Why There’s Never Been a Better Time to Teach The Odyssey
If renewed attention encourages even one more student to pick up Homer’s epic with genuine curiosity, that’s a win for literature teachers everywhere.
Some stories seem to have a way of finding their way back into the spotlight, and The Odyssey is one of them.
With a major film adaptation releasing this summer, Homer’s epic is suddenly popping up in movie trailers, pop culture news, and online conversations. While many of your students probably won’t be seeing the film, there’s a good chance they’ll recognize the title or be curious about the story behind all the buzz.
For English teachers like you, that’s a gift.
One of the biggest challenges in teaching the classics is convincing students that these stories still matter. When students are already asking, “What’s The Odyssey about?” or “Why is everyone talking about it?” you’ve already cleared one of the biggest hurdles: getting them interested.
Why The Odyssey Resonates
Long before it became a movie, The Odyssey was inspiring writers, artists, and storytellers around the world. Its influence can be found everywhere, from modern novels to television shows to blockbuster films built around the hero’s journey.
At its heart, The Odyssey is still a story students can connect with. It’s about perseverance, loyalty, temptation, identity, and the long road home. Those themes have resonated for thousands of years because they’re deeply human, and they still lead to meaningful classroom discussions today.
Curiosity Is a Great Place to Start
Students don’t need to see the latest adaptation to become interested in the original text. Sometimes, all it takes is knowing that a story written more than 2,700 years ago is still inspiring new interpretations. That curiosity creates an opening for conversations about why certain stories endure and what makes them worth revisiting generation after generation.
It’s also a chance to remind students that every adaptation begins with an original source. Reading Homer’s epic gives them the opportunity to experience the story that has shaped so much of the literature and media they encounter today.
Help Students Navigate the Journey
Like many classics, The Odyssey can feel intimidating at first. Between unfamiliar names, mythology, and epic conventions, some students need extra support to feel confident as they read.
That’s where well-designed classroom resources can make all the difference. Guided questions, engaging activities, writing prompts, and thoughtful discussion topics help students focus on the ideas that matter instead of getting stuck on the mechanics of the text.
Whether you’re teaching The Odyssey for the first time or refreshing a favorite unit, Prestwick House offers a variety of resources to support your instruction:
Literary Touchstone Classics Edition
This affordable classroom paperback features the complete text, vocabulary list, and introductory notes to help students navigate the epic.
Literature Teaching Unit
Save valuable planning time with a comprehensive teaching guide featuring chapter-by-chapter study questions, a unit test, discussion prompts, and more.
Response Journal
Encourage students to think beyond the page with writing prompts that inspire personal connection and deeper reflection about Homer’s epic.
Activity Pack
Bring The Odyssey to life with engaging, reproducible activities that reinforce literary analysis while encouraging creativity and critical thinking.
Complete Teacher’s Kit
The Complete Teacher’s Kit combines the Literature Teaching Unit, Activity Pack, and Response Journal, giving you multiple ways to engage every learner while saving prep time and money.
AP* Literature Teaching Unit
Designed specifically for AP Literature classes, this unit plan helps students engage in deep literary analysis through assignments and assessments aligned with the demands of advanced coursework.
No matter how you teach Homer’s epic, these resources can help students engage more deeply with one of literature’s greatest adventures.
Make the Most of the Moment
Interest in The Odyssey may be having a moment, but the story itself has stood the test of time.
If renewed attention encourages even one more student to pick up Homer’s epic with genuine curiosity, that’s a win for literature teachers everywhere. And with the right classroom resources, you can turn that curiosity into thoughtful discussions, stronger analysis, and a deeper appreciation for one of the greatest stories ever told.
* Advanced Placement, AP, and the Advanced Placement Program are registered trademarks of the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, these products.
