“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, SEPTEMBER 16 (3)

Mixing Latinate and Anglo-Saxon words is a delightful sensation, like mixing smooth and crunchy.

Today we'll look at your examples of showing and telling sentences from The Road as well as some samples from the Degen text. Here's mine.

For Friday, September 23 you'll do a little writing for me, beginning to put these 'writing to show' skills into action. Turn to page 42 in the Degen text and complete Writing to Show Assignment #1, SUBSTITUTING ANGER FOR FEAR. Otherwise follow the task and bullet points carefully. You'll submit a hard copy on Friday by 3:30 PM and an electronic copy to turnitin.com. This will be a 50-point quiz grade.

For Monday, read lines 1-300 of Book 2 of the Iliad. Everyone is responsible for coming to class with one discussion question. Messrs. Clause, Rice, Weathington, and Dupuis, we'll begin with your question in your respective class. Quiz Monday? You better believe it.

monday, september 19 (4)

Today we'll return to the Iliad. We'll use your discussion questions to move us through the first section of Book 2.

Tonight you're continuing in Book 2, lines 301-521 and 873-932. Lines 522-872 are omitted. In a passage known as the Catalogue of the Ships, the poet lists the contingents of the Greek army and their leaders. We'll also skip the very end of Book 2 (lines 933-97). The poet lists the contingents of the Trojan Army. Same procedure as last night: Come prepared to begin a discussion in case you're prompted to do so.

tuesday, september 20 (5)

We'll continue our discussion of Book 2 today. Remember that tomorrow you'll have a vocabulary quiz on units 1-4. 25 questions, 25 quiz points.

Also I'd like you to read pages 137-8 in CEA. What is a participial phrase? What's the difference between an essential and nonessential participial phrase? It's our first tool to help us begin combining sentences. Then turn to page 167. Read the directions and the example; complete numbers 1, 2, 6. The same goes for the exercises on page 168, but complete numbers 6-8. These exercises should be handwritten and will be collected at the end of the vocabulary quiz tomorrow.

You'll notice that your reading for Friday is the entirety of Book 3; plan ahead and consider beginning that reading tonight.

wednesday, september 21 (6)

Vocabulary quiz, units 1-4; Participial phrases

Tomorrow bring two hard copies of a full draft of your Writing to Show Assignment #1. If you'd like yours up on the board send it to me in an e-mail.

Tonight and tomorrow night you're reading the entirety of Book 3 of the Iliad, wherein you'll be introduced to a few more players in this epic cast of characters. Continue to keep straight all the major figures; it'll be most helpful later. Consider the following as you read. Respond to one in your notes.

(1) Why does Menelaus insist that Priam oversee the truce?

(2) What is Priam's attitude towards Helen? How does Helen describe herself to Priam?

(3) Why does Priam not stay to watch the duel? How does this define his personality?

(4) Why does Menelaus not kill Paris in the duel?

(5) What is Helen's reaction to Aphrodite's command? What is Aphrodite's attitude towards Helen? What generalization might you make about the relation between mortals and immortals based on the scene where they converse?

(6) How do you account for Helen's hateful words to Paris, followed by her worry about his safety?

(7) At the end of book three, what does the poet imply about the feelings of the Trojan soldiers towards Paris? How does their attitude compare with Hector's?

thursday, september 22 (1)

Writing to Show Assignment #1 review. We'll spend class reviewing some of the showing principles and looking at some of your drafts. We'll also introduce another type of sentence-combining phrase -- the absolute phrase.

If you're interested in taking a field trip to see A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Alley Theatre, please sign up here.

friday, september 23 (2)

We will spend today discussing the Iliad, Book 3.

We'll omit books 4 and 5 of the poem. The truce is broken when the Trojan Pandarus, at Athena's urging, shoots an arrow into the Greek ranks and wounds Menelaus. Battle is joined, and the Greeks, led by Diomedes, who wounds even Aphrodite and Ares, push the Trojans back. Over the weekend read lines 1-245 of Book 6 of the poem. What are we to take away from the exchange between Glaucus and Diomedes?

