Blogger #26- Amanda Su- Period 9- 12/15/20- Day C- Freshmen Lit 2021
Aim: How does Homer's invocation establish the tone for the beginning of the Odyssey?
Do Now:
In today’s do now, we had to answer the questions “How do you become inspired?” and “Where does it originate?” As this was a broad question, many answers were acceptable. Some include music, games, idols, and stories.
Notes:
After the do now, we read and watched a video about the nine Muses.
Video link:
The nine Muses were the daughters of Zeus, the king of gods, and Mnemosyne, the deity of memory. Each muse represented a different art that was unique to themselves. The Greeks believed that their inspiration was dependent on the deities’ blessings, which they could use for their masterpiece. They prayed to and made sacrifices to their deities in hope of that inspiration
Next, we were instructed to look up the definition of the word “invoke,” which meant “to call on a deity or spirit as a witness or for inspiration.”
We then read Homer’s Invocation together and had a group discussion about the questions.
Homer’s Invocation (only page 951) Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s-NNLrpTeNKGXaJYMqGKo_QPZ57DMIx0/view?usp=sharing
What is your opinion of Odysseus so far after hearing Homer's invocation to the muses and learning about the Trojan War?
When the class discussed this, people got different impressions of him. He was seen as a skilled warrior who could plunder Troy even though it was protected by walls. Although plundering is connotatively negative, it was justified because the plundering of villages and towns during wartimes is natural, so he isn’t wrong for doing that. On the other hand, people saw him as a thief. The act of plundering is selfish and disrespectful no matter what the circumstances are.
How does Homer maintain the audience’s interest in the story, knowing that the audience is aware of the outcome from the very beginning?
Homer maintains the audience’s interest in the story by emphasizing the journey rather than the destination. By making the audience aware of the outcome from the start, it engages them in the story. The audience will be curious about how the heroin got to where he is and how he changes throughout the story. In addition to this, the story is told by an all-knowing being which helps create suspense.
What does the invocation of the Muse in the opening lines clarify about Odysseus’ culpability (responsibility for a fault or wrong; blame) during his voyage home?
In the opening lines, the Muse clarifies that his fate isn’t up for him to decide. Odysseus and his crew were the ones who feasted on the cattle of the god Helios and now, they are going to be punished. The Muse states, “by not by will or valor could he save them.” Odysseus tries his best to get him and his crewmates home safely, but no matter what he does, their fate is decided and he can’t do anything about it.
Anticipation Guide:
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Reflection:
In today’s lesson, I learned about the nine Muses that inspired the Ancient Greeks and invocations. The Muses were the nine sisters who each inspired a different form that art can take. These Muses were believed to give inspiration to those who invoked them. The Greeks believed that calling for the Muses as a witness or for inspiration would give them the inspiration they needed to create their masterpiece. Knowledge of the Muses can help me understand other works of art. When looking at Greek art, the Muses can help me understand more about the piece including why or how it was made.
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