Lesson: The Odyssey for Boys and Girls - The Cyclops
Practice Set: The Epic Cycle: The Relationship Between The Illiad and The Odyssey
The Epic Cycle: The Relationship Between the Iliad and the
Odyssey
Written by Krista Garver
The Iliad and the Odyssey are epic poems written by Homer sometime around 800 B.C.E. They are the earliest surviving examples of
Western literature. The poems are similar and they are related, but the relationship between them is not clear-cut.
The Iliad and the Odyssey are the
earliest works of Western literature.
The Odyssey is often thought of as a sequel to the Iliad. The Trojan War is the central event in both poems. The Iliad is the story of a
period during the war itself, and the Odyssey is the story of Odysseus’s (also called Ulysses) ten-year journey home after the war ended.
But the classification of the Odyssey as a sequel is not entirely accurate.
The relationship between the two poems is complex for two main reasons. First, we don’t know exactly
when they were written. It is likely that the Iliad was written before the Odyssey, because the Odyssey refers
to events that happened in the Iliad. You don’t have to read the Iliad first to understand the Odyssey, but it
helps to know something about the Trojan War.
The Odyssey tells the story
of Odysseus’s journey
home from the war. He had
many adventures and
encountered many mythical
creatures. Odysseus blinds
Polyphemus the cyclops in
this picture.
Second, we originally didn't think that the Trojan War actually happened. For a long time, the Trojan War was thought to be a myth, but
archaeological evidence proves that a city existed in modern day Turkey exactly where Troy was thought to stand. Most historians and
archaeologists have taken this to be proof that the city of Troy existed and was indeed fought there.
Many people think the Trojan War happened sometime between 1200 and 1000 B.C.E. Of course, just because Troy existed doesn’t
mean that there was a war like the one described in the Iliad. But most scholars now think the poem was based, at least in part, on real
events. In contrast, the Odyssey is purely fictional. Some credit it with being the first fantasy novel.
The best way to understand the two poems is to consider them in a larger context. A
collection of epic poems were written about the Trojan War, including The Cypria, which was
about the events leading up to the war, and The Iliupersis, which chronicled the fall of Troy.
There were other poems as well. The Iliad and The Odyssey fit into this collection, called the
Epic Cycle, or the Trojan Cycle. There was even a sequel to The Odyssey, a poem called The
Telegony. This poem was not written by Homer, but it is the story of Telemachus, the son of
Odysseus. As a group, these poems tell many stories of the war, probably in a combination of
fact and myth. Unfortunately, many pieces of this cycle have been lost or exist only in
fragments.
Question 1:
How do the Iliad and the Odyssey fit into the Trojan Cycle?
Both texts are a part of collection of poems written by Homer.
Both texts contain factual information about existence of the city of Troy.
Both texts are mythical poems about Odysseus and his many adventures.
Both texts contain information regarding the Trojan War.
On the suggstion of Odysseus, the
Greeks used a wooden horse with
soldiers hidden inside, known as the
"Trojan Horse," in order to gain access
into the city of Troy.
Question 2:
This article mainly explains
that Odysseus fought in the Iliad and the Odyssey in the city of Troy
the reason the Iliad and the Odyssey were written by Homer
the connection between the epic poems in the Epic Cycle
why you should read the Iliad and the Odyssey
Question 3:
How does the author prove that the city of Troy existed?
The author states that all the epic poems in the epic cycle were written accounts of actual
events that occurred in the city of Troy.
The author states that the Odyssey was written as proof of the existence of the city of Troy.
The author states that the Iliad was written as proof of the existence of the city of Troy.
The author states that archaeological evidence was found to support the existence of the city of
Troy.
Question 4:
The epic poems in the Epic Cycle are also referred to as stories. Using this information and information from the article, what
is the meaning of the word epic?
a combination of fact and myth
a collection of texts for storytelling
a long poem that tells of heroic deeds
all of the above
Question 5:
Read the following passage.
The best way to understand the two poems is to consider them in a larger context. A collection of epic poems were written
about the Trojan War, including the Cypria, which was about the events leading up to the war, and the Iliupersis, which
chronicled the fall of Troy. There were other poems as well. The Iliad and the Odyssey fit into this collection, called the Epic
Cycle or the Trojan Cycle. There was even a sequel to the Odyssey, a poem called the Telegony. This poem was not written
by Homer, but it is the story of Telemachus, the son of Odysseus. As a group, these poems tell many stories of the war,
probably in a combination of fact and myth. Unfortunately, many pieces of this cycle have been lost or exist only in
fragments.
