Aim: How does "The Cattle of the Sun God" episode illustrate the culminating challenge Odysseus faces as a leader?
DO NOW: “The Cattle of the Sun God” Kahoot
We started today’s lesson by playing a kahoot reviewing what we just read and discussed. The kahoot consisted of questions that pertained to our reading, solidifying our understanding of our knowledge. Using the kahoot, we reviewed our reading using the 10 questions that were on the game, with Mei Ling, Ryan W, and Serena taking the top 3.
Whole Class Discussion:
After the kahoot, we had a whole class discussion discussing, “How would you feel if you asked someone (you highly trusted) NOT do something, and they did it anyway? What would you do?” Justin started off our discussion with his answer of depending on the severity of the “crime.” Meaning it depends on the perimeter of the request, comparing not to jump on a trampoline to a more severe crime. Ayah, Eric, and Kelly added on to Justin’s response by agreeing with his response and adding on by saying how they would still be feeling betrayed because they already did it. Similarly, I agreed and added on how frequent they did it. Which would impact the trust put in them as they continue to frequently commit the “crime.”
Ms. Peterson then added how these themes are timeless, explaining how the culture of the dead and theme of ancient culture relates to us. She then spoke about what we do with them and how we respond to them. Specifically about trust, what we heard from others that might impact us, the severity of what they said, and how you felt when they said what they said. Keeping friendships and relationships are what you do with information provided, the trust and what they expect from you.
Advice from Ms. Peterson: “Never be putting energy or effort in something that we don’t have control over.” Like trust, we have control over, trust in something, trust in someone. But because we have control over those feelings and emotions, we should put more effort and energy into those things to yield what we want. But we cannot control what others do or think. Don’t think that somebody is what you expect from them, some will not pertain to your wishes and don’t expect them to be. You can only control yourself and what best interests you.
We then discussed based on our reading:
Link:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rwe1GioFLyo24Z3ynL0LtWB29L8-nBlt/view?usp=sharing
Eurylochus is also Odysseus' brother in law and shows loyalty to Odysseus; until this point.
Why do you think there was a change in his character in "The Cattle of the Sun God"?
What reason does Eurylochus give the crew members to justify the betrayal of Tiresias' warning to Odysseus?
Ying Ye answered part A of the discussion with Eurylochus questioning Odysseus' leader because of how he treated his men, killing a lot of them for their survival, with Eurylochus being the sensible one and Odysseus being the rash one. But, when eating the cows, the roles were reversed with Eurylochus being the rash one. Randy then added that since they were hungry, their decisions were altered, doing anything to eat to survive, even when eating forbidden cows. Mei Qi then answered part B by stating how he mentioned the difficulties and troubles that they have been through, with the worst way to go was starvation. Also, mentioning how they were going to build a temple to honor the god and the cattles of the god they ate. Justifying their actions because desperate times come with desperate measures. Using the cattles to survive when they were starving. With Randy bringing up the point of Xenia, the gods expect rewards and goods from visiting the humans.
After the discussion, we began spirit reading.
Cognizant of the advice from Tiresias, Odysseus wants to avoid Helios’ island all together. It is Eurylochus who insists the men need to stop and rest. Eurylochus also convinces the men to eat the cattle when they are starving.
How do their behaviors present a role reversal? (Consider their actions/behaviors on Circe’s island in comparison.)
What are some of the signs that the gods give to the men after they begin to eat the cattle? What are these signs an example of? (Reflect back to your reading of The Alchemist!)
Omen: Anything perceived or happening that is believed to portend a good or evil event or circumstance in the future (something of prophetic significance)
How do the men react to these warnings, and what is the significance of their reactions?
This tied back to what Ying Ye said about Odysseus and