Epic Beginnings Open Response

Homer’s stories of heroes, gods, war, and adventure have survived for thousands of years. This passage introduces students to the mysterious ancient Greek poet traditionally associated with The Iliad and The Odyssey. Readers learn that historians know very little about Homer himself and that his stories were likely passed from one generation to another through oral storytelling before eventually being written down. The passage explores the Trojan War in The Iliad and Odysseus’s difficult journey home in The Odyssey.

This worksheet gives students practice separating what is known about a historical figure from what remains uncertain. They identify important details, compare the two epic poems, and explore themes such as courage, loyalty, friendship, perseverance, and the struggle between good and evil. The reading also introduces students to oral tradition and shows how stories created in the ancient world can continue influencing books, movies, plays, and other forms of storytelling today.