What is the point of this passage?
to support the claim that the Iliad and the Odyssey are fantasy epic poems
to introduce the claim that the Iliad and the Odyssey are the best epic poems in the Epic Cycle
to discuss how the Iliad and the Odyssey connect with the other epic poems in the Epic Cycle
to disprove that the Iliad and the Odyssey are a part of the Epic Cycle
Question 6:
Why did the author write this text?
to explain the importance of reading the Iliad before reading the Odyssey
to persuade the reader to read the Iliad and the Odyssey back to back
to convince the reader that the Iliad and the Odyssey are the best epic poems ever written
to inform the reader about the relationship between the Iliad and the Odyssey
Question 7:
Homer mentions that the Greek army spent ten years camped on a great plain in front of Troy. Using the map below, why is
the suspected location of Troy a reasonable guess for the site of the ancient city?
A topographical map of the area around Troy, showing the location of
mountains (brown lines) and rivers.
The estimated location of Troy is on the sea.
The estimated location of Troy is on a flat area of land.
The estimated location of Troy is set high on a hill.
The estimated location of Troy is in a very rocky and mountainous region.
none of the above
Question 8:
What point supports the idea that the Odyssey is the sequel to the Iliad?
The Odyssey refers to events that happened in the Iliad.
The Odyssey is purely fictional. Some credit it with being the first fantasy novel.
The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus’s ten-year journey home after the war ended.
You don’t have to read the Iliad first to understand the Odyssey.
Question 9:
Read the passage below from a different article about the Iliad and the Odyssey.
Invocation of the Muses
The opening lines of Greek and Roman epic poems begin with an appeal to the Muses, or the goddesses of creativity and
artistry, to tell the story. The idea was that by calling on the Muses to help tell the story, the poem might be made even better
by their divine aid. The opening lines also set up the theme or the plot of the poem. Reading only the first line can tell you the
mood, theme, and plot, or other important information about the poem. The Iliad and the Odyssey contain some of the most
famous opening lines in literature, and the astonishing thing about them is how different they are.
The Iliad begins,
“Sing, Muse, of the wrath of Pelleus’s son Achilles,
and its devastation, which cost the Greeks countless losses,
hurled down to the House of the Dead many heroic souls…”
While the Odyssey begins with:
“Sing, Muse, of the cunning hero,
The wanderer, blown off course time and again
After he plundered Troy's sacred heights.”
What can you infer about the two poems based on this article?
The two poems are actually both songs.
The two poems have very different themes.
The two poems were written by different people.
The two poems are set in different locations.
Question 10:
Read the passage below from a different article about the Iliad and the Odyssey.
Invocation of the Muses
The opening lines of Greek and Roman epic poems begins with an appeal to the Muses, or the goddesses of creativity
and artistry, to tell the story. The idea was that by calling on the Muses to help tell the story, the poem might be made even
better by their divine aid. The opening lines also set up the theme or the plot of the poem. Reading only the first line can tell
you the mood, theme, and plot, or other important information about the poem. The Iliad and the Odyssey contain some of
the most famous opening lines in literature, and the astonishing thing about them is how different they are.
The Iliad begins,
“Sing, Muse, of the wrath of Pelleus’s son Achilles,
and its devastation, which cost the Greeks countless losses,
hurled down to the House of the Dead many heroic souls…”
While the Odyssey begins with:
“Sing, Muse, of the cunning hero,
The wanderer, blown off course time and again
After he plundered Troy's sacred heights.”
How does this passage contradict the main idea of "The Epic Cycle"?
Check all that are true.
"The Epic Cycle" is not concerned about the history of the poems, while this passage is.
"The Epic Cycle" emphasizes the historical aspects of the poems, while this passage looks at
their mythological aspects.
"The Epic Cycle" emphasizes the way in which the Iliad and the Odyssey are linked, while this
passage emphasizes their differences.
"The Epic Cycle" discusses the places the poems took place, while this passage discusses the
time period the poems took place in.