Aim: How can we use the theory of neuroplasticity to analyze Odysseus as a dynamic character?
Do Now/Class Discussion: To start off the lesson, we together as a class discussed how open we are to approach something that is new or challenging. Eric first brought up that it is really scary since there is more than one thing that could happen, and he starts to fear the outcome of a certain situation/challenge. After Eric, Loezee brings up that the image that other people have of you could be affected because if you mess up and do something wrong, they could start to judge you for what you did which prevents you from doing something with more risk. On the other hand, Mohammad R. said that he was open to new experiences and challenges and brings up his experience with trying lobster for the first time. Darren also added that he was quite open minded.
Neuroplasticity: After the discussion, we moved on to talk about neuroplasticity. We watched a video on neuroplasticity in which it explained that our brain has multiple networks and pathways that we take when we go into our habits. The networks can be rewired if we try hard enough and go along a new path instead of taking the old one. Neuroplasticity itself means the ability of an individual to adapt to change in their environment, leading them to develop new neural connections.
Here are other videos/articles to learn more about neuroplasticity:
Article
Spirit Reading: Furthermore, we went on to spirit reading, where Ms.Peterson and other students read a couple paragraphs talking about neuroplasticity/learning agility. Learning agility is the speed which people learn and how flexible and open they are to new ideas and information. It can be increased by learning from previous experiences and learning from failures as well as success. To increase it, a person also needs determination and be open to failure and not be scared of it. By understanding this concept, we were able to apply this to Odysseus in the Odyssey. Odysseus is a perfect example of a person that learns from his failures and becomes a better person overall. There are examples like learning from what he did with Polyphemus.
Dynamic VS Static Characters: Additionally after spirit reading, we talked about the two types of characters, the dynamic one and the static one. A dynamic character is one that grows/evolves and undergoes some kind of change by the end of the story whether it is negative or positive. It is usually brought about by learning from a previous experience. A static character on the other hand is one that does not change or evolve during the story. A couple examples of a dynamic character are characters like Simba, Shrek or Nemo. Some that are static include the princesses from disney, Scar and Dory.
Class/Team Discussion: Odysseus had plenty of experiences with mistakes but he has also learned and grown from the mistakes. Odysseus and his men had gone through plenty of dangerous situations, going from the Lotus Eaters to having to deal with Polyphemus. One of his biggest mistakes was telling Polyphemus what his name was and bragging about it. This caused Poseidon to curse him and send him on a super long journey home. Other mistakes include going to Circe’s island, sending half of his men in and having an affair with Circe which lasted for a while before he was reminded of his original goal. He has also sent out his men on the island of the Laestrygones without considering whether or not the inhabitants would be friendly. However, despite all of these mistakes and plenty more, Odysseus does come out a wiser man. He makes deals with Circe as well as chooses the best approach to not sacrifice all of his men. He tries and strives to avoid all the mistakes laying in his path while keeping characteristics that we would want to have like his wisdom and his leadership.
Enrichment: For the enrichment, there is 1 video on fixed Vs growth mindsets, 1 interactive quiz to determine whether you are a fixed or growth mindset and a poll to fill out.
Aim: How does the concept of “nostos” enhance our understanding of Homer’s Odyssey and the cultural significance of Odysseus’ homecoming?
Class Discussion: To add on to the previous discussion from the last lesson we just moved on from, we discussed that Odysseus had corrected the previous mistakes he had made. For example, I said that Odysseus when facing Circe, he got help from Hermes and was able to make a deal with her so she wouldn’t harm or trick him as well as turn his comrades back into humans. Joanne also added that it started with Polyphemus when he revealed his name which caused Poseidon to curse him, but in the end he keeps a low profile when dealing with the suitors of his wife Penelope.
Spirit Reading: After the discussion, we went to spirit read and learned the meanings/concepts behind Nostos and Kleos. We learned that Nostos means homecoming, returning, returning to the light or life while Kleos would be earning fame and glory at the cost of their life to be immortalized. Nostos and Kleos are clearly present in the Odyssey. Odysseus trying to return home along with his men would be a clear example of Nostos. He earns Kleos along his journey by using his wisdom as well as participating in battle in the first place. Remembering the dead is super important as well as exemplified by when Elpenor asked Odysseus to properly bury him as well as remember him. The true meaning of death is when you are forgotten forever. While Nostos is about the journey of joining home, there is also an aspect of PTSD since after the events that followed while traveling home, there is a lot of stress put on the person. There is also a factor of your friends and family making you irrelevant at that point because it took way too long and they could have forgotten about you.
