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!