The Odyssey Unit Writing Assignment
Epic Journey – Due Monday, December 16
You will create your own epic poem that depicts a mythic journey.
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It must include the following epic conventions, such as those we have seen in The Odyssey:
1) begin with an invocation to the Muse
2) a hero or heroine who struggles to reach an ultimate goal
3) a specific setting
4) deeds of valor that are necessary due to the continual challenges
5) supernatural forces that interest themselves in the action
6) an end to the journey
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It must include and identify (in different colors – you can underline or make the font color these
specific colors – make sure I can read them!) the following literary conventions, such as those we
have seen in The Odyssey:
1) epic similes (at least two) (blue)
2) epithets (at least two) (red)
3) personification (at least two) (green
4) similes (at least two) (yellow)
5) metaphors (at least two) (purple)
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It must adhere to the following requirements:
1) written as a narrative poem  line breaks are necessary
2) it should have a rhythmic movement so that a bard could memorize it (it does not have to be a
rhyming poem)
3) typed, double spaced
4) at least one page, but no more than two pages. You must bring a printed copy to class on the
due date.
5) You will do a prezi.com or powerpoint presentation of your poem (prezi preferred). The
presentation must have 7-10 slides with different parts of the poem on each slide. It must
include pictures and graphics to make it visually appealing. You must email me a copy of your
powerpoint or prezi before class on the day it is due. You must also save it to your flash drive
and bring your flash drive on the due date.
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Rubric:
Inclusion of all Epic Conventions = 10 Points
Inclusion and correct usage of all Literary Conventions = 30 Points
Voice / Requirements = 10 Points
Turnitin.com submission = 5 Points
Prezi or powerpoint presentation = 15 points
Total Point Value = 70 Points
Rough Draft Due: Dec. 13
Final Due: Mon, Dec. 16
You must submit it to turnitin.com before class begins on the due date.
Example 1
Sing to me muse, oh daughter of the mighty Zeus
For the story I will tell is laced with many
Rich places and people. The journey is long,
And the story longer. Muse, oh divine poet, bring me the inspiration I need
To tell my story and give my men the glory of sweet death.
As the deep green sea rocked our ship ever gently
and the wind sung to us a lullaby of old through the sails,
our company departed from the golden shores of Ithaca,
sweet Ithaca, with its rocky mountains and green hillsides
pure. It pained my heart to be torn from the
sea caressed shores, the tie-dyed autumn skies
and the rich emerald olive groves dotted with as many olives
as there are fish in Poseidon Lord’s sea.
Away we sailed, onward to Troy, city of grand nobles.
We had heard songs about Troy’s fall to our fellow Greeks,
but we paid no heed and laughed in disbelief as the people sang
of glorious Troy falling to a Greek wooden horse
so huge that many men could have fit into it. It was hard to believe
this folly of the Trojans.
As the wind sang to us a lullaby of old through the sails,
we reached the lavish shores of Troy, but to our horror
we saw nothing of the towering citadel that once shadowed the city below
with a full gullied darkened shadow like they that are
found in the land of Tarturus, gaping wide to consume any
offering of light and life. Instead we found charred remains
of the once great city. We walked through blackened bones, salt tears like that of Poseidon
Lord’s sea, we stepped on pain and horror, and gambles of love.
The wind screamed and howled a song of immense sorrow
as it blew across the soot and ashes of the city. It played
with the grey-black paper like ash like a kitten full of life
plays with feather of a dead bird. Tossing it up, letting it fly and drop,
only for it to be picked up and tossed once more, repeating the cycle
until it grows bored and moves on to the next piece set out
in front of his eyes…
Example 2
I walked out onto the stage with my pink Paul Reed Smith
clinging to my back like a loyal zoo monkey.
I had never felt so alone than at that moment.
II heard each of my footsteps clash with the sheer silence
that filled the room.
I felt like the red wine stain on my mother’s wedding gown.
I carried myself across the stage as if I were on trial before a
jury that was always right.
I thought I saw one of the football players smile at me, but Suzy Charmichael
was standing behind the curtain smiling back.
I trudged for miles out into the middle of the stage
where the microphone stood, a lone reed waving boldly in the corrupt sands
of showbiz.
From deep in my soul I began to play,
and each string on my loyal pink Paul Reed Smith
sang out to the thousands of critical bearers of doom sitting on creaky
fold-out chairs in front of me.
Then right before my very eyes, I saw the football players' feet;
They were tapping.
I saw the curls hanging from the cheerleader’s pigtails;
They were bouncing.
I thought I heard someone clapping
then it was everyone.
Before I knew it they were on their feet,
They were jumping.
And the floor was alive and pulsating as if blood were rushing through it
the way that my blood was rushing at super sonic speeds through my veins
pumping my heart faster and faster
as my pink Paul Reed Smith
became louder and louder.
I claimed my fame…
Sources:
http://home.gwi.net/~lkane/English/katelynEpic.html
http://home.gwi.net/~lkane/English/ChloeEpicJourney.htm