The Odyssey Lesson Plan

Though the story is about Odysseus, we're close to one quarter of the way through the story and he hasn't appeared or spoken a line. We only hear other people's stories about him. How does that emphasize the themes of myth and storytelling already prominent in The Odyssey?

The Odyssey is the story of a great hero, but while everyone who talks about Odysseus has only praise for him, as the story continues some of his actions will be much more questionable to a modern audience. Students might discuss how mythologizing a man demolishes his flaws and makes him an unequivocal hero, while keeping in mind that when Menelaus talks of Odysseus, he is in some ways...