OVERVIEW:

 

The Odyssey is the second epic in a series written by Homer, the first being The Iliad where Odysseus joins Agamemnon’s army of Ithacans (Greeks) to fight the Trojans (Troy was in what is today western Turkey).  The poem is written in classic Greek hexameter, something that doesn’t translate into English very well.  In our translation, the poem is written in a loose iambic pentameter (five feet of long then short beats, like Shakespeare... remember?[ –  ‘]).  The tone set by this form in English closely matches the formal tone set by the hexameter in Greek.

 

After the Trojan war, Odysseus set sail for home with his men, but he encountered many EPIC trials and tribulations which make up the plot of The Odyssey.  We will be reading the introductory essay, which is a fair summation of scholarship on the poem, to see what some scholars have said about Odysseus’ epic journey and I will be supplementing this information with lecture and class discussion.  You will not have to read the entire epic, though you are expected to know the plot and the major themes throughout the poem.  There’s a nice summary provided by Perma-Bound that I’ll be handing out, but you still need to know the significance of the events that take place.

 

ASSIGNMENT:

 

Presentation:

 

There are 24 sections to this poem, and each student will be assigned 4 or 5 sections depending on length.  You will need to read your section in a group of five.  You can read it out-loud or silently, but you need to complete the reading in time to prepare for a presentation of the following information:

 

            1) Plot—what actually takes place?

            2) Themes—what major themes are in this section?

            3) Characters—who are the characters and how do they interrelate?

4) Context—why are these events taking place? (This means you must build on what has been presented

    by the other students.)

 

Your presentation needs to abide by the following guidelines:

 

            1) Must have a poster or visual aid of some kind

            2) Every group member must participate in the presentation

            3) Must pick a section to present in a skit, and explain why you chose it

 

Mixed Groups:

 

After presentations you will get into new groups to create an Odyssey board game.  The board game needs to include all the major events and characters in some way, be designed for five players, take the player’s pieces on the same quests Telemachos and Odysseus went on, be creative, have clear directions and rules, and be fun.

 

Essay:

 

We will be breaking away from the five-paragraph format this year, but all essays still have a(n) 1) Introduction, 2) Body, and 3) Conclusion.  For this essay, five paragraphs will get a grade of no better than a “C,” so to beef up your essay you will obviously need a more general thesis with several additional supporting arguments.  Everything else we learned from last year still goes, but this essay will not be a compare/contrast.  Because many scholars see the Odyssey as less a geographical discovery and more an adventure of self-discovery, you

 

will need to use examples from the sections you read to argue that Odysseus is struggling with his identity as he stands against the elements of nature, and the gods who command them.  (In the case of Books I – IV you will need to argue that Telemachos is on an adventure of self-discovery, the voyage of becoming a man.)  As usual, you we will be drafting, workshopping, revising and editing these essays for a final submission to me.

 

ASSESSMENT:

 

You will receive a “presentation” grade for your group presentation, a “written work” grade for your essay including a rough draft, second draft, and final draft following American School Standards, and a “test and quizzes” grade for your board game.  The board game grade will be given by the group who plays your game based on the following criteria:

 

            1) Are all the characters included? (5 points)

            2) Does it follow all of Telemachos’ and Odysseus’ quests? (5 points)

            3) Does it have clear, easy to follow rules and directions? (5 points)

            4) Is it fun? (5 points)

 

FINAL NOTE:

 

There will of course be journal entries during this time, but you will also be expected to take notes in your binder.  I will check these notes at the end of the unit via an open note quiz to be taken in your journal, so be sure you’re following along and asking questions during lectures and class discussions.