odyssey Books 16-21 FEBRUARY 11, 14, 11/14

Today I will guide us through three sections from Books 16-21 before turning to the following:

Revisit the values of the Grad at Grad on SJ’s webpage. I’d like you to choose the two Grad at Grad principles that you think are most applicable to Homer’s Odyssey. Begin to think about some ways Odysseus struggles with, learns about, or practices your chosen Grad at Grad value. Do this by reading through the description of each value completely and recalling moments in the Odyssey that apply. By our next class, I’d like you to complete my handout from class. You want to find 6 quotes from the entire poem that you think have something to do with your chosen characteristics. Then I’d like you to write a sentence or two that explains how the quote pertains to the principle of the Grad at Grad. Again, if you did not finish this in class, please finish for homework.

HOMEWORK FOR OUR NEXT MEETING:

Please read Book 22, pages 198-215.

sentence combining day 2 FEBRUARY 10, 10, 9

Today we’ll look at your assignment from last class and carry on with 5 more sentence sets. Let’s make sure they’re absolutely perfect.

HOMEWORK FOR OUR NEXT MEETING:

Please read Book 21, pages 184-198. During our next class, we will undertake to discuss the latest few books that we have not discussed during class because of the ice day or my absence on Tuesday. Please make sure you’ve read through the end of Book 21.

KUBUS OUT WITH TENNIS FEBRUARY 8, 8, 8

While I am out today, we’re going to change gears and work on our sentence-level writing. Today will be independent review of concepts you should have mastered coming into Strake Jesuit and concepts you should have learned last semester. You’ll then fill out and turn in a handout by the end of class. If you finish early, you will have time to make sure you have finished reading Books 18 and 19 of the Odyssey. You will need headphones or AirPods. Here are the steps for today:

1. Begin by watching this video explaining the difference between simple and compound sentences. This is a concept you came into Strake Jesuit knowing already. It’s good review. Don’t skip this step even if you think you absolutely know this already. It’s 4:30 long.

2. Now move to this presentation on the distinction between independent and dependent clauses. Recall last semester when we talked a great deal about the differences between these two and, more importantly, about how to combine multiple clauses together in the same sentence. This is absolutely something you want to review to be able to complete the following exercies. Don’t skip this step even if you think you absolutely know this already. It’s 7:32 long.

3. Complete the handout given to you by your sub. You will need to turn it in by the end of class.

ODYSSEY BOOKs 16 and 17 FEBRUARY 3, 4, 8

Today, after discussing Book 16, we’re going to consider Joseph Campbell’s idea of the monomyth, wherein the hero of any given narrative works through a series of stages he calls the hero’s journey.

Here is a copy of today’s handout.

HOMEWORK FOR OUR NEXT MEETING:

Please read the excerpts from Books 18 and 19, pages 161-184.

——————————————————————

odyssey introduction january 6, 6, 7

Welcome back. It’s going to be a great semester. Everybody has a clean slate and an opportunity to do their best. What changes will you make to make sure you’re doing everything you can to succeed?

Why are we reading this poem, The Odyssey? What will our focus be?

Topics for today: THE EPIC CYCLE | What is EPIC? | What are XENIA, KLEOS, ARETE?

Everything I ever learned about being a real man I learned from reading Homer’s Odyssey.

HOMEWORK FOR OUR NEXT MEETING:

You’re reading and studying Book 1 for our next class, pages 1-14. Know its contents inside and out; test your knowledge of my summary of the epic cycle and Book 1 by practicing the quiz you’ll take during our next class. This will be the only time you’ll see the quiz beforehand.

odyssey Book 1 january 7, 10, 11

How did it go? What’s challenging about the reading of the poem? How is reading the Odyssey different from reading other texts?

We’ll take the quiz before delving into our first discussion:

We'll discuss the first verse paragraph in detail: Is man’s’ fate caused by their own actions? Is it foreordained? Is it arbitrary?

What are the various qualities of Odysseus introduced at the beginning?

Let's also discuss the portrait of Telemachus’ character. How should we understand Telemachus’s harsh response to his mother Penelope re the bard’s song?

LESSONS 1 and 2.

Moving forward: Parallel stories in the poem

HOMEWORK FOR OUR NEXT MEETING:

You’re reading our edition’s selections from Book 4 for our next class, pages 15-29. Make sure you also read the short summaries of the omitted portions.

odyssey Book 4 january 11, 11, 12

We’ll begin with a quiz before moving to our next discussion:

Telemachus’s wisdom; Helen’s shame; the story of Proteus as a parallel to Odysseus

Today I’ll also set your first writing assignment of the semester.

