Thursday, April 29, 2010

Odyssey--Notes on Books 10-13

Book X

Know the island and who lives there (at the beginning).

What gift does he give to Odysseus?

What do the men do with this “gift”? What motivates them to do so?

What does the gift-giver say about giving him a replacement gift? Why will he not do it?

Who are the Laistrygonians?

Who is Artakía?

What happens to some of Odysseus’ men after their encounter with Artakía?

What is the name of the island upon which Kirkê resides?

Describe the island and explain why this is a warning. Compare to the island of the Kyklopes.

Odysseus orders his men to break up into two groups. Who does he choose as the leader of the expedition?

What strange, unnatural, and supernatural things do the men find when they get to their destination?

Which character suggests that they should enter the dwelling?

How does Kirkê treat the men once they enter? Give specifics.

After treating them kindly, what does she do to them?

Which named character did not enter because his intuition told him not to?

When that character gets back to inform Odysseus, how does that character react when Odysseus says that Odysseus will lead the next expedition to Kirkê’s house?

Which god helps Odysseus in this endeavor?

What does the god give to Odysseus?

What does the god instruct Odysseus to do (beyond the molü)?

What weapon does Odysseus bring with him?

What happens the men after Odysseus has beguiled the charming Kirkê?

How long does Odysseus remain with Kirkê?

Who tells Odysseus that he must return home?

Before he goes Kirkê tells Odysseus that he must visit the underworld. What animal sacrifices must they make first?

Which famous seer will Odysseus seek once he is there?

What happened to Elpênor?

Book XI

What kinds of libations does Odysseus prepare once he has arrived in “the realm and region of the Men of Winter”?

To which famous goddess must Odysseus make sacrifices?

Who is the first “shade” that they see?

What does this once-human, former shipmate, ask of Odysseus?

Which relative does Odysseus discover here, has died? How did she die?

What prophecy does Tiresias give?

Note that Odysseus also encounters Oedipus and Jocasta.

Who is Lêda?

Who is Ariadnê?

What does Agamemnon reveal?

What does Agamemnon say about the “intrigues of women”? What does he say about Helen? What advise does Agamemnon give about how one should regard or treat a woman?

What does Agamemnon say about Penelope? How does he later contradict himself?

What is said of/by Akhilleus?

Know about Orion, Tityos, Tántalos, Sísphos, and Herakles.

Book XII—Sea Perils and Defeat

What happens to the recently-fallen comrade’s body? How does Odysseus show honor?

Know about the Seirênês.

Know about Amphitritê.

Know about the Symplegades.

Know about Skylla and Kharybdis.

Know what will happen on Thrinákia—who lives there, and which animals no one must touch.

What does Odysseus do to save himself from the Seirênês?

How are his men saved from the fate normally wrought when one listens to the Seirênês?

What is the choice Odysseus has to make when they encounter Skylla and Kharybdis? Which one does he take?

What does Eurýlokhos say?

Why do the men start to starve? What events cause this?

Who is Lampetía?

What sin do Odysseus men commit?

What are the consequences?

Where does Odysseus end up at the end of Book XII?

Book XIII

What does Alkínoos offer and give to Odysseus?

What price do the Phiákians pay for helping Odysseus?

Athena intervenes early in the story, arriving in what human form?

Into what form does Athena change later?

Note her criticism of Odysseus: “’Always the same detachment! That is why / I cannot fail you, in your evil fortune, / coolheaded, quick, well-spoken as you are! / Would not another wandering man, injoy, / make haste home to his wife and children? Not / you, not yet’” (387-392).

What does Athena say about Odysseus’ wife?

What does Athena reveal about what has been going on in Ithaka?

Monday, April 26, 2010

Some "Odyssey" Notes and Questions

“Odyssey” Notes—

Book V:

Which character is known as “the Wayfinder”?

What does he order Calypso to do?

What is the name of Odysseus’ son?

What does Calypso say about relationships between immortal beings and mortal beings?

Why does Calypso call Odysseus “a dog”? What has Odysseus told Calypso to do? She protests, adding that “Fairness is all I think of. There are hearts made of cold iron—but my heart is kind.”

Odysseus is the son of .

Who is Calypso talking about when Calypso asks, “Can I be less desirable than she is? / Less interesting? Less beautiful? Can mortals / compare with goddesses in grace and form?” (220-222).

How does Odysseus answer the question?

Besides the materials necessary for building a raft, what does Calypso give him? Hint: it’s a particular garment.

