Odyssey Postcard Mini Project ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Instructions from class: Choose two locations from the list below and depict Odysseus’s adventure in the two locations. Each location should have it’s own postcard with a front and back. The front should include a related picture to the journey.
The back on the bottom right of the postcard should include the explanation of the picture. Include a creative address and a stamp also related to the journey. Most importantly include a 1-3 paragraph explanation of the journey, thoughts, and more in 4-5 sentences each. You can use websites such as https://www.canva.com/create/postcards/ for aid in making your postcard. These can be done on a google slide but be sure to have a front and back for both totalling up to 4 slides minimum. A good example would be this postcard (on the right) from Penelope to Telemachus. Instead on this project we will focus on Odysseus and his journey after the Trojan War. This postcard is missing a brief explanation of the front which we are required to include specifically at the bottom right of our cards.
Ismarus (city of the Cicones)
Cythera (Land of the Lotus Eaters)
The Cyclops Island (Polyphemus’ cave)
Aeolus’ kingdom
Land of the Laestrygonians
Aeaea (Circe’s palace)
The Underworld
Island of the Sirens
Scylla and Charybdis
Thrinacia Island (home to the sun god)
Questions:
What POV should the postcards be written?
The two postcards are to be written in first person point of view.
Are we allowed to address the postcard to both Telemachus and Penelope?
Yes, we are allowed to include both family members or separate it.
Are we allowed to use cyber space for our cover and stamps?
Yes, we are allowed to use cyber space for images be sure it is related to the topic.
Does the address have to be real?
No, we can be creative and have fun with making up the address.
Are we allowed to decorate one by hand?
Yes, feel free to decorate one by hand.
Do we have to use Canva?
No, it is recommended but use whatever works best for you.
How many documents do we upload?
We upload ONE document with 2 fronts and 2 backs.
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The Cyclops (Polyphemus) Vs Odysseus Virtual Debate
ASYNCHRONOUS WORK
Note! Polyphemus is another way to say cyclops.
This assignment has 5 segments. First segment is to complete Odysseus vs. Polyphemus chart found in assignment RL SP: Cyclops vs Odysseus Virtual Debate document. Select a side of the Cyclops or Odysseus and watch Discussion Board Etiquette before defending their actions with a statement on Google Classroom discussion board. To earn full points on this assignment you must also respond/debate with one of your classmates posts.
Refer to Writing-Forum-Posts-and-Replies-1.pdf for extra help.
Tips offered by Discussion Board Etiquette:
Post your discussion early to let it develop
Refer to others post to build discussion
Write clearly and concisely to get the meaning across
Read others posts help avoid repetitiveness
Explain your ideas and agreements
Be civil and respectful of other debaters
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Aim: How do Odysseus’s actions in “The Cyclops” support or refute his epic character?
Do now: class discussion
As previously discussed, the term, “Xenia” is the ancient Greek concept of hospitality, the generosity and courtesy shown to those who are far from home and/or associates of the person bestowing guest-friendship. The rituals of hospitality created and expressed a reciprocal relationship between guest hosts.
Based on your understanding of the term “Xenia” how important do you believe this attribute or behavior is to exemplify? Why?
My classmates mentioned that it is important to exemplify both then and now. In The Odyssey Odysseus arrived at the island of Phaeacians. The people such as Nausicaa, Aretë and Alcinoüs took care of him with a feast and change of clothes. Even now if someone were to have a guest it’s common to treat them with generosity. I completely agree with my class on this point. Calypso was confident enough to place Odysseus on the island of “good-hearted” trusting they wouldn't eat him alive but instead take him in. In the modern day it is common manners to do the same but with guests we have invited over.
Do now: class discussion
Reflect on the heroes you have encountered throughout your life, in various forms: literature, movies or TV. Identify any weaknesses the hero(es) may have, and explain how it impairs their ability.
My classmates mentioned superman and his weakness was kryptonite. Exposing superman to kryptonite would take his powers and even kill him. Other classmates more generally mentioned the weakness of many heroes. Family and friends are a weakness to any hero as it is attached to their personal life. This means if a villain were to get their hands on the family and friends it would mean full control over the heroes emotions. Sometimes it might even be a personal problem. Things such as an identity crisis or a dilemma. Overconfidence can be a big weak point as well as it might lead to impulsive actions. Personally I think a weakness can also mean a disadvantage. Maybe the hero could have been robbed or is threatened.
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Homeric simile
Epic similes in The Odyssey, also known as Homeric similes, give Homer’s narrative depth and force.
Homeric similes, also known as Epic Similes, are elaborate comparisons, consisting of many lines, between two different objects using “like”, “as”, “so”, or “just so”. It is a comparison made between something unfamiliar or strange to the audience and something that is more familiar to them.
