or event

flashback

A scene that interrupts the normal chronological sequence of events in a story to depict something that happened at an earlier time

Homeric Simile

A simile developed over several lines of verse, esp. one used in an epic poem.

epic hero

a brave and noble character in an epic poem, admired for great achievements or affected by grand events

in media res

a piece of writing that begins in the middle of the action

invocation

a prayer; a call (usually upon a higher power) for assistance, support, or inspiration