THE GREAT EPICS
Reading edition
The following suggestive outline of a “STORY HOUR CYCLE,” arranged by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, is re-published as an excellent example of systematic classification.
Such study applied to any of the great epics will not only discover to the story teller a great treasure house of stories, but will be helpful in holding them together in sequential relation.
STORIES FROM THE ILIAD AND THE ODYSSEY
THE SIEGE OF TROY
Story I. The Apple of Discord
1. The Founding of Troy
2. Story of Paris and Œnone
3. Marriage of Peleus and Thetis
4. The Apple of Discord
5. The Judgment of Paris
Story II. The League Against Troy
1. The Athletic Games in Troy
2. Discovery of the Parentage of Paris
3. Embassy to Greece
4. Story of Helen and the Pledge of the Greek Princes
5. Abduction of Helen
6. League against Troy
Story III. The Beginning of the Trojan War
1. The Stratagem of Ulysses
2. The Quest for Achilles
3. The Assembling of the Greeks
4. The Omen of the Snake and the Birds
5. The Sacrifice of Iphigenia
6. The Heroism of Protesilaus
7. Beginning of the War
Story IV. The Quarrel of the Chiefs
1. The Wrath of Apollo
2. How Agamemnon Wronged Achilles
3. The Revenge of Achilles
4. The Dream of Agamemnon
5. Assembly of the Greeks
6. The Counsel of Ulysses
7. Preparation for the Battle
Story V. The Duel of Paris and Menelaus
1. The Challenge of Paris
2. The Combat
3. The Council of the Gods
4. The Broken Covenant
Story VI. The Combat of Hector and Ajax
1. The Message of Hector
2. The Parting of Hector and Andromache
3. The Challenge
4. The Casting of the Lots
5. The Combat
6. The Truce
Story VII. The Battle of the Plain
1. The Command of Zeus to the Gods
2. The Battle
3. The Speech of Hector
4. The Council of the Greeks
5. The Embassy to Achilles
6. The Answer of Achilles
Story VIII. The Deeds and Death of Patroclus
1. The Battle at the Ships
2. The Request of Patroclus
3. The Myrmidons March forth to Battle
4. The Death of Patroclus
5. The Grief of Achilles
6. How Achilles ended the Battle
Story IX. The Exploits of Achilles
1. The Making of the Armor for Achilles
2. The End of the Strife with Agamemnon
3. The Battle at the River
4. The Battle of the Gods
5. Achilles’ Pursuit of the False Agener
Story X. The Slaying of Hector
1. The Pursuit of Hector by Achilles
2. The Combat
3. Death of Hector
4. Grief of Andromache
5. The Funeral of Patroclus
6. The Funeral Games of the Greeks
7. The Ransoming of Hector
Story XI. The Fall of Troy
1. The Fate of Achilles
2. The Death of Paris
3. Capture of the Palladium
4. Stratagem of Ulysses
5. The Fate of Laocoön
6. Capture of Troy
THE ADVENTURES OF ULYSSES
Story XII. Adventures of Ulysses with the Lotus-eaters and the Cyclops
1. Adventure with the Ciconians
2. The Lotus-eaters
3. The Land of the Cyclops
4. In the Cave of the Cyclops
5. The Blinding of Polyphemus
6. Escape of Ulysses and his Companions
Story XIII. The Kingdom of the Winds and the House of Circe
1. The Gift of Æolus
2. The Loosing of the Winds
3. Return to the Isle of Æolus
4. Adventure with the Læstrygones
5. The Wiles of Circe
Story XIV. The Visit to the “Land of the Shades”
1. The Offering for the Dead
2. The Warning of Tiresias the Seer
3. How Ulysses Conversed with his Mother and with Achilles and other Heroes
4. The Judging of the Dead
5. Return to Circe’s Isle.
Story XV. The Song of the Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis and the Oxen of the Sun
1. Song of the Sirens
2. Escape from Scylla and Charybdis
3. Arrival at the Island of the Sun
4. The Slaying of the Sacred Kine
5. The Wrath of Hyperion
6. The Shipwreck
Story XVI. The Island of Calypso and the Shipwreck on the Coast of Phæacia
1. The Years on Calypso’s Isle
2. Minerva seeks aid for Ulysses from Jupiter
3. Mercury is sent with a Message to Calypso
4. Making of the Raft
5. Departure of Ulysses
6. The Tempest
7. Ulysses Cast on the Coast of Phæacia
Story XVII. The Princess Nausicaa
1. The Request of Nausicaa
2. The Games of the Maidens
3. Discovery of Ulysses
4. How Ulysses was Received in the Palace of Alcinous
5. The Festival
6. Return to Ithaca
7. Ulysses left asleep in his Native Shore
8. The Ship of the Phæacians changed to a Rock
Story XVIII. The Adventures of Telemachus
1. The Suitors of Penelope
2. Penelope’s Web
3. Visit of Minerva to Telemachus
4. Assembly of the Men of Ithaca
5. Departure of Telemachus in quest of Ulysses
6. Journey to Pylos and Sparta
7. Telemachus warned by Minerva to return to Ithaca
8. Conspiracy of the Suitors
9. Escape of Telemachus
Story XIX. The Battle of the Beggars
1. Awaking of Ulysses
2. Transformation into an Old Man
3. Meeting with Eumæus
4. Arrival of Telemachus
5. Eumæus conducts Ulysses to his Palace
6. The Dog Argus
7. The Beggars’ Quarrel
8. The End of the Feast
Story XX. The Triumph of Ulysses
1. Removal of the Weapons from the Hall
2. Interview with Penelope
3. The Scar of the Boar’s Tooth
4. The Last Banquet of the Suitors
5. The Trial of the Bow
6. Death of the Suitors
7. Recognition of Ulysses by Penelope