Monday, 10/29 - Books 4-6

Odysseus Gets Tossed into Poseidon's Soup

*P&P

*Discuss journal responses for Books 4-6

*Begin reading Book 7 ("Phaeacia's Halls and Gardens")

HW: finish reading Book 7 (always doing accompanying journal)

Thursday, 10/25 - Book 4 ("The King and Queen of Sparta")

Telemachus in the Palace of Menelaus (engraving 1886)

*P&P

*Before we review your journal entries for books 1-3, take a minute and write out your answer to the following question: how does Homer's Odyssey reflect his Iliad, paying particular attention to the heroes' absences. In other words, what does the absence of both Achilles from the Trojan War and Odysseus from his home specifically produce (as far as we've seen)?

*Now let's discuss a few of your journal entries for books 1-3. 

*Begin Book 4 and read and journal through Book 6 by Monday.

HW: 

1. Read and journal through Book 6 by Monday (one book per day for four days).  
2. Read Leithart's Heroes (pages 147-179) and be sure you can answer the Review Questions at the end of each section. You do not need to turn them in, but you are responsible for the information each question asks.  

Wednesday, 10/24 - Book 3 ("King Nestor Remembers")

Nestor's Sacrifice

*P&P

*Discuss journal entries for book 2. Share quotes ; )

*Begin Book 3

HW: Finish Book 3

Monday, 10/22 - Let's Go on an Odyssey

*P&P

*Yes, I've decided we will read Homer's companion to his Iliad. Let's begin today! Many of the book aren't even 400 lines. This one is smooth, well, occasionally good, sailing.

HW: finish Book 1.

Wednesday, 10/17 - A Couple of Reminders

The size of the tea cups at my castle

*P&P

*Today you will continue to read through the rest of Homer's epic. If you do not, then the tea party dainties will curdle in your little tum-tum, which reminds me to remind you that we will be taking a field trip to my abode across the street where we will dine on tea and Homeric gore. 

We will be taking a glorious walk to my house, just outside the campus' non-pearly gates, to enjoy an extended block period of high tea, Watsonville-style, yet English-inspired. In order to join us, you MUST get a permission slip signed by a parent, guardian, or dean. If not, you will hang out in the library, a not-as-magnificent experience. The permission slip is posted on Focus. Ding-ding! Tea time!

HW: finish The Iliad and get your permission slip signed for Friday. Figure out who will prepare yumminesses to accompany our "steeped haystacks" and cups of high-class liquid dirt.

Tuesday, 10/16 - Achilles Killes Hector

Achilles Drags Hector around Troy

*P&P

*Discuss Book 22

*Begin Book 23 

HW: Finish Book 23

Monday, 10/15 - Storming Troy

Achilles kills Hector

*P&P

*Today we discuss some highlights from the books assigned over this weekend. It took me forever to read them all . . . I imagine it took you not as long . . . for many reasons. However, don't get down; get dirty, you good-for-nothing warriors! I've heard you before, you dog-flies, ranting in your cups of your reading prowess. Now, rally and let's storm this Troy-of-a-book together!

*Read together in class: Book 22

HW: finish Book 22

Thursday, 10/11 - Catch up

Achilles Fights the River

*P&P

*Discuss through Book 12. Yes, we will. 

HW: Check here for abridged reading schedule for the three day weekend.

So . . . try to read as much as you can, not because I'm going to slam you with an assignment, but because this is your opportunity to enjoy as much of this epic as you can. 

Skim all the books but the ones in RED. READ THOSE IN FULL. 

