Odyssey

The Odyssey by Homer (Edition translated by Robert Fagles)

Essential Questions Life


 * What is a "hero"?
 * What qualities must a person possess to be considered a hero?
 * Are there any qualities that would exclude a person from being considered a hero? If so, what are they?
 * Whom do you consider a hero? Why?

Literature
 * What is an epic?
 * What literary devices were employed by Homer?
 * Why is The Odyssey considered a great work?

=

Anticipatory Set =

Directions: Rate the following statements on a scale from 1 to 5. One means “strongly agree”; five means “strongly disagree.”

There’s no place like home.
 * 1)  Revenge is sweet.
 * 2)  It’s not about winning or losing, it’s how you play the game.
 * 3) All’s fair in love or war.
 * 4) A man’s home is his castle.
 * 5) The ends justify the means.
 * 6) Good people usually get the rewards that they deserve.
 * 7) Life is hard.
 * 8) Real men don’t cry.
 * 9) Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
 * 10) A gift is never free.
 * 11) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">You should be willing to die for your country.
 * 12) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">If women ruled the world, we would live in peace.

<span style="background-color: #73ade3; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Setting/Historical Context

Please click on the following link to learn about the setting of //The Odyssey://

//Link--Book Drum-- Setting of The Odyssey//

= = =Before Reading=

Journal #1
Write about a time when you were away from home. Describe how it would have felt if your journey home had been filled with danger, or write about a time that you traveled and had obstacles on your trip. Describe the obstacles and how you dealt with them.

<span style="background-color: #73ade3; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Author Study Who is Homer? What has Homer actually written?

Link to information about Homer

<span style="background-color: #73ade3; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Study Guide/Reading Questions

The Epic Cycle
What is an epic hero?



[|Study Guide]

=Big Ideas=
 * Relationships between the gods and mortals
 * The system of justice in Homer's world
 * Odysseus and his education through his travels
 * Homer's idea of heroism
 * The characteristics of an epic poem

=Motifs and Patterns in Greek Mythology=


 * ====Hubris (excessive pride)====
 * ====The Hero's Journey====
 * ====Crime and Punishment====
 * ====Fate/Destiny/Prophecy====
 * ====Guest/Host Relationships====
 * ====Showing Respect to Gods====
 * ====Showing Respect for the Dead====

=<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">**Personal Odyssey** =

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">How are my challenges/obstacles similar to Odysseus'?


=<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">**Lessons** =
 * What can readers learn from Odysseus' travels?**

<span style="background-color: #73ade3; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Vocabulary

<span style="background-color: #73ade3; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">End of Text Activities <span style="background-color: #73ade3; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Discussion Questions

<span style="background-color: #73ade3; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Writing Assignments

<span style="background-color: #73ade3; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Projects = =

=Reading //The Odyssey//= [|//Book One, read by Ian McKellan//]

[|Book Nine, read by Ian McKellan]

[|Book Ten, read by Ian McKellan]

[|Book Eleven, read by Ian McKellan]