Monday/Tuesday
We will begin with reading Genesis 11: The Origin of Languages.
- Background on the dysfunctional family of Agamemnon. Take notes.
- I’ll explain what Furies are.
- You will also learn how these plays show the movement from Tribal Law to the Greek City-State or Democracy.
- Let’s talk about how the Greeks felt about women. That is one of their big downfalls, and if you read these Greek plays, it seems as though they never learn.
The following information can be found on pp. 339-343 in your books. You will probably start this in class and finish it for homework tonight. For classes that have not completed the interviewing process, you will begin reading quietly as everyone does an interview.
- Know the following about Aeschylus, who wrote The Oresteia, part of which we will read and act out in class.
- When he lived (approximately).
- Know the origins of drama (339).
- Know about Dionysus and that he is a “vegetation deity” (339). I will explain what a vegetation deity is.
- What did Aeschylus do that no other playwright had done before?
- What are the Dionysia?
- Know the names of the three plays that make up The Oresteia. Know the players covered.
- What happens in The Libation Bearers?
- What happens at the end of the trilogy?
- “We must suffer into truth.” That is the theme of the trilogy.
- Know Cassandra’s role and know about her curse.
We will begin reading/performing the play. Students earn 100 points (weighted as classwork) for taking notes and students who read aloud will receive an additional 100 points (weighted as a quiz grade).
The parts will be divided as such:
- Watchman
- Chorus (divided into three readers)
- Leader of the Chorus
- Clytaemnestra
We will stop when we get to the Herald, so we don’t need a herald or a Cassandra or an Agamemnon today.
For homework, finish reading the background information on Aeschylus. Don’t forget to bring your vocabulary books on Wednesday/Thursday.
Wednesday/Thursday
- Take out your vocabulary books. You will receive credit of 50 of your 100 points of classwork for having it with you today. The other 50 will come from your participation/ paying attention to the play.
- We will go over the words in unit one.
- Next, other students will have the chance to read / perform parts. This time we have the following characters:
- Herald
- Leader
- Clytaemnestra
- Chorus (three parts)
- Agamemnon
- We will not get to Cassandra today, so I expect you to read that as homework over the weekend.
Homework due on Friday: Do the vocabulary exercises that go with Chapter One. Skip the last exercise, “Vocabulary in Context.” Make sure that you bring your vocabulary books with your names on or in them and with the exercises completed on Friday.
Friday:
· I will check your vocabulary exercises.
· We will go over them.
· Finish reading the play, “Agamemnon.” There may be a quiz on the following Monday/Tuesday.
