GREEK LITERATURE

I can explain how the Greek’s used various forms of literature (myths, fables, epic

poems) and how these forms of literature explained their history and beliefs.

Early Greek Literature The Greeks used a variety of literature to tell their stories.

• Myths were stories that people told to explain beliefs about their world.

• Fables were short stories, usually involving animals that taught a moral lesson.

A storyteller named Aesop is credited with writing down many ancient Greek fables including “The Hare and the Tortoise.”

• Epic Poems were stories about Greek’s ancient heroes. Much of what we know about the early Greeks come from these long poems that told

stories.

• The most famous of these epic poems were written by a man named Homer.

NO…..not this Homer.

This Homer was a blind poet who lived around the 8th or 9th century B.C. Homer wrote two epic poems. The Iliad recounts the story of the Mycenaeans during the Trojan War. Homer’s second take, The Odyssey, describes Odysseus’s journey home from the Trojan War, and his amazing encounters in foreign lands.

Epics of HomerHomer’s epic, the Iliad is about the Trojan War, which started

because a Trojan stole a Greek king’s wife. In the Iliad, the Greeks surrounded the city of Troy for more than nine years, trying to capture it. The Iliad is famous for its portrayal of heroes, like Achilles.

For centuries people thought that Homer’s story was fiction. Around 1870, archaeologists discovered the ruins of ancient Troy. A real war did take place there, but it did not happen exactly as the Iliad portrays it. Many archaeologists believe that the Trojan War really did happen, and

that it was a series of wars fought over a long period of time. Excavations in present-day Turkey have uncovered the remains of a city believed to be Troy. Investigations indicates that a siege may have occurred during the Mycenaean period, so many believe Homer’s tale was based on fact.

These ruins are thought to be of the ancient city of Troy.

The Mycenaean and the Trojan War

The Trojan War was fought between the Mycenaean Greeks and the Trojans of Troy, a city located on the coast of Turkey. The war is thought to have been fought sometime in the 1100 B.C. These two civilizations were very different. The Trojan people were linked to the Orient, where the main power belonged to the priests and monarchs. The Trojans believed that they were completely dependent upon the gods for their strength in battle and therefore continually sought divine guidance.

On the other hand, the Greeks believed that they were in charge of their own destiny. They did acknowledge the important role the gods played in their daily lives, but they were much more individualistic and did not believe they were completely dependent upon the gods for the outcome of certain events.

IMAGES OF THE TROJAN WAR

http://safeshare.tv/w/djHFPVlUjD

Presenting Homer’s EpicHomer’s epic poem, the Iliad, has been split into 8 narrative

sections. Each group will be responsible for presenting to the class their section. Once all groups have presented, you will have a clear understanding as to what Homer wrote about.

Groups will present their sections on Wednesday. There are a variety of ways groups can present. Here are a few ideas.• Create a poster that details the events and individuals of your

section.• Use a narrator and have others in the group act out the parts.

• Make puppets to help retell the story.• Create a Power Point

• Choose another means of CLEARLY presenting their parts of this great epic.

• ALL INDIVIDUALS NEED TO HAVE A HAND IN CREATING/PRESENTING THE INFORMATION. THIS WILL BE WORTH A CLASSWORK GRADE. Grades will be based on 2

aspects.• 1) Individual Participation

• 2) Accuracy of the information being presented.

• All groups will have access to 1 iPad for research.