In this cycle, two lessons were blogged.
To begin, Ms. Peterson greeted the class as we took our daily attendance. During this time, she states that she has finished grading previous homework assignments such as “The Bells” and students’ blogs. We then transition to our first lesson about the Land of the Dead.
Aim: How does the episode of "The Land of the Dead" further our understanding of
Odysseus as the epic hero?
Do Now:
The class discussed the cultural traditions of their family that are performed to honor and mourn for the dead. Mohammed R. said that his family had two celebrations; one was located in Bangladesh. Bernice stated that her tradition is to burn paper money, also known as hell, ghost, or spirit money, which is joss paper burnt to offer to the deceased one as money in the afterlife. Darren also mentioned the Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, a Mexican holiday where families gather to welcome back the souls of the deceased with food and celebration. After, Ms. Peterson shared her traditions, which come from the religions of Christianity and Judaism. On the Jewish side of her family, they pour scoops of dirt on top of the coffin, perform a sit Shiva, a 7-day mourning period, and celebrate with a feast to remember the deceased one in a positive light. On the Christian side, they lay out the body, so people can come to pay respects and say their last goodbyes, throw flowers on top of the coffin, and also celebrate with a feast.
Notes:
The class moved on to begin their spirit reading about Death and The Underworld in Greek mythology. The Underworld is ruled by Hades, the god of death, and his wife Persephone. The souls of the deceased come to the Underworld where their fate is decided by the three judges, they either go to Elysium, similar to heaven, or to Tartarus, which is like hell. We proceeded to watch a video containing more information about the world of the dead (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VEbWU3izcE). On the next slide, a few peers spirit read about Honoring and Remembering the Dead. We learned that the Greeks took the honoring of the deceased quite seriously. Proper burials were necessary because if the body was not buried correctly, the soul of the person would be left to wander between the world of the living and the dead. In addition, forgetting to pay tribute to the dead was extremely frowned upon and considered impious, or not showing respect or reverence.
The section about “The Land of the Dead” from the Odyssey is introduced to the class through a pdf (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1B2UC-VafUK7i1TJ8CxlqN6K3Q0yTRD6B/view). Two notable pieces of vocabulary are ignoble (adj), dishonorable, shameful, and assuage (verb), to calm, to mollify, to lessen. In the story, Odysseus is advised by Circe to consult the blind prophet, Tiresias, or the Prince of Thebes, to reach his home, Ithaca. With his crew, he journeys to the Underworld, where he encounters the soul of Elpenor, one of Odysseus’s deceased men. Since he had not received a proper burial, he was left to wander between the world of the living and the dead. He then feels guilty and promises the unhappy spirit of Elpenor a proper burial. Even worse, comes the spirit of Odysseus’s mother, Anticlea, who Odysseus did not know was dead. This causes him to be filled with grief; however, he managed to hold her off, since he needed to meet Tiresias. Soon, Tiresias came forward to address Odysseus and blessed him with a prophecy about his expedition home. The Prince of Thebes informs him about the suitors attempting to woo his wife, how he needs to get rid of them, and his final offering to Poseidon, the god of the sea, whom he had angered.
After we finished reading the excerpt, Ms. Peterson presented a display of questions that were meant to be completed in teams, but due to time, were completed on our own time. The questions and their answers are listed below:
As Odysseus prepares to meet the dead he says, “Then I addressed the blurred and breathless dead, / vowing to slaughter my best heifer (cow) for them…” (line 555-556). What can be inferred about ancient Greek beliefs concerning death and the afterlife from these lines?
From these lines, it can be inferred that there was a large idea that was centered around death in ancient Greece. Offerings and honoring the dead were essential in their beliefs and Odysseus prepared himself to follow these traditions.
Discuss Elpenor's request to Odysseus (lines 598-608).
What details does he want Odysseus to remember about his burial?
How does this reflect the Greek ritual of death?
Elpenor desired for Odysseus to give his body a proper burial once they return to Circe’s island, Aeaea. He wanted his body to be cremated and a monument in his remembrance. This reflects the Greek ritual of death since the souls that did not receive proper burials were left to wander in the land between life and death. Additionally, if Odysseus did not give him the burial that he deserved, he would have been considered to be sinful.
How does Odysseus react to seeing Elpenor (Lines 580-585)?
How does he react to Anticlea (his mother) (Lines 614-619)?
What characteristics of Odysseus do we see displayed in this scene?
Towards Elpenor, he feels pity and guilt for not giving him a funeral, while towards Anticlea, he feels grief because he did not know of her death. Characteristics of Odysseus that were shown in this scene were sadness and compassion. He mourned for the deaths of two people that he cared about.
Although not a god, Tiresias has been endowed with the power of prophecy. Consider the following advice Tiresias gives to Odysseus regarding the remainder of his journey home: “One narrow strait may take you through his blows: denial of yourself, restraint of your shipmates.”
How does Tiresias advise (counsel) Odysseus with his leadership, as well as his handling of his men for the upcoming challenge?
In addition, what instructions does Tiresias give Odysseus in order to quell Poseidon’s rage?
Tiresias advises Odysseus not to do anything to Helios’s cattle because it would lead to the deaths of his men. In addition, he also informs Odysseus to “sacrifice a ram, a bull, a great buck boar; turn back, and carry out pure hecatombs at home to all wide heaven’s lords, the undying gods, to each in order”, to quell Poseidon’s rage.
Afterward, the class learns about Foil, a character with qualities that contrasts another character, which is usually a secondary character against the major character. They are utilized to allow the main character to shine brightly. An example of Foil in The Odyssey is Eurylochus being compared to Odysseus, also known as a coward vs. a man with courage. Then we are met with additional enrichments at the end of the lesson such as “Funeral Practices”, “The Ancient Greek Burial Rites”, and a video about Book 11 of The Odyssey (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peJy-xmPOFM).
