An epic always has a hero, so it is important to understand what a hero is. As a class, ask students to define "hero" and "heroism." Allow them to venture into fictional realms, with the likes of Superman, as well as discuss real-life heroes, such as firefighters or even a family member battling cancer. Keep this dialogue casual and open, as students are calling on prior knowledge and forming a working definition that can enhance their reading comprehension.
"Tell me, O muse, of that ingenious hero who traveled far and wide...," Homer begins in Book I. From the very start, "The Odyssey" mentions a hero, so while reading the 24 books, or chapters, of this epic poem, ask students to record information about Odysseus, his son, Telemachus, and any other character they feel commits an act of heroism. Supply students with a graphic organizer to help them list their information. Create a three-column chart, with the first column naming the book number, the second column offering space to write a character's name, and the third, a place to briefly describe what heroic feat that character accomplishes. List as many as can be found.
Once students have finished reading "The Odyssey," review and discuss several of the heroic acts that students listed on their graphic organizers. Based on what they found through reading and what they learned in class discussions, have students formulate a final definition of heroism. Then, ask them to write a descriptive essay titled, "What Is a Hero?" Students should structure their writing in a way that defines the term and supports the definition with examples from "The Odyssey." Students should refer to their notes while writing.
As an activity to further extend thinking, ask students to compare Odysseus to a hero from a modern epic tale, such as the Harry Potter novels, "The Lord of the Rings" or "Star Wars." These could be based on book or movie versions. The idea of this assignment is to get students thinking critically about the concept of a hero. In their comparisons, students should explain the similarities and differences between the characters, as well as analyze how the setting may or may not affect the acts of heroism that occur. Upon completion, these projects may be communicated to the class in the form of a speech, PowerPoint or other type of presentation.