• Book 13 (Battling for the Ships) - mostly grisly-detailed fighting. Skim it. 
• Book 14 (Hera Outflanks Zeus) - Skim if you wish this soap opera seduction. If that sort of thing tickles your fancy, then I'd recommend you skip it. Zeus falls prey to Hera's womanly wiles and withdraws from the battle, repeating Paris' words to Helen: Remember that one time I desired you? "That was nothing to how I hunger for you now-- / irresistible longing lays me low!" (380). Hera's sexual war tactic plays a major role in turning the war's tide . . . for a short time.
• Book 15 (The Achaean Armies at Bay) - Skim, but be sure to read pages 393-394 to enjoy some intra-trinitarian (read "polytheistic") politics. Also, read the last couple of pages in the book (410-11) when the Trojans and Acheans fight in close quarters, and Ajax picks off twelve fire-bringers, a scene reminiscent of the Battle at Helm's Deep in The Two Towers (?). In this book, Zeus "wises up" to Hera's schemes and commands Hera, Athena, and Poseidon to knock off their Argive loving. Hera swears she had nothing to do with this; rather, she explains that Zeus is "so hot right now," that Poseidon merely used their little soiree to help the Argivenns . . . all dreamed up in his little twisted mind. Zeus loves being hot right then and tells Hera he's glad she's finally joined him, Darth Vader (Dark Father), and if she's serious, she will join his plan in restoring Hector to health and driving Hector on in rage, pushing the Argives back against their ships . . . all to honor Zeus' word to Thetis to exalt Achilles.
• Book 16 (Patroclus Fights and Dies) - This is long but important book. Try to read most of it. Patroclus, the glory of the father (Achilles), dons Achilles' war gear and is a glorious symbol of the Achilles to come. But, like Achilles will later, he dies in glorious battle, overreaching in titanic fashion for what Achilles warns him of.
• Book 17 (Menelaus' Finest Hour) - Skim the battle for Patroclus' body. But beware Ajax (the Biggun') and Menelaus; they won't let you body-snatch the man formerly known as "Patroclus."Oh, and try not to freak out when Achilles bellows his war cry. This is proto-screamo at its finest because modern day screamo ain't got nothing on the ancients.
• Book 18 (The Shield of Achilles) - Read this bad-boy of a book. Hector ticketh Achilles offeth. Achilles goes to mama. Mama goes to Hephaestus. Hephaestus smithies new war gear for Achilles. Achilles the spoiled brat gets new war gear from doting mommy. Pay attention to the social depiction on the shield. Dig.
• Book 19 (The Champion Arms for Battle) - Read.
• Book 20 (Olympian Gods In Arms) - Skim these serious war scenes.
• Book 21 (Achilles Fights the River) - Achilles goes beyond Diomedes' berserking and decides to throw down with an entire river and its god. Very fun book. Enjoy the skim!
  

Wednesday, 10/10 - Epic Discussion

*P&P

*Discussion

HW: read Book 12

Tuesday, 10/9 - Continue Discussion

*P&P

*Cont'd discussion . . . let's try to get through Book 10.

HW: Read through Book 11

Monday, 10/8 - J10 Review

*P&P

*Review J10

*Begin HW

HW: continue reading. Read through Book 11 by tomorrow.

Block, 10/5 - Discussion over a Spot o' Tea

*P&P

*Tea, anyone?

*Discussion Book 5 and 6

*Continue reading (J10 due Monday)

HW: 

1. J10
2. Read through Book 10 (we're going to try to make up for some lost time) 

Wednesday, 10/3 - Just Another Day on the Battlefield

*P&P

*Congratulations to Hayley Petersen on her nomination for Queen of Troy . . . er, I mean, Monte Vista Christian School's homecoming court. The stakes aren't quite as high, but it's still an honor. Congrats!

*Let's keep hacking away at these books . . . Book 4 finish and begin Book 5!

HW: stay ahead of the discussion . . .

Iliad - Book 6 ("Hector Returns to Troy")

The Fright of Astyanax (Hector Bidding Farewell to Andromache), Benjamin West, 1797

Discussion points:

Iliad - Book 3 ("Helen Review the Champions")

 
 
Discussion points:

Tuesday, 10/2 - Citing Sources

*P&P

*Citing sources in an electronic institution can be tricky. My citations will be page number first and line number second, since the eBook doesn't have line numbers. Typically, though, poems with parts and line numbers would look like this: When Homer first introduces Helen, she is sitting "in her rooms . . . / weaving a growing web, a dark red folding robe, / working into the weft the endless bloody struggles / . . . suffered all for her at the god of battle's hands" (3.150-54). I will parenthetically cite page number first (132.150-54) with lines following so those with the "real" book can locate with precision, the precision of an Achillean-hurled bronze-tipped spear.

*Take a look at Book 3 discussion points and know how to answer them. Discuss Book 4.

HW: read up through Book 10.

Monday, 10/1 - Battle-clash (or disinterested and objective discussion of text and the inquires pertaining thereunto )

*P&P

*Let's throw down some good discussion today.

HW: Read through Book 10 (get caught up tonight if you've not finished). This week we will continue to discuss our way through the books. Work on Leithart concurrently; next Monday J10 is due. Dig.