Which god has it in for Odysseus? Why? What did Odysseus do to offend that god?

What eventually happens to the garment that Kalypso has given Odysseus?

What is the name of Kadmos’ daughter and what does she give to Odysseus?

What must Odysseus eventually do with this garment?

What is the name of the island upon which Odysseus lands?

What is the name of the people who live here?

Book VIII

Who is Alkínoös?

What story does the harper sing about?

What is the name of the bard that makes Odysseus cry?

What is the bard’s physical abnormality?

What is the name of the king’s favorite son?

Which of the Phaiákians insults Odysseus?

In order to lighten things up a little, the minstrel sings about Aphrodite, Ares, and Aphrodites’s cuckolded husband, also known as .

Who is Pontónoös?

During the Trojan war, Odysseus had fought with Akhilleus. Also note, “how one time they contended at the godfeast/ raging, and the marshall, Agamemnon, / felt inward joy over his captains’ quarrel; / for such had been foretold him by Apollo / at Pytho—hallowed height—when the Akhaian / crossed that portal of a rock to ask a sign—“ (81-86).

The young man challenge Odysseus to compete in what events?

What is the first of the athletic contests?

What is the name of the island on which Odysseus was exiled (with Kalypso) for seven years?

Book IX

Which army, “trained to fight on horseback,” were offended when Odysseus’ men got drunk and butchered their sheep and cattle? In response, they “unfleshed” Odysseus’ men.

What are the giant “louts” whose land is “unplanted and untilled, a wilderness, who live without a law to bless them”?

Which character / host does not adhere to the rules of the guest-host relationship? What is his name?

How does Odysseus trick this character? What does he do to him?

How is Odysseus able to (along with the remaining men) escape this giant?

What name does Odysseus give to this dangerous character?

What happens when Odysseus reveals his identity?




Week of April 26, 2010

Sorry, students. My internet service was down yesterday so I had to wait until I got to school today.

Monday/Tuesday:

Vocabulary test of final three chapters (plus classical roots). When finished, write out and sign the pledge and turn it in. Take out your textbooks and quietly read Books 8 & 9 of "The Odyssey," (pp. 126-151). Finish what you don't finish in class for homework. For some classes, we will continue our discussion of "The Overcoat."

Wednesday/Thursday:

Possible reading quiz on "The Overcoat" and "The Odyssey" so far. I have said this before, but I will say it again--do not use Spark Notes, Cliff's Notes, Pink Monkey, or any other kinds of so-called "study guides." Do not use a different translation of "The Odyssey." Any quizzes orCheck Spellingtests will come from the version in your textbooks. The most common one is a really-cleaned-up version written in the 19th century. Perhaps a discussion of "The Odyssey." We will begin reading Book X and you will finish it for homework, pp. 151-164.

Friday:
Discussion of Book X. Start Book XI(pp. 165) and finish for homework over the weekend, along with Book XII & XIII (181-203).

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Week of April 19, 2010

As I continue to grade Inferno projects (and because grades must be submitted by this Thursday morning!), I realize that I can not possibly write a vocabulary test.

For homework, read the first chapter (Book V) of "The Odyssey." It is in your orange books.

Therefore, the vocabulary test is deferred until next Monday/Tuesday. Meanwhile, we will do the following:

Monday/Tuesday

Finish "Hamlet." Watch more of the screen version.

Wednesday/Thursday

We will probably watch more scenes from Branaugh's "Hamlet." In addition, I will give you a copy of Gogol's famous short-story, "The Overcoat." Gogol is Russian. Though you have probably already covered that in global studies, I still want to do it now because it's a great short story and because I'd like to do something that is not so old. It's a quirky story and sad and funny at the same time. It will be good preparation for Kurt Vonnegut's famous novel, Slaughterhouse Five, something we will begin next week.

Friday

We will talk about the short story. Study for the vocabulary test which will take place on Monday/Tuesday.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Week of April 12, 2010

Monday/Tuesday

More "Hamlet" acted out in class. More "Hamlet" for homework. Let's see how far we get. Scenes from the Branaugh version.

Wednesday/Thursday

Ideally, we will finish "Hamlet." More of the "Branaugh" version.
Homework: Do the vocabulary review unit.

Friday: Go over vocabulary review. Prepare for a test (chapters 12-15) on Wednesday/Thursday.

Next Week: Bring your orange Nortons again. We are going to cover parts of "The Odyssey."