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 (3)

Today I'll set your next writing assignment, a body paragraph--yes, you read that right--on one, short passage from the first 3 books of the Iliad. I'm counting this assignment as much as your summer reading revision, which should tell you a little something about just how important intra-paragraph writing is.

We'll use the rest of class to finish Iliad 3 and begin Iliad 6. How does Homer portray Helen as a deeply sympathetic and pathetic figure? List what she has lost, what the war has cost her. In what ways does she seem desirable? Has her experience changed her since she left with Paris for Troy, do you think? How? What role does experience play in making us wise?

What are you doing tonight? You're watching the debate. We'll spend a little time discussing tomorrow.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 (4)

Iliad Book 6 discussion: What are we to take away from the exchange between Glaucus and Diomedes? How is their understanding of their place in the world distinct from nearly every other character in the poem so far?

We'll also look at this paragraph--a model body paragraph--from Bernard Knox's introduction to the Iliad. What is he doing stylistically that you're not used to doing in your own writing? Look at how he shows you what he thinks the text is showing him.

By Friday I'd like for you to finish reading Book 6. Have any of the events of Book 6 altered your view of what the heroes are fighting for? Which, and why?

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 (5)

Vocabulary Quiz, units 5-6; We'll resume our discussion of the poem after the quiz.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 (6)

We'll use the period today to get into pairs to work through the passages for the body paragraph assignment.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 (1)

Today we'll continue discussion of Book 6 and look at some of the stronger body paragraphs from your revisions.

We'll skip Books 7 and most of 8. Hector and Paris return to battle. Hector offers to fight a duel with any Greek. Ajax responds to the challenge, and the two fight to a draw. The Greeks and Trojans agree to a truce so that they can bury the dead. The Greeks build a wall and a trench around their camp. Zeus orders the other gods not to intervene, and with his support the Trojans gain the advantage. By Monday I'd like for you to read lines 563-77 of Book 8 and the lines 1-185 of Book 9.

MONDAY, october 3 (2)

Today we'll continue discussing the second half of Book 6 of the Iliad before moving into the very end of Book 8.

Tonight I'd like for you to read lines 186-441. What is Odysseus' tactic to convince Achilles to rejoin the war? How does Achilles respond?

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4 (3)

Today we'll move into Book 9, trying to make it all the way through Achilles' response to Odysseus.

Tonight I'd like for you to finish Book 9. Messrs. O'Connor, Jamerlan, Purvey, and Orozco will come to class tomorrow with a discussion question to kick off the proceedings.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5 (4)

Iliad discussion, book 9

Tonight I'd like for you to re-read pages 137-8 on participial phrases. Then move to pages 139-42 and read about the gerund phrase, the absolute phrase, and the appositive phrase. No exercises to do, but I will expect you to be able to identify each of them tomorrow. Make sure you bring to class tomorrow a hard copy of your Iliad body paragraph.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6 (5)

Today we'll spend the class period reviewing different types of phrases that you should be using in your written work. We'll study the participial phrase, the gerund phrase, the absolute phrase, and the appositive phrase.

Now, tonight, I'd like you to go back to your body paragraph and revise at the level of the sentence. Rewrite to include (1) one appositive phrase, (2) one absolute phrase, and (3) either one participial or one gerund phrase. Put any changes in bold. Print the new copy with changes in bold and bring to class tomorrow. I'd also like you to print me a third copy with the changes in bold, but with an explanation for the change you made. Use the Microsoft Word / Google Doc feedback feature. I'll be recollecting this as well tomorrow and reading your three versions side by side by side. No need to submit the new versions to turnitin.com.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7 (6)

Vocabulary Quiz, units 7-8 (with a few from previous units) and I'll ask a few of you to share the changes you made to your body paragraphs.

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.