“enargeia, n. (εναργεια) ETYM: from the Greek word argos, meaning “bright”
a. the graphic portrayal of living an experience
b. the stylistic effect in which appeal is made to the senses in such a way that the listener will be turned into an eyewitness; mimesis
b. bright unbearable reality

”Homer’s greatness is in his telling out of the embedded vivid, the core of life made explicit.””
— Nicolson, Why Homer Matters

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7 (6)

Over the weekend read lines 259-499 of Book 12 the Iliad. We'll omit Books 10 and 11. Odysseus and Diomedes raid the Trojan camp by night. The next day Agamemnon leads the Greeks into battle and distinguishes himself until he is wounded. Then Odysseus and Diomedes are both wounded and withdraw. Nestor suggests to Patroclus that he ask Achilles to allow him to borrow his armor and lead the Myrmidons into battle. We'll also skip lines 1-258 of Book 12. Hector leads the Trojans across the trench and up to the wall around the Greek camp.

Messrs. Burgess, Martin, Duble, and Ikott will come to class with a question to begin the discussion.

MONDAY, october 10 (1)

Update on A Midsummer Night's Dream -- Sign up here

Today we'll finish discussing Book 9 of the Iliad by looking at Achilles' response to Phoenix and Ajax's plea. Then we'll move to the second half of Book 12; Burgess, Martin, Duble, or Ikott will begin the discussion with a question.

No new reading in the Iliad tonight, but I do want you to read "Drafting Strategy One: Organize the evidence" from the bottom of page 51 to the middle of 55. What are Degen's common organizing methods? Did you use one of them in your first body paragraph? Might you have attempted another method of organization? 

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11 (2)

Set Iliad body paragraph 2 and Iliad essay

Methods of organization: TIME, PLACE, CAUSE AND EFFECT, DEFINITION, ANALOGY, CLASSIFICATION, COMPARISON / CONTRAST

Tonight read "Drafting Strategy Two: Add necessary transitions" from the bottom of 55 to the top of 57. Complete the exercise on the top of 57. Hand-write your response to be turned in tomorrow for a quiz grade.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12 (3)

Using transitions to let your reader know how your next sentence responds to the previous one.

Tonight read "Drafting Strategy Three: Maintain topic focus" from the middle of 57 to the middle of 58 AND "Drafting Strategy Four: Use word and logic glue for coherence" from the middle of 58 to 60. Complete the exercise in the middle of 58 and the exercise on page 60. Hand-write your response to be turned in tomorrow for a 20-point quiz grade.

You'll have a little time in class tomorrow to discuss with me what you plan to do for your Iliad essay. Come to class knowing how to answer my questions, "What is it that you'll be tracing, and what is your provisional thesis?"

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13 (4)

Topics in class today: Maintaining topic focus; Word and logic glue; What is it that you're tracing, and what is your provisional thesis? How will this next passage help develop the idea?   

Tonight I'd like you to read "Listing Plot Details" in the Degen text, pages 75-77. This is a nice review, showing you through student examples parts of paragraphs that forget that the reader may not see the evidence in the same way you do.

Section 6

Section 1

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14 (5)

Today we'll move together to page 75 in the Degen text, looking at appropriate ways to include plot details. If we have time we'll move to some examples in Degen of extending elaboration.

There. Now you have one week to write your second body paragraph with all of that added instruction. Use the weekend to read the first 454 lines of Book 16. Books 13 through 15 are omitted. Poseidon rallies the Greeks. The Greek heroes Idomeneus and Meriones meet behind the lines, and then Idomeneus distinguishes himself in battle. The fighting is furious on both sides. The Greeks rout the Trojans, and Ajax knocks out Hector with a huge stone. Hera seduces Zeus to divert his attention from the Greek's success. When Zeus awakes he aids Hector and the Trojans, and they advance all the way up to the Greek ships. Ajax alone holds the Trojans at bay as they attempt to burn one of the ships.

While you're reading the beginning of crucial Book 16, think about the following. Respond to at least one in your notes.

(1) You'll notice there is a shift in point of view when the speaker of the poem starts to directly address one of the characters. Recall our conversation on point of view as it related to The Road. What is the effect of such a switch?

(2) Has Achilles's attitude toward his own mortality shifted at all in these lines? What is Achilles seeking in his long speech from line 52 to 107?

(3) What is the effect of "recharging" the Muse at line 117? Forgive the scare quotes.

(4) How do you characterize the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus? How do you anticipate its importance to the narrative?

Vocab quiz Monday! Units 9-10.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17 (6)

Vocab quiz, units 9-10

We'll begin discussing Book 16 of the Iliad after the quiz, specifically how Patroclus teaches Achilles how to be human. No new reading tonight unless you're keen to get ahead, though you should be prepared for an annotation check tomorrow, or maybe a quiz on your Book 16 reading.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18 (1)

Iliad, Book 16

Finish reading Books 16 and 17 for Thursday.

(1) Book 16 is often called the "little Iliad"--what themes of the larger book are developed on a smaller scale here?

(2) Do you think Achilles to blame for Patroclus' death? Is Patroclus partially responsible?

(3) Why do you think Patroclus' death is so different from other deaths?

(4) What do you think Achilles' (old) armor could symbolize? Notice what happens to whoever tries to wear this armor.

The Euphronios (Sarpedon) krater is a red-figure calyx krater made in Athens circa 515 BC, signed by Euxitheos as potter and Euphronios as painter.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20 (2)

Iliad, Book 16 and 17

Bring all materials you will need to work on your second body paragraph to class tomorrow. I'll give you the opportunity to work with me individually.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21 (3)

Iliad second body paragraph work

By Monday I'd like you to read lines 1-395 of Book 18. Messrs. Kenneally, Groves, Clemons, and Bugg will begin class discussion. I would like for you to have completed a full draft of your second Iliad body paragraph by Tuesday, so take the weekend to work diligently on it, keeping in mind last week's instruction. On Tuesday you'll bring two hard copies of a full draft to class for peer review. 

 

What's Due?

Wednesday, October 26 - Iliad second body paragraph

Monday, October 31 - Provisional thesis and rough sketch

Friday, November 11 - Iliad Essay

Monday, December 5 - Fall Final Essay

Word of the day

POETRY FOUNDATION ARTICLES

this week from the school of life

Our societies are really good at rewarding success; but much less skilled at dealing with failure. Is there an alternative to being dismissed as a 'loser'?

poem of the day