We often use short similes in everyday speech, like the example, “She’s tough as nails.” A Homeric Simile, however, is used to redirect the reader’s attention in unexpected, humorous, gruesome or heroic ways.
Examples of homeric similes video: https://youtu.be/Vak_9ipMngY
Homeric Similes include:
“I drove my weight on it from above and bored it home like a shipwright bores his beam with a shipwright’s drill that men below, whipping the strap back and forth, whirl and the drill keeps twisting, never stopping –So we seized our stake with it fiery tip and bored it round and round in the giant’s eye.”
“It’s crackling roots blazed and hissed – as a blacksmith plunges a glowing ax or adze in an ice-cold bath and the metal screeches steam and its temper hardens – that’s the iron’s strength – so the eye of Cyclops sizzled round that stake.”
“Her mind in torment, wheeling like some lion at bay, dreading the gangs of hunters closing their cunning ring around him for the finish.
Throughout The Odyssey Homer used Homeric Similes to make comparisons to objects with the audience. This provides a good visual and understanding of the epic. It can also be used to exaggerate the characters and text along with building the reader's understanding. This is important to the text because without a good visual readers can easily get lost in Odysseus’s long journey. Exaggeration of the characters along with texts is also important since an epic is a long narrative poem about the historical heroes and gods.
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What is Foreshadowing?
Foreshadowing is where future events in a story, or perhaps the outcome, are suggested by the author before they happen. They are usually considered to be ominous, warning signs, or signs of bad things to come. Foreshadowing can take many forms and be accomplished in many ways, with varying degrees of subtlety. However, if the outcome is deliberately and explicitly revealed early in a story (such as by the use of a narrator or flashback structure), such information does not constitute foreshadowing.
Foreshadowing Definition Video
Summary of the Video/Foreshadowing:
Foreshadowing is used to help the readers build an educated guess about the upcoming events. It can subtly help set the atmosphere or setting for the event. Along with also keeping the readers on their toes about the upcoming events in the story or can be used simply to inform the reader. Other popular writers such as William Shakespeare used foreshadowing most popular in his tragedy of Hamlet and Julius Caesar. Personally I find foreshadowing very helpful in writing to deliver pleasure and satisfaction. For example if a character was wronged in my story I can use foreshadowing to help the reader infer the consequences. This is then proven true to deliver the satisfaction.
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What is Hubris?
Hubris is a Greek term meaning excessive pride or over-confidence (think arrogance)
Can cause the character to disregard reality or offend the gods, often leading to their downfall
A character flaw often seen in the heroes of classical Greek tragedies
Committing hubris was very much looked down upon in Ancient Greece
Summary of the Video/Hubris: Another word for Hubris would be high-fluctuating or variable self-esteem. This does not mean however high-self esteem. It can also accurately mean a combination of excessive pride and arrogance. Examples of hubris can be found in pieces such as John Milton’s Paradise Lost. Where Lucifer or in other names Satan tried to make other angels worship him.
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“The Cyclops” 11 Page Summary
In The Cyclops Odysseus encounters what would be one of his biggest challenges on the journey home. Not because it was dangerous but instead the consequences of Odysseus’s choices during this chapter. Odysseus and his men find themselves on the shore of an island. An island full of giants that only fought for themselves. Odysseus and his men are then held captive after being caught stealing food. The group quickly realized they had to formulate a plan or they would die. The plan was to offer Polyphemus wine and hurt him at the weakest point. With a burning poker Odysseus and his men stabbed a poker right into the eye of Polyphemus. Polyphemus was unaware of Odysseus’s true name as he was known to be “nohbdy” until Odysseus bragged about his victory. This revealed his true name in which Polyphemus reached out to his father, Poseidon, to never let Odysseus return home. The men left the island on the ships but Poseidon was angry at Odysseus causing trouble for Odysseus on the rest of the journey home to Ithaca.
Today’s class was running a little short on the time provided after the reading, “The Cyclops”. We were unable to hold the group discussion planned but here are my answers to the discussion.
GROUP DISCUSSION
Based on your understanding of foreshadowing, review lines 153-156. How is foreshadowing used, and what exactly is being foreshadowed?
Foreshadowing is used to help the reader infer what would happen next upon their arrival to the island would be terrible. Quoting, “for in my bones I knew some towering brute would be upon us soon.” The event of being trapped inside Polyphemus’s home and watching him eat people alive.
What heroic qualities does Odysseus display thus far?
(Heroic Qualities: Intelligence/Resourcefulness, Strength, Bravery and loyalty, Weakness)
What does the fact that he doesn’t want to attack the Cyclops reveal about his character?
