Monday, 9/30 - The Death of the Father's Glory

• P&P

• Discuss Books 14-16

HW: Here's what's due by block day:

1. Books 17-18
2. J10 due block day  

J10 – Heroes (114-125) – “The Love of Achilles, Books 9-17”
Nail: What heroic motivations does Homer explore in Books 9-17; which one proves strongest?

1. Agamemnon accepts no responsibility for having enraged Achilles. Instead, he blames madness, the gods. How is this behavior a chink in the armor of the heroic ethic?
2. What is wrong with Agamemnon’s gift, his offer of reconciliation, to Achilles? In other words, how is his huge offer an assertion of superiority?
3. The messengers to Achilles speak to him with appeals to kleos and philos. Although he doesn’t join the war at the moment, what is ironic—unexpected, given what we know and expect of him—about Achilles’ future decision to join the war?
4. How do Homer’s epic similes contribute thematically to Homer’s understanding of warfare? (Think about the focus on animals and forces of nature).
5. Talk to me about the ancients’ understanding of boundaries, addressing both the Greek and Christian understanding.
6. In what way does Patroclus’ participation in the war “solve” Achilles’ heroic dilemma?
7. On a related note, what is significant about Achilles’ armor? Cite several details that explain your answer.

 

Thursday, 9/26 - Bk 13 . . . discuss

Marauding in the Night - Diomedes

• P&P

• You'll probably have to look at it on a computer, but I found some pretty cool modern reinterpretations of what Diomedes and Odysseus might have looked like as they pounced on Dolon the weasel boy. My wife says she's going to get me one of these hawt new items for my birthday . . . um, no thanks ; )

• Discuss Bk 13

• Begin reading Bks 14-16 . . .
• Oh, I forgot to mention that Book 14 is pretty strange and contains a seduction scene between Hera and Zeus. Zeus becomes a new "Paris," while Hera is a new . . . "Helen." Surprise, surprise. You'll notice that Zeus' words even mirror those of Paris, after Aphrodite whisks Paris away from battling Menelaus to Helen's bedroom. Zeus, however, is quite the dashing suitor when he appeals to Hera, cataloging the past womenfolk he's conquered: "Hera, my wife, I want you so badly right now, even more than when I was with so-and-so-and-so-and-so" . . . ad seeminglium infinitum. What a man, what a god, what a lew-hew-zer. It's OK, though; Hera is just using him.   

  

  Odysseus pouncing on Dolon, the weasel boy

  
  

HW: 

1. Bks 14-16 (plus a quote for each)
2. Begin working on J10

J10 – Heroes (114-125) – “The Love of Achilles, Books 9-17”
Nail: What heroic motivations does Homer explore in Books 9-17; which one proves strongest?

1. Agamemnon accepts no responsibility for having enraged Achilles. Instead, he blames madness, the gods. How is this behavior a chink in the armor of the heroic ethic?
2. What is wrong with Agamemnon’s gift, his offer of reconciliation, to Achilles? In other words, how is his huge offer an assertion of superiority?
3. The messengers to Achilles speak to him with appeals to kleos and philos. Although he doesn’t join the war at the moment, what is ironic—unexpected, given what we know and expect of him—about Achilles’ future decision to join the war?
4. How do Homer’s epic similes contribute thematically to Homer’s understanding of warfare? (Think about the focus on animals and forces of nature).
5. Talk to me about the ancients’ understanding of boundaries, addressing both the Greek and Christian understanding.
6. In what way does Patroclus’ participation in the war “solve” Achilles’ heroic dilemma?
7. On a related note, what is significant about Achilles’ armor? Cite several details that explain your answer.

     

Wednesday, 9/25 - Finish Bk 13

• P&P

• Work day! Finish reading Bk 13. If you've finished it already, then please begin reading Leithart's next installment, which will be due sometime toward the end of next week.

J10 – Heroes (114-125) – “The Love of Achilles, Books 9-17”
EQ: What heroic motivations does Homer explore in Books 9-17; which one proves strongest?

