Odyssey

High school (ages 12+)
Art & Creativity

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/odyssey

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the literary genre?Epic poem
2. What is the estimated composition date?Circa 8th century BCE
3. What is the Odyssey about?The Odyssey is an ancient Greek epic poem that follows Odysseus as he travels for ten years to return home to Ithaca. It explores heroism, homecoming, and how gods and humans interact.
4. Why does the story start with Odysseus already trapped by Calypso?The story begins with Odysseus already stuck on an island with the nymph Calypso. This start creates instant tension and makes listeners want to learn how he got there.

In Medias Res: A narrative technique where the story begins in the middle of the action, later revealing prior events.
Nostos: The Greek concept of homecoming, a central theme in the epic, representing return and restoration.
Epithet: A descriptive phrase or adjective accompanying a name, often used in epic poetry for characterization.