The fact that Odysseus doesn’t want to attack the Cyclops revealed that his character did have a weakness. This discussion refers back to the do now discussion. Every hero has their weaknesses. Odysseus’s weakness happened to reside in his heart because he happened to feel indifferent towards them. Another reason Odysseus might have displayed heroic qualities by not attacking the Cyclops is they would’ve been trapped inside the home blocked by a boulder if the giant died.
Refer to line 232-243. How does Homer use figurative language to create imagery? (identify examples and explain their effect)
In lines 232-243 Homer used figurative language to create imagery and give the readers a visual. For example the quote, “caught two in his hands like squirming puppies to beat their brains out, spattering the floor.” We can imagine how helpless his crew was against the giants. It also allows us to create pity for the crew compared to squirming puppies.
How should we judge the heroic qualities of Odysseus based on his actions with the cyclops?
We can judge the heroic qualities of Odysseus based on his actions with the cyclops. He was able to think outside the box to save him and his crew mates but ended the plan foolishly. After puncturing the eye of Polyphemus he announced his real name and crew. This cursed him on the rest of the trip home.
Contrast Polyphemus’ values and the values of Odysseus (hospitality [xenia], respect for the gods, protections for his men).
Can you identify any qualities/characteristics that both Odysseus and Polyphemus share?
A characteristic or quality both Odysseus and Polyphemus has is stupidity.
Polyphemus shows his foolishness in believing that Odysseus’s real name is nohbdy. While Odysseus is foolish for announcing his real name after poking Polyphemus leading to his following struggles home.
If Odysseus represents civilization, and polyphemus represents nature, what do you think Homer is saying about the relation of man to nature?
If Odysseus represents civilization and Polyphemus represents nature I think Homer is saying nature isn’t going to change its way. The cyclops have been living this way on the island for centuries. Odysseus and his men are the civilization trying to change the way of nature. By injuring it they are allowed to live. Therefore, nature isn’t changing it’s way for civilization instead civilization is changing the way of nature.
Can you see potential dangers (that are becoming increasingly evident, especially in the modern era) in this position taken by Homer?
Some potential dangers would be extinction. We are constantly losing important things such as trees and animals that have inhabited our planet for centuries. Due to the civilization created global warming is an evident problem. Maybe in the story this could lead to the extinction of cyclops. As they showed a weakness and the civilization needed to kill them for their own benefit.
As previously discussed, the story is told through flashback (Odysseus is revealing the past events of his journey), therefore, how has Polyphemus’ curse impacted the course of Odysseus’ future.
This story is told through the flashback of how Odysseus was able to get home to his family. Before taking the final blow to Polyphemus Odysseus reveals his real identity. This is proved to be a problem as Polyphemus was the son of Poseidon, god of the sea. Lucky for Odysseus he needed the sea for transportation on his whole journey home. He was faced with six headed monsters, sirens, and even whirlpools.
Reflection
In today’s lesson I made multiple connections from the class discussion to the text we read in class. One of the first connections is with the term “Xenia”. Xenia means to show hospitality to guests. After reading the assigned summary of The Odyssey Books I-VIII, I was originally confused on how Calypso was able to trust the Phaeacians to take care of Odysseus. Upon this lesson I learned of this important aspect in not just Greek culture but in the modern day as well. It made me realize what we all do unintentionally. We also had a class discussion on the heros we have encountered. Each hero and villain has their own weaknesses. While reading “The Cyclops” I was able identify the weaknesses of the hero Odysseus. The weakness included foolishness and over-confidence. Another word for over-confidence that we also learned today in class is hubris. After spearing Polyphemus in the eye Odysseus announces, “Cyclops, if ever mortal man inquire how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye; Laetre’s son, whose home on Ithaca!” We learned important literary skills such as homeric similes and foreshadowing used by Homer to write this epic. An example of an homeric simile right from today’s read would be “he clutched at my companions and caught two in his hands like squirming puppies to beat their brains out,”. This was able to build emotions of pity for the reader. An example of the literary device foreshadowing is also used directly in the text, “A wineskin full I brought along...for in my bones I knew some towering brute would be upon us soon.” Readers are given a change to comprehend what would happen in the text. Overall in this lesson I learned of the multiple literary devices such as homeric similes and foreshadowing. I also learned important vocabulary I can use to annotate my future readings such as xenia and hubris. This will improve my understanding towards classics since they are written in a father unfamiliar syntax. Following class for asynchronous work on the virtual debate I was able to educate myself on virtual debates. From avoiding repetitiveness to building a good argument without actually arguing. Overall today’s class helped me further my vocabulary and construct verbal debates.
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