1. Agamemnon accepts no responsibility for having enraged Achilles. Instead, he blames madness, the gods. How is this behavior a chink in the armor of the heroic ethic?
2. What is wrong with Agamemnon’s gift, his offer of reconciliation, to Achilles? In other words, how is his huge offer an assertion of superiority?
3. The messengers to Achilles speak to him with appeals to kleos and philos. Although he doesn’t join the war at the moment, what is ironic—unexpected, given what we know and expect of him—about Achilles’ future decision to join the war?
4. How do Homer’s epic similes contribute thematically to Homer’s understanding of warfare? (Think about the focus on animals and forces of nature).
5. Talk to me about the ancients’ understanding of boundaries, addressing both the Greek and Christian understanding.
6. In what way does Patroclus’ participation in the war “solve” Achilles’ heroic dilemma?
7. On a related note, what is significant about Achilles’ armor? Cite several details that explain your answer.

 

Tuesday, 9/24 - Discuss Bks 11-12

• P&P

• Discuss Bks 11-12

HW: Begin reading Bk 13 and the next installment of Leithart. Finish Bk 13 for block day. Leithart journal will be due sometime next week.  

Friday, 9/20 - Bks 10-11

• P&P

• Discuss Bk 9 - The Embassy to Achilles

HW: Read Bks 10 "Marauding through the Night" (670 lines) and 11 "Agamemnon's Day of Glory" (1015 lines) over the weekend. Have a great Homecoming Weekend! Be wise and enjoy the battle in the stadium, as well as that on the Trojan plains . . .  

Thursday, 9/19 - Bk 9 for tonight!

• P&P

• Work day. Dig into Bk 9 and be ready to share a quote tomorrow.

 HW: Bk 9 quote and commentary (Q&C) 

Wednesday, 9/18 - Discuss J9

• P&P

• Discuss J9

HW: Take a break from war, just like the Trojans and Greeks do at the end of Book 8 (so no homework tonight). Just remember that the sun will usher in a new day of battle with Bk 9. Enjoy the sweet slumber this evening.

Iliad - Book 5 ("Diomedes Fights the Gods")

Diomedes Wounds Aphrodite, Arthur Fitger, 1905

Discussion points:

Iliad - Book 4 ("The Truce Erupts in War")

Aphrodite Saves Paris, Alan Lee, 2008

Discussion points:

Monday, 9/16 - The Ill-iad

The Achilles Tendon

• P&P

• Discuss Bks 4-6 and quotes  

• "Hweat!" No, wrong language and epic . . . that's Beowulf. "Rage!" That's more like it ; )

HW: Read the next two books of Homer's Iliad (Bks 7 & 8) and finish J9 for Wednesday. I'll give you class time on Tuesday to do some work. "Thank you, Mr. Reno!" "You're welcome, my little warriors and warring weavers."

J9 – Heroes (97-114) – “The Rage of Achilles, Books 1-8”

1. In what ways does Homer use Achilles to “trace out the consequences of extreme heroism”?
2. Although sideline characters in the Iliad, women’s role is crucial. How?
3. Explain how Achilles and Paris thematically occupy opposite end of the “heroic spectrum.”
4. Paris and Menelaus symbolize the clash of what opposites (there are several)?
5. The Greeks and Trojans almost establish a truce. Why does peace not prevail?
6. How do Paris and Achilles spatially occupy extreme positions in the Iliad (and where does Hector fall on that heroic continuum and why)?
7. What ancient practices does the scene between Diomedes and Glaucus highlight? What theme might it reinforce?
8. Comment on how the special division of the epic is also a gender division.
9. How, through Paris and Achilles, does Homer show that the two ends of the heroic spectrum curve around to meet?
10. How is Hector a true hero?
11. How is Hector more than a hero?
12. What does Homer achieve with his beautiful description of the “descent of darkness” (Heroes 112)?
 

 

Block, 9/12 - Tea Partea! Then . . . draw your weapons!

You'll need some of this to sack Troy, my darlins.

