Introducing the Story

Literary Focus: Heroes at Large

Reading Skills: Monitor Your Comprehension

from the Odyssey, Part Oneby Homer

translated by Robert Fitzgerald

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from the Odyssey, Part Oneby Homer

translated by Robert Fitzgerald

from the Odyssey, Part OneIntroducing the Story

The ordinary man is involved in action, the hero acts. An immense difference.

—Henry Miller, 1951

When we first meet Odysseus, he is unhappily—and forcibly—living with Calypso on her island. Although Calypso is a beautiful goddess, Odysseus longs to return to his wife, Penelope.

• Athena sends Hermes to set Odysseus free, and the adventure begins. What does the angry Poseidon have in store for our hero?

from the Odyssey, Part OneIntroducing the Story

Stories of Troy have fascinated people throughout the ages. These stories are often a mix of myth and historical reality.

Archaeologist finds “Priam’s gold.” Is the hill excavated by Heinrich Schliemann in the 1800s really Troy?

Click here to find out.

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from the Odyssey, Part OneIntroducing the Story

from the Odyssey, Part OneLiterary Focus: Heroes at Large

We find heroes to admire

• in books and movies

• on TV shows

• in the news

• in our own lives

from the Odyssey, Part OneLiterary Focus: Heroes at Large

Heroes—real or fictional—often set out on a journey that we’re all on: the quest to discover who we are and what we can do.

• Whether heroes succeed or fail on their journeys, they do it on a grand scale.

• Their adventures can give us fresh perspectives on our own lives.

During their quests, heroic characters

from the Odyssey, Part OneLiterary Focus: Heroes at Large

• face external conflicts—struggles with other characters or with the forces of nature

• encounter challenges and dangers

The hero’s external conflicts are often with subordinate characters—characters who play a secondary role in the story.

As you read these excerpts from the Odyssey, think about

• what conflicts Odysseus faces

from the Odyssey, Part OneLiterary Focus: Heroes at Large

• how he overcomes his conflicts

• what decisions and actions make him a hero

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To enjoy an adventure story like the Odyssey, you’ll have to make sure you understand what you are reading. As you read, ask yourself

from the Odyssey, Part OneReading Skills: Monitor Your Comprehension

• what has happened so far?

• why did it happen?

• what are the important events in this episode?

• when do the events take place?

As you read the Odyssey, also ask

• what might happen next?

from the Odyssey, Part OneReading Skills: Monitor Your Comprehension

• can I visualize what is being described?

• what is my evaluation of the characters’ decisions and actions?

• what connections can I make between what I’ve read and my own life?

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