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. 

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.