The class shifts towards the second lesson about the Sirens.
Aim: How does Odysseus' strategic leadership further characterize him as an epic hero in "The Sirens" episode of Homer's Odyssey?
Do Now:
We started with a whole-class discussion about the definition of the term flattery. Oscar participates and states that his definition of the word is praising someone, whether true or false, to achieve a certain purpose. Ms. Peterson proceeds to explain that flattery is not done for an altruistic reason, but it is done to gain something from the person being flattered.
Notes:
Spirit reading is done about Odysseus and the Sirens. Sirens are seductive creatures that are often depicted as half-bird/half-woman that lure sailors with their songs, causing them to crash their boats and, inevitably, lose their lives. On the next slide, information is given that Odysseus buries Elpenor and Circe advises him about the sirens and their songs. They are to put beeswax in their ears; however, if Odysseus desires to listen to the song, he should have himself tied. The slide also provides an instructional video about the sirens (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJpzse2qYlU).
The section about “The Sirens” from the Odyssey is introduced to the class through a pdf (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d7t7Yoj6bW7TG4i62Ge6W-wMIZV1TVTV/view). It is described that Odysseus laid thick sections of beeswax on his men’s ears to protect them from the song of the sirens. While he shielded his crew’s ears, he had them tie him up against the mast because he wanted to listen to the sirens and informed them not to untie him even if he begged them to. In the end, Odysseus had listened to their song and attempted to get his crew to untie him, but he ultimately failed.
Below are questions about lines 686-698 of the excerpt and their answers:
Why does Odysseus address his men “sore at heart”?
Odysseus addresses his men “sore at heart” since he is afraid of the dangers that lie ahead of them. His heart is scared for their lives.
Why does Odysseus decide to tell his men about Circe’s forecast?
What does Odysseus reveal about his character by sharing this information with his men?
Circe insists that Odysseus “alone should listen to their song.” He directs his crew to “tie me up…lashed to the mast, and if I shout and beg to be untied, take more turns of the rope to muffle me.” What leadership qualities does Odysseus demonstrate here?
What character traits are revealed in Odysseus’ desire to hear the Sirens’ song? “I carved a massive cake of beeswax into bits / and rolled them in my hands until they softened … Going forward / I carried the wax down the line, and laid it / thick on their ears..”
Consider this action along with their successful escape and assess the leadership qualities revealed by Odysseus.
Odysseus reveals information about the dangerous sirens because he cares for his men. Odysseus exhibits leadership qualities by protecting his crew from the sirens and his commands exist so he can live to tell the tale of the sirens while his crew, in return, shields him with their ears plugged. His traits of stubbornness and curiousness are demonstrated when he desires to listen to the sirens sing. Odysseus may be a great leader, but he can also have selfish aspirations at times.
Read the “Siren’s Song ” on the next slide. Analyze the strategy sirens use to lure the men. What are they appealing to; in an effort to lure the men in?
How do the sirens use flattery to lure the soldiers?
What examples would appeal to the crew and to the epic hero?
The sirens lure in the men by using the technique of flattery. The lyrics of the song include things that would please the men such as their feats of strength relating to the Trojan War. “As from our song of Troy...All feats on the great field In the long warfare…”
What does an analysis of the Siren Song suggest about the idea of human flattery?
Why are we, as humans, susceptible to a figurative “Siren’s Call?”
How can the sirens represent both desire and distraction?
Flattery is a strong technique that can be used on humans since we are creatures of desire. In this world, we are surrounded by humans that enjoy the sound of praise since it makes them happy and feeds their egos. Sirens can represent both desire and distraction by the song distracting sailors from their goals and the lyrics within the song being full of their desires.
A lovely poem/lyrics to the siren’s song is provided below (also used to answer questions 3 and 4):
This way, oh turn your bows
Achaea’s glory,
As all the world allows-
Moor and be merry.
Sweet coupled airs we sing.
No lonely seafarer
Holds clear of entering
Our green mirror.
Pleased by each purling note
Like honey twining
From her throat and my throat.
Who lies a-pining?
Sea rovers here take joy
Voyaging onward.
As from our song of Troy
Grey beard and rower boy
Goeth more learned.
Hid from our dreaming.
All feats on the great field
In the long warfare,
Dark days the bright gods willed,
Wounds you bore there.
Argos’ old soldiery
On Troy beach teeming
Charmed out of time we see.
No life on earth can be
Hid from our dreaming
To conclude the class, Ms. Peterson presents a slide that is full of enrichments with a depiction of sirens in modern media (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC8gpeDgZG8) and a summary of Book 12 of The Odyssey (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJBGlIL5O6Q&list=PLz_ZtyOWL9BTT6cHpSFM3HnK9ongAYDBl&index=11).
Reflection:
This double lesson was rich with information about events that occurred in The Odyssey by Homer. The Do Now’s of the lesson were excellent concerning the content of the lessons and also provided insight on what would be in the Google Slides. Learning about the traditions of my classmates was enlightening and made me wonder how similar mine was to some of theirs. Although the class wasn’t exactly able to cooperate and come up with answers to the questions in teams during class, I believed that the review questions deepened the class’s comprehension of Book 11 and 12. Additionally, the lyrics of the siren’s song at the end of the second lesson were beautiful and packed with figurative language and imagery. I will utilize what I learned by adding to my cheat in preparation for the exam in the future. Ultimately, the lessons granted insight to sections of The Odyssey.
No comments:
Post a Comment