• P&P 

• Tea Time!

• Let's discuss Bk 3.

• Continue reading (see HW assignment below). 

HW: Read Books 4-6 (and remember to progressively work your way through Leithart's text for additional insight). Remember to select one quote for each book; I will check for three quotes on Monday.

Wednesday, 9/11 - Review Bk 2, Begin Bk 3

• P&P

• Review Bk 2, begin Bk 3.

HW: 

1. Read Bk 3 (select quote)

Tuesday, 9/10 - Didst thou select a quote delectable?

• P&P

• Quote sharing!

HW: Read Book 2 and select a quote for tomorrow. Huzzah! 

Monday, 9/9 - Let the break dance fighting begin

• P&P 

• Take notes on J8's reading assignment (Leithart's introduction to Homer's Iliad). 

• Begin Homer's Iliad (this link is to our Fagles version; you'll have to wait a minute for it to download), and also begin reading Leithart for J9 (Due block day), "The Rage of Achilles, Books 1-8." If for some reason Fagles' version won't download for you, please use this link and read it until your Fagles arrives in the mail.

HW: Read one book of Homer's Iliad per day (journal will be due Monday, 9/16). In addition to the journal, I want you to select one favorite quote from each book; be ready either to link the quote to a larger theme, or explain why it's artistically delicious. So your homework for tomorrow will be to finish Book 1, record your favorite quote, and be ready to defend your selection. Cheers!



J9 – Heroes (97-114) – “The Rage of Achilles, Books 1-8”

1. In what ways does Homer use Achilles to “trace out the consequences of extreme heroism”?
2. Although sideline characters in the Iliad, women’s role is crucial. How?
3. Explain how Achilles and Paris thematically occupy opposite end of the “heroic spectrum.”
4. What opposites does the clash between Paris and Menelaus symbolize?
5. The Greeks and Trojans almost establish a truce. Why does peace not prevail?
6. How do Paris and Achilles spatially occupy extreme positions in the Iliad (and where does Hector fall on that heroic continuum and why)?
7. What ancient practices does the scene between Diomedes and Glaucus highlight? What theme might it reinforce?
8. Comment on how the special division of the epic is also a gender division.
9. How, through Paris and Achilles, does Homer show that the two ends of the heroic spectrum curve around to meet?
10. How is Hector a true hero?
11. How is Hector more than a hero?
12. What does Homer achieve with his beautiful description of the “descent of darkness” (Heroes 112)?

Block, 9/5 - Quiz and ICE - Hesiod

*P&P

*Quiz and ICE

*Begin reading Heroes on Homer's Iliad.

HW: Read the following pages in Heroes and be prepared to discuss on Monday.

 

J8 – Heroes (85-96): “The Iliad – Intro”

1. According to the myths, how did the war begin?
2. What part of the war is the Iliad about?
3. What is the ancient Greek view of death?
4. Describe the hero’s attitude toward death.
5. What does Homer think of the “heroic ethic”?
6. What accounts for the “despair” that, according to C. S. Lewis, pervades Homer’s epic?
7. Explain the “geography” of the epic. Why is this spacial division important?
8. Describe the “chiastic” links between Books 1-3 and Books 22-24.

9. How are the structures of Books 1 and 24 connected?

10. Describe some of the poetic techniques that Homer uses to unify the poem.
11. Research and cite two facts about ancient Greek warfare that you find interesting (we’ll see if Homer's depiction of warfare reflects your facts).

  

Wednesday, 9/4 - Hesiod Low-Carb Wrap

• P&P

• Finish discussing Journal 7

 HW: 

1. Review Hesiod journals for a short quiz tomorrow
2. Be ready for an In Class Essay covering, comparing, and contrasting Hesiod's theology with the introductory chapters of Genesis. You may use your journals on your essay.

Tuesday, 9/3 - Journ(ey)al Day

• P&P

• Lettuce discus our journals today and most likely tomorrow, too

HW: For those not finished, please finish your Hesiod journals. We will have a little quiz and ICE on block day of this week. Sweet!