Name:____________________
Mallory
The Odyssey
Book 9: Epic Introduction
When we first meet Odysseus, he is actually very near the end of his journey home. He has
washed up on the island of Scheria, home to the Phaeacians. There he receives a warm welcome
from King Alcinous and his queen, who agree to help Odysseus on the final leg of his journey.
But first, they wish to hear of his exploits over the last 10 years. We begin his adventure here.
I am Laertes’ son, Odysseus.
Men hold me
formidable for guile in peace and war:
my fame has gone abroad to the sky’s rim.
My home is on the peaked seamark of Ithaca
under Mount Neion’s windblown robe of leaves,
in sight of other islands—Doulikhion,
Same, wooded Zakynthos—Ithaca
being most lofty in that coastal sea,
and northwest, while the rest lie east and south.
A rocky isle, but good for a boy’s training;
I shall not see on earth a place more dear,
though I have been detained long by Calypso,
loveliest among goddesses, who held me
in her smooth caves, to be her heart’s delight,
as Circe of Aeaea, the enchantress,
desired me, and detained me in her hall.
But in my heart I never gave consent.
Where shall a man find sweetness to surpass
his own home and his parents? In far lands
he shall not, though he find a house of gold.
Odysseus begins his tale by introducing himself to the Phaeacian court. He states his lineage, his
reputation, his origins, and his accomplishments. Do not confuse Odysseus' pride in himself to
his Phaeacian hosts with vanity; one's name and reputation are crucial in the Homeric world.
When Odysseus states that his "fame has reached the skies,” he is merely stating a fact.
Reputation is of paramount importance in this culture.
Who are you? Who are your people? Where are they from? What great things have you
achieved? Using Odysseus’s introduction as a model, write an introduction about yourself to
your classmates. Be sure to include the following elements:
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Your parents’ names (dad, mom, or both)
What people say about you – or what you wish they would say
Describe where you are from
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Accomplishments/Challenges you have overcome
What you hold most dear to your heart
20 lines minimum
Your introduction must be typed or NEATLY handwritten. The paper must be clean and wrinkle
free (no fringe on notebook paper). You will recite your introduction to your classmates
beginning on Monday. We will do a few each day until everyone has introduced himself or
herself.
Below is my own Homeric Introduction. Use it and Odysseus’ as models for your own.
I am Ryan, son of Rick.
Descended of the great kings of old.
Clansman to Sir Thomas and George,
champions of learning and adventure.
From the Emerald City to the Scenic City,
from the Evergreen State to the Volunteer State,
tales of my courage and loyalty spread far and wide.
Born in the inlet of Seattle
under the mists of Poseidon,
protected by the towering evergreen giants of Pan,
I came of age in that magical place
where the forest meets the sea.
Armed with a Kindle and a Kuerig,
across the land I have traveled
vanquishing ignorance and imparting wisdom.
Instructing the minds of tomorrow
is the cause to which I have given my life.
Watching young minds grow wise
is my eternal reward.
Of the road I have grown weary,
and now I long to build a citadel of my own.
A mountaintop place for family and friends,
to be surrounded by loved ones and grow old.
To watch the young ascend the throne of tomorrow,
and the sun set in the west.