Tuesday, November 1 ~ A Match of Wisdom

Go over Chapters 15 & 16

Fast Forward of Books 17-18. Click here to listen to it. Thanks Memetree!

HW: Read Book 19

Journal 28:
1.  What action does Odysseus take now?
2. How does Eurycleia discover the identity of Odysseus?
3. What contest does Penelope devise to test the suitors?

Monday, Oct.31 ~ Happy Halloween!

Tele! I am your fathah.

Essays/Quizzes back

Review Book XV

Read Book XVI

Journal 27: Book XVI (16)
1. In this book Odysseus reveals his identity to Telemachus. What does the reaction of the two characters tell us about the Greeks' attitude towards the expression of emotion? How do their attitudes differ from ours?
2. What instructions does O give to Telemachus?
3. Compare Antinous and Amphinomous. How does this difference complicate O's plan for justice?
4. In what ways does Telemachus show in this book that he has matured?

Block Day, October 27 ~ Odysseus Quizze on Books 9-12

Discuss Book 12


Take Quizze


Fast forward button...Take notes on Books 13-14 (Journal 23)

• Thanks Brianna for the audio clip.

HW: Read Book 15 (I know I changed my mind, but this one is worth reading.)

Journal 26: Book XV

1.  Telemachus receives an omen as he is about to depart. What is it, and what does it mean? 
2. Who journeys to Ithaca with Telemachus and his companions? 
3. Odysseus has a plan that he shares with Eumaeus. What is it? 
4. What is Eumaeus's reaction to Odysseus's idea? 
5. How did Eumaeus come to be swineherd for Odysseus? 
6. Which are the two signs that the gods send to Telemachus and Odysseus? 

Wednesday, October 26 ~ Odysseus and the Sirens

Review Books IX-XI

Journal 25: Book XII
1. How do the Sirens destroy men, and how do Odysseus and his men avoid destruction?
2. What are Scylla and Charybdis?
3. What happens to Odysseus' companions?
4. What happens to Odysseus?


Quiz tomorrow on books IX-XII

Tuesday, October 25 ~ Catch up day!

Be ready to review books 9-11 tomorrow.

Book 12 questions due block day.

Monday, October 24 ~ The Odyssey, Book 11

Go over J23

• Describe the categories of temptation that Odysseus must overcome to get home.
• New vocab word: hubris - pride
• How has O's hubris interfered with his metis? 
• More analysis of O's attitude toward women? Guesses on Homer's?
• Why do you think there are so many prophesies about O? 
• Why aren't O's crew as loyal as his reputation at home?

Begin J24: Book XI

1. How does Odysseus gain access to the underworld? 
2. What does Odysseus promise Elpenor? 
3. Why does Odysseus not let his mother come near the blood? 
4. What does Teiresias tell Odysseus? 
5. Who comes to speak to Odysseus after all the souls of the women have departed? 
6. What does this person tell Odysseus? 
7. Many other heroes speak to Odysseus, and he learns of their fates. What happens to Tantalus
8. What punishment is Sisyphus enduring?  

Odyssey Books 8-10

Any last essays lingering?

Athena is the best work out

The Odyssey continues...

• Review Journal 22 (Book VIII)
• What's up with the delayed identity? 
• How would you describe the nature of this temptation?
• What kind of hero would you describe him as? (Compared to Achilles?)
• Why is the story about Aphrodite & Ares mentioned? 

• Add the vocab: 
• Name Meanings
• Odysseus - "son of pain"
• Telemachus - "war from afar"
• Antinous - "not mindful"
• Terms
• metis - cunning
• menis - demonic rage
• dolos (dolon) - craft(s) or deceptions
• nous - mind
• aristeia - prowess

Journal 23 (Book IX & X)

Book IX

1. Note exactly how Odysseus identifies himself, and how and where he begins his story (Compare it to Menelaus' account of their departure from Troy). Don't assume he's always telling the truth. Pay attention to what he says about his behavior and his awareness of his audience. 
2. Note the attack on the Cicones: what happens? What is the nature of the conflict among Odysseus’s men? 
3. 214: A storm takes them to the land of the Lotus Eaters. What is the specific danger here? 
4. 215: The Cyclops Polyphemus. This is the key episode. Note the description of the island and the nature of Cyclopean society. Pay attention to Odysseus's behavior. Is it commendable? Is he a good guest? Is Polyphemus a good host? 
5. As you read the cyclops episode, where can you see examples of metis, menis, dolos, nous & aristeia? 
6. What vices get Odysseus into trouble? What virtue gets him out of it? What types of behavior are approved and condemned by this story? 
7. What do you think of this Polyphemus? 