Enrichment:
Summary of Bk 13-14
Summary of Bk 15-16
Aim: How are ancient Greek values of respect and loyalty for family revealed in the episodes, “Twenty Years Gone..” & “Argus” in Homer’s Odyssey?
Class Discussion: We discussed the following quotes: “ The strength of a family, like the strength of an army, is in its loyalty to each other.” “Blood Makes You Related, LOYALTY Makes You Family.” We compared these two quotes to Twenty Years Gone. We said that the quote was related to each other because it is saying the family is the most important and after 20 years, the chances of your family still remembering you and staying loyal to you is very slim. This was referring to Odysseus when he had finally come back from the journey.
Recap: Athena turns Odysseus into a beggar to act low and not give his identity away. Telemachus doesn’t believe that it is his father at first, until Athena turns Odysseus back. They then make up a plan to get rid of Penelope’s suitors.
Motif: A motif is a recurring image, spoken or written word, sound, act, or another visual and structural device that has some significance. This idea relates to the plot of the Odyssey since it puts a great deal of influence on loyalty.
Teamwork>Class Discussion: Instead of talking in a group, we discussed the questions as a class. We talked about how Odysseus didn’t greet Argus because he was scared of blowing his cover. Argus’ death was no coincidence either because since fate is also a motif along with loyalty, the dog Argus both represents loyalty and fate. It was fated to live until it could meet its owner again before it passed away due to his undying loyalty towards Odysseus. The treatment of Argus in Odysseus’ absence suggests that being faithful is super hard in the absence of him since others treated it like trash and didn’t care for Argus at all. Being faithful showed how much Argus loved Odysseus and how long Argus was waiting for Odysseus.
Aim: How does Homer further develop Odysseus’ characterization as a cunning hero in his exchange with both the suitors and his wife, Penelope?
Class Discussion: The prompt was whether or not we would be able to cope and wait for someone gone for twenty years that is dear to us. We didn’t get to do this class discussion but, personally I think it would be hard to wait for someone that long because by the time they are back, we would have probably thought they were long gone and would have moved on by that time.
Teamwork>Class Discussion: We said that Odysseus was the king of Ithaca and when Antinous treated him wrongly, it defied the natural order in which the gods are first then the kings, the wealthy then so on and so forth. Antinous without knowing Odysseus’s true identity, he went ahead and threw objects at Odysseus when he was asking for food. This point also brought up the discussion about the three goddesses who punish men for crimes against the natural order. Nonetheless, Antinous also broke the greek custom of Xenia where Odysseus in disguise might have been a god as well.
Independent Work: Instead of having teamwork, we ended up having to do things independently and I ended up noting down that Penelope was clever in the way she dealt with the suitors using a shroud as the bargaining tool between them and undoing it over and over again to wait for Odysseus. She is a representation of loyalty as well since she had waited for him for a long 20 years. Even though Odysseus did tell Penelope that if he had died, she should have him die inside of her and have her remarry as well as let their son take over the kingdom.
Enrichment:
Summary of Bk 17-18
Odysseus’s Journey/ Map
Reflection: These four lessons taught me a lot of things, especially the lesson on neuroplasticity. The thing that was most important to me was the fact that we could rewire our brain and it is not limited to just functioning and making you do a certain task over and over again. It was good to know that if I tried hard enough, I would be able to think in a brand new way and expand my knowledge and my horizons. The videos educated me a lot because I want to improve myself mentally because I want a challenge and when I usually fail, I get depressed because failing at something really lowers your self esteem. Getting told that failing isn’t the end of the world is an important lesson and a message since we should all strive to learn from our mistakes and improve ourselves to not make the same ones again. These lessons also helped me understand more of the Odyssey in itself since some parts are still kind of confusing. Learning about growth mindsets in characters and the fixed mindsets could also be applied to real life situations. We should always keep an open mind and a growth mindset and not be fixed on a certain mentality and task. Learning motifs and other things like nostos and kleos helps with the understanding of other greek mythologies because most of them are also filled with nostos and kleos. Motifs could also be applied to daily things that have a meaning and in literature, it also plays a big role. By knowing more about motifs, I could pay more attention and spot one if I need to as well as analyze what it means/what it symbolizes.
No comments:
Post a Comment