HOMEWORK FOR OUR NEXT MEETING:

You’re reading our edition’s selections from Book 5 for our next class, pages 29-44. Make sure you also read the short summaries of the omitted portions.

odyssey Book 5 january 13, 13, 14

In Book 5 we meet Odysseus for the first time. Does he stand up to the ways he’s been characterized by others in the poem so far? How so?

There’s a great deal I’d like to look at during discussion today, but we’ll focus on lessons 3, 4, and 5: Why does Zeus require Odysseus to make a raft? And why a raft rather than a ship?

Today I’ll set your first writing assignment of the semester as well as your passage memorization and recitation assignment.

HOMEWORK FOR OUR NEXT MEETING:

You’re reading our edition’s selections from Books 6 and 8 for our next class, pages 44-61. Make sure you also read the short summaries of the omitted portions. As always, there will be a quiz during our next class.

odyssey books 6, 8 january 14, 18, 18

Nothing really beats Book 5, but Books 6 and 8 will have to do for today. Yes, we’re having a quiz. It’s a bit shorter, and hopefully now you’re getting the hang of them. Let’s talk today about the function of Demodocus’s songs and Odysseus’s encounter with Nausicaa.

HOMEWORK FOR OUR NEXT MEETING:

You’re reading our edition’s selections from Book 9 for our next class, pages 62-77. Make sure you also read the short summaries of the omitted portions. As always, there will be a quiz during our next class. During our next class, we’ll talk about the theory of monsters and why humans invent them.

What an extraordinary part of this poem Book 9 is! Enjoy it. Next time we’ll begin our discussion of Book 9 but will surely need to continue later. One thing we’ll certainly notice is that Odysseus’s encounters at each of his stops forces him to confront a part of himself that needs shaking off. His shortsightedness is at the heart of his encounter of Polyphemus, he who is both literally and metaphorically myopic.

odyssey book 9 january 19, 19, 20

Today will begin what will be an extended discussion of Book 9 of Homer’s Odyssey. It’s a carefully crafted book that deserves our special attention. In the second half of class I will show you my sample body paragraph that you can use as a model for your current body paragraph assignment due next week.

odyssey book 10 january 20, 21, 24

During class today, please silently read Book 10, taking notes as always. Be ready for a quiz during our next class.

odyssey book 10 january 24, 24, 25

Today we will work through the essay assignment that is now due next week.

HOMEWORK FOR OUR NEXT MEETING:

You’re reading Book 11 for our next class, pages 95-114. Study hard; there’s a great deal of information!

odyssey book 11 january 26, 26, 27

Today I want to have a discussion about Book 11: Why does Odysseus go to Hades, and what does he learn there?

We’ll look at several groups of people he meets while there: Friends/Family, Women, Heroes

HOMEWORK FOR OUR NEXT MEETING:

Your assignment for our next class is to read Book 12, pages 115-28.

odyssey book 12 january 27, 28, 28

Ithaca at Last

HOMEWORK FOR OUR NEXT MEETING:

Please read our edition’s excerpts of Book 13, pages 129-40.

odyssey book 13 january 31, february 1

We’ll begin today with a little time to look at your body paragraphs. Here are three samples:

SAMPLE 1 SAMPLE 2 SAMPLE 3

You’ll have a little time to revise in class; then, we’ll turn to Book 13: Ithaca at Last!

HOMEWORK FOR OUR NEXT MEETING:

If you have not finished reading Book 13, please do so before our next class.

ODYSSEY BOOK 13 february 2, 2, 3

Let’s take a step back and think about what’s been going on in the Odyssey as a whole. What does Homer want us to see about the current state of man in his time and place?

With regard to Book 13, why must the fate of the Phaeacians be so cruel? Why is it that Odysseus is not permitted to recognize his homeland when he returns? Why does he lie to Athena?

HOMEWORK FOR OUR NEXT MEETING:

I’d like for you to read our edition’s excerpts of Books 16 and 17, pages 140-61.

“Keep Ithaka always in your mind.
Arriving there is what you’re destined for.

And if you find her poor, Ithaka won’t have fooled you.
Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,
you’ll have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.”
— from C.P. Cavafy, "Ithaka"

what's due?

February 1 — Homer’s Odyssey Speech Analysis

February 16, 17, 22 — Homer’s Odyssey Test

February 28 — Homer’s Odyssey Project

March TBD — Poetry Project and Odyssey Passage Memorization

current text to have daily

Why should we spend our time reading novels and poems when, out there, big things are going on?
“In the realm of narrative psychology, a person’s life story is not a Wikipedia biography of the facts and events of a life, but rather the way a person integrates those facts and events internally—picks them apart and weaves them back together to make meaning. This narrative becomes a form of identity, in which the things someone chooses to include in the story, and the way she tells it, can both reflect and shape who she is. A life story doesn’t just say what happened, it says why it was important, what it means for who the person is, for who they’ll become, and for what happens next.”
— Julie Beck, The Atlantic