The Odyssey

For the 1st quarter, we will be reading The Odyssey. In order to prepare, we will read articles and discuss Ancient Greek culture, read myths, and discuss the Hero's Journey. Then we will read the epic poem in class discussing how Homer uses literary devices to create images in our minds and how the story reflects the culture for which it was created. Each week you will be responsible for vocabulary and dialectical journals. For your final assessment, you will create a video journey.

The syllabus for this quarter is attached here.

Literary Terms

Literary Devices

We will use the literary terms discussed in this slideshow throughout the school year. In our beginning unit, we will practice the Socratic method of discussion and use this content-specific vocabulary in our discussions.

What is a dialectical journal?

Dialectical Journals will be kept for each of our major novel studies. This video discusses the benefits of a dialectical journal as well as the teacher expectations.

Why study Ancient Greece?

Ancient Greece is not only the setting of The Odyssey, but also the context in which Homer wrote the poem. We will see the culture reflected in characters decisions and actions.

1st quarter content standards

In The Odyssey, we focus on the attached standards. Through their class participation and assessments, I am looking for mastery(either meeting or exceeding expectations) of these standards. All assessments- classwork and testing(summative projects and/or tests) are aligned to these standards. As a class we will discuss the relevance(how they pertain to you or will benefit you) of these standards.

Introduction

To understand The Odyssey, we must understand greek gods, myths, and why they are relevant. Who is Homer? Who are the gods and goddesses referenced in literature?

Narratives

Throughout The Odyssey, students will write their ideas on heros, temptations, home, homecomings, and how their world influences them. These 1-2 page narratives will be submitted as assessments and graded for grammar, punctuation, and how their thoughts respond to the prompts.

Projects

There will be several project choices throughout the study. Students will create instagram profiles of characters, write or perform dialogue for characters, record their favorite quotes on video or respond to questions in a mp3 format. These creative opportunities will be ways for students to demonstrate understanding and will be graded.

Week 1- reading

Opinionaire

Calypso-The Cyclops-

The Lotus Eaters

Discuss figurative language, in media res, the Greek concept of Xenia.

Workbook for the entire unit.

Week 2

Circe

Land of the Dead

Scylla & Charybdis

Discuss women's roles in the story, the predictions- Can you change your fate?

Week 3

Homecoming

Stringing the Bow

Death in the Great Hall

"Ithaka"

What is home? The concept of Xenia, What is a hero?

Week 4

The Olive Tree

"Penelope"

"An Ancient Gesture"

Discuss "home." How is it represented throughout the story? How do your views compare or contrast?

Socratic Seminar

This unit will culminate in a Socratic Seminar. All of the daily quickwrites and journals will be used in preparation for this verbal exchange of ideas.

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