Homework for 10/26

Please time yourself (giving yourself 45 minutes with no distractions) then write on the following topic. When you are done, please post your practice essay on the homework section of your personal website.

In-class essay on The Odyssey, Book X

English 1

Question: What common idea, value or theme runs throughout all three passages?

Directions: Please write on a separate sheet of paper and give equal time to all 4 sections.

Pre-writing/thinking: 5 mins

Part 1: 10 mins

Part 2: 10 minutes per passage = 30 minutes

= 45 mins total

Part 1: Introduction

• • 1-2 introductory sentences then a thesis sentence that answers the above question. (Just a thesis sentence is fine.)

  • Please don’t quote from the text in this section.

Parts 2: Body Paragraphs

• • Make sure to have a basic topic sentence for each passage.

  • Embed or quote at least three pieces of text that support your topic sentence.

  • Analyze the three passages to show how each passage explores this common thread or theme you stated in your thesis

• 1. The wind that carried west from Ilion

brought me to Ismaros, on the far shore,

a strongpoint on the coast of the Kikones.

I stormed that place and killed the men who fought.

Plunder we took, and we enslaved the women,

to make division, equal shares to all—

but on the spot I told them: ‘Back, and quickly!

Out to sea again!’ My men were mutinous,

Fools, on stores of wine. Sheep after sheep

they butchered by the surf, and shambling cattle,

feasting,--while fugitives went inland, running

to call to arms the main force of Kikones.

This was an army, trained to fight on horseback

or, where the ground required, on foot. They came

with dawn over that terrain like leaves

and blades of spring. So doom appeared to us,

dark word of Zeus for us, our evil days. (IX.46-60)

• 1. In the glare he saw us.

‘Strangers,’ he said, ‘who are you? And where from?

What brings you here by sea ways—a fair traffic?

Or are you wandering rogues, who cast your lives

like dice, and ravage other folk by sea?’

We felt a pressure in our hearts, in dread

of that deep rumble and that mighty man.

But all the same I spoke up in reply:

‘We are from Troy, Akhaians, blown off course

by shifting gales on the Great South Sea;

homeward bound, but taking routes and ways

uncommon; so the will of Zeus would have it.

We served under Agamemnon, son of Atreus—

the whole world knows that city

he laid waste, what armies he destroyed.

It was our luck to come here; here we stand,

Beholden for your help, or any gifts

you give—as custom is to honor strangers.

We would entreat you, great Sir, have a care

For the gods’ courtesy; Zeus will avenge

the unoffending guest.’

He answered this

from his brute chest, unmoved:

‘You are a ninny,

or else you come from the other end of nowhere,

telling me, mind the gods! We Kyklopes

care not a whistle for your thundering Zeus

or all the gods in bliss; we have more force by far.’ (IX. 274-300)

• 1. ‘Godsake, Captain!

Why bait the beast again? Let him alone!

That tidal wave he made on the first throw

all but beached us.’

‘All but stove us in!’

‘Give him our bearing with your trumpeting,

he’ll get the range and lob a boulder.’

‘Aye

He’ll smash our timbers and our heads together!’

I would not head them in my glorying spirit,

but let my anger flare and yelled:

‘Kyklops,

if ever mortal man inquire

how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him

Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye:

Laertes son, whose home’s on Ithaka!’ (IX. 537-552)