This Literature Unit Is:

The Odyssey by Homer
Return to Ithaca
by
Mary Pope Osborne

Introduction

The Odyssey along with The Illiad, both most likely written by Homer, are two great epic poems of the ancient Greeks, many would say their greatest poems. They were used as the foundation for Greek education and have greatly influenced the culture and art of Western Civilization, so much so that today they have been called the "most important poems of the classical European tradition." For the ancient Greeks the poems gave them a definition of heroism and a moral standard by which to guide their lives.

The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus' journey back to his home after the battle at Troy (made famous to us by the Trojan Horse). There are many familiar stories here that have entered into our culture: the Cyclops, the Sirens and the journey into the underworld overseen by Hades and Persephone. It takes Odysseus 10 years to reach his home where more troubles and trials await him.

In Return to Ithaca, the fifth book in this excellent series, we learn of both Odysseus' return home after 10 years of war and 10 years of wanderings and of Telemachus' return after searching in vain for his father.

Edition I Use: Return to Ithaca by Mary Pope Osborne from the Tales from the Odyssey series.
ISBN: 0786809930 / $4.99 paperback / 104 pages
Buy this Edition at Amazon.com / This is not available on-line.

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