Block, 10/31 - Bk 9 (review)

Odysseus Stalks the Suitors

• P&P

• Discuss Bk 9 and then begin the following reading assignments:
• Bks 10-12
• Leithart (In No Man's Land, Books 9-12)
• Do Review Questions 1-10  

HW: Do the reading assignments listed above, which will put us at the half-way mark. Book 13, which we will begin on Monday, will bring us home to Ithaca with the hero, where he will begin his Johnny Rambo preparations for the suitors. Here we go!

Wednesday, 10/30 - Discuss Leithart; begin Book 9 ("In the One-Eyed Giant's Cave")

Book 9: Polyphemus in his cave A-26

• P&P

• Let's discuss Leithart's analysis of Bks 5-8.  

• Now let us begin our feast in Book 9's cave.

HW: Finish Bk 9 and come with a critical insight or question. I'm going to start counting each book as a HW assignment. Additionally, those who go beyond the bare minimum of one insight will be rewarded with offerings of fat victims (discussion grade) at the end of the quarter.

Tuesday, 10/29 - Discuss Bk 8

• P&P

• Discuss Bk 8 - "A Day for Songs and Contests"

• Begin reading Leithart

HW: Read the next installment of Leithart (Hidden Hero, Books 5-8) and do review questions 1-10.  

Monday, 10/28 - Discus Bks 4-7 and read Bk 8 - "A Day For Songs and Contests"

"Odysseus at the court of Alcinous." Painting by Francesco Hayez, 1813-1815.

*P&P

*Let's talk Bks 4-7,

HW: Finish Book 8. Tomorrow your work will be to read the next installment of Leithart (Hidden Hero, Books 5-8) and do review questions 1-10.

Block, 10/24 - Clubbing Seals

Menelaus Captures Proteus

• P&P

• Discuss Leithart's intro and section covering Books 1-4.

• Begin reading Bk 4

HW: Read Books 4-7 over the weekend. Book 4 is long, but books 6 and 7 are super short, fewer than 400 lines each, I believe. Enjoy (especially the seal pelt adornment)

Wednesday, 10/23 - Revamp!

• P&P

• Discuss Bk 3

• Begin Leithart

HW: Finish Leithart. See yesterday's HW post.  

Tuesday, 10/23 - Book 2 ("Telemachus Sets Sail")

Farewell of Telemachus and Eucharis by Jacques-Louis David (1818)

• P&P

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. About the book:
1. Never fear! Most books of The Odyssey are between 400-500 lines or so. 
2. This read should be quite a different read, both in length and subject matter: its scope is quite larger than The Iliad's, focusing in greater breadth and depth on family relations. I think you'll like the human vision much more than the myopic vision that war forces onto The Iliad. Enjoy!!!

Keep up in your Leithart, his chapters on The Odyssey.  

1. I will assume you have read the sections of Heroes that parallel Homer and will expect you to incorporate Leithart's insights into our class discussions. You will also be responsible to know the answers to his review questions at the end of each section. You might want to keep notes for a quiz and the ICE at the end of the Odyssey. 

• Discuss Bk 1 

HW: Finish Book 2

Thursday, 10/16 - Iliad Quiz

• P & P

• Quiz

• Read the first book of The Odyssey

HW: Read Bk 1 of The Odyssey and be ready to discuss.

Psalm 100 - lyrics

All people that on earth do dwell,

Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.

Him serve with mirth, His praise forth tell; 

Come ye before Him and rejoice 

Monday, 10/14 - The End of the Beginning of the End of the War

Achilles dragging Hector's body around Troy

• P&P

• Discuss Bks 23-24

HW: 

1. Prepare for a short test on The Iliad tomorrow. 
1. You should know the following:
1. main characters--both heroes and gods/goddesses
2. the plot line 
3. journal answers 
2. Essay section: There will be a short essay section dealing with heroism and geography (its symbolism), requiring just a few paragraphs.
3. You should also be familiar with the following Greek terms:
1. kleos = self-glory
2. philos = bro-love
3. aidos = shame
4. aristeia = battle prowess
5. menis = demonic rage  

 

Block, 10/10 - Discuss 22

Priam kisses the hand that killed his son(s)

• P&P

• Discuss Bk 22

 HW: Finish The Iliad

Wednesday, 10/9 - Discuss Bk 21: "Achilles Fights the River"

• P&P

  

  Achilles kills Hector

• Discuss 21

• Begin Bk 22: "The Death of Hector"

HW: Finish Bk 22  

Tuesday, 10/8 - Discuss Bk 20 "Olympian Gods in Arms"

• P&P

• Discuss Bk 20

• Begin Bk 21 "Achilles Fights the River"

HW: Finish Bk 21 for Wednesday  

Monday, 10/7 - Reconvene For the Final Battle

Achilles attacks a river god

• P&P

• I'm so sorry I didn't activate the post from block day, which had your reading schedule on it. Let's figure out what to do to finish up this bad-boy of a book.

• 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 20

HW: Finish Bk 20

  

Block, 10/3 - Let's discuss 17, 18, and J10

• P&P

• Discuss Bks 17, 18, and J10. Let's begin with the journal discussion though.

HW: 

1. Read Bks 19-21  

Wednesday, 10/2 - Discuss Bk 16

• P&P

• Discuss Bk 16 and then do some work for tomorrow

HW: 

1. Finish Books 17-18
2. Finish J10 (see earlier posts)   

Tuesday, 10/1 - Discuss Bk 15

• P&P

• Discuss Bk 15, a slightly less awkward book than the one we disgusted yesterday ; )

HW: see yesterday's post for an overview of what's due block.