Book X

1. 230: Aeolus, king of the winds, receives O., and sends him off with a bag of winds, which his crew opens when he sleeps. Who is to blame here? Pay attention to the description of Aeolus' family. 
2. 231: Odysseus loses 11 ships in an attack on the Laestrygonians. What are his tactics in this encounter? 
3. The remaining ship arrives at the island of Circe. The crew begins to rebel: why? 
4. Pay close attention to the description of her house and Circe herself. What details do you feel are significant? Why? How is O's metis exemplified here?
5. Compare Circe, Nausicaa, and Calypso; which does Odysseus prefer and why? Are there any indications that Homer is aware of a 'double standard'? 
6. You've earned a clip!

Tuesday, October 18 - Can you identify the owner of the epithet?

Telemachy essays due please!
Housekeeping: Will you be here in class tomorrow? 

Just for kicks and review...who is the epithet naming?

      SEE IF NOW YOU CAN IDENTIFY THESE: 

         far seeing__________

         breaker of horses____________

         rose-red fingered_____________

         quick-witted___________ 

         wary and reserved_________

         bright-eyed___________

         Icarus' daughter _____________

         warlord dear to Zeus____________  

         earth shaker___________

         bard of Ithaca ______________

         red-haired____________

         flashing steel grey-eyed___________

         Menelaus’ wife__________

         Laertes' son____________

         Agamemnon’s son____________

         Clytemnestra’s lover ___________

         Agisthesis’ murderer ____________

        Agamemnon’s brother___________

   .           visits Ithaca and advises Telemachus__________

   2          accompanies Telemachus to Sparta___________

               Odysseus’ nursemaid ____________

               glancing eyed_______________    

Review Book V
Fast Forward Notes on Books VI-VII

HW: Book VIII ~ You will see O's character through his interactions with the Phaeacians.
Journal 22: Book VIII

1. Odysseus is insulted by Broadsea. What does he accuse Odysseus of being? Why? 
2. With Athena's help, what athletic feat does Odysseus accomplish? 
3. Odysseus brags that he is an accomplished athlete but allows one test where the Phaeacians would likely win. To which test does he refer? Why? 
4. Why do you think Homer interrupts the narrative to have Demodocus sing about the love of Ares and Aphrodite?  
5. What do we learn about Odysseus through the contrast between his behavior and that of the young Phaeacians?  

         

Lwt

Monday, October 17 ~ Tat (or should I say, THET) me up!

For starters...you people are pretty precious. Check out your Epithets.

How's the paper coming? Telemachy Essays due tomorrow!

• Please print these out in MLA format. 
• Don't forget to cite all of your evidence! (line numbers are awesome, but page numbers will do.)

Today we review Books I-IV and continue with Book V in The Odyssey!

HW: Telmachy essays due tomorrow

Journal 21
As you read, mark epithets, epic similes, examples of kleos (glory reputation), xenia (hopsitality) & nostos (return).

Book V
1. What is Zeus' command to Calypso?
2. Which god or goddess brings Zeus' command to Calypso?
3. What happens to Odysseus on the eighteenth day, just as he sights the shores of Scheria?
4. What help does Ino give to Odysseus?
5. What happens to Odysseus at the end of Book V?

Playing around with Epithets...

Disclaimer...if you don't like your name, toss it! This is just for fun and I don't know you well enough to know your entire identity! However, I did try to appreciate what I do know...Enjoy!

Wisdom laced, winsome Grace

Spark same, steady flame Sarah

Wild-eyed, dabber defender Kaylee

Brave Saint Penquinella Isabella

Screaming hand, humble heart Shoghi

Silently stands true Zoe

Meme tree, sweet and salty Brie

Rally 'n Ravin' "Get Wrecked" Mattie Lagan

My heart means the best Mrs. West

Block day, October 12 ~ Telemachy and Epithets

Here's a quick run down of class today...

• First, let me read you a couple of paragraphs out of Leithart...I will be your fast forward button on that reading.
• Review the assignment...Chapters 1-4 and an essay by Monday.
• Just for kicks...let's write some epithets for each other. Click here to share them!
• Get some tea
• Disperse to get it done!

What is an Epithet? (Add this definition to your journals)
Sometimes called an Homeric epitaph, it is a recurring feature in both epics. Epithet comes form the Greek for putting (something) on (something). It is a tag or descriptive quality that can be used on its own or together with the real name. They add descriptive flavor as well as complete the needed syllables to create the iambic hexameter. They can also serve as a mneumonic device to help the listeners remember what they have already heard about this character. They are usually compound adjectives full of memorable imagery.

Telemachus has epithets such as poised thoughtful and discrete (depending on your translation).
Athena is often paired with the phrase pallas (which refers to her youthful strength) and grey-eyed.

Tuesday, October 11 ~ The Telemachy begins!

The Telemachy is the nickname for the first four books of The Odyssey because they are 

about O's son, Telemachus. 

A scholar's model of an Ancient Greek boat.

New Assignment Due Monday 10/17 Telemachy Essay (2-3 pages)

Based on your reading of the first four books (cantos) of The Odyssey, write an essay about the character, Telemachus. Here are some suggestions: 

1. Read through the four cantos with a pencil handy.

2. Note passages you may want to use or return to.

3. Carefully read everything Telemachus says. 

4. How does Telemachus respond to what he is told?

5. How would you describe Telemachus as a son? 

6. What does Telemachus' behavior in Ithaca and elsewhere reveal about him?

7. How has Telemachus been affected by his father's twenty-year absence?

8. What does Telemachus react to the things he learns about his father? 

9. How are these first four cantos a coming-of-age story about Telemachus? 

10. Why do you think Homer started the story with Telemachus? 

11. Write descriptive statements about Telemachus that you believe to be true.

12. Where in the text, by book and line number, is there evidence supporting who you believe Telemachus is? For example: ...." (IV, 290-307).

13. Don't write about anything you can't back up with textual evidence. 

14. Select, use, and carefully position meaningful quotes in your essay to support what you write about Telemachus. Use citations after every quotation. 

Monday, October 10 ~ Let's get into The Odyssey!

Review J19 and begin Book 1 of The Odyssey.


J20 - Odyssey Book 1

• Start a character list
• Track the Epic Conventions
• invocation of muses, en medias res, epithets, supernatural interference, epic setting, etc...
• Why can't Telemachus and Mom get rid of the suitors? 

Block Day, October 6 ~ The Iliad ate my soul...

Today we finish our examination of The Iliad!


Let's play a review game!

Iliad Quiz

HW: Begin the reading of the background of The Odyssey with Leithart pages 147-157. Please do the review questions on pg.157 as Journal 19.

Journals

J1 - Leithart

J2 - Leithart Our Stories and the Story of God

J3 - Leithart Hesiod, Homer and Moses + Conclusions

J3b? - Leithart - Intro to Ancient Epic

J4 - Vocab and Reasearh

J5 - Theogony first journal

J6 - Hesiod Vocab

J7 - Hesiod Reading

J8 - Hesiod's World Picture

J9 - Hesiod - Intertextual Criticism Exercise

J10 - Hesiod Mini-titles

J11 - Leithart "Fighters Fighting, Fighters Killed" 

J12 - Read The Iliad book 1 and create a characters chart

J13 - Trojan War Brainstorm (from Brie)

J14 - Notes on Homer's Influence - Definitions of "Homer" & Main Greek Eras?  (from Grace)

J15 - Record a reference to The Iliad from pop culture (from Sarah)

J16 - Reading Quiz about Traits of an Epic (from Shoghi)

J17 - Personal Philosophy? (from Zoe)

J18 - Epic Vocabulary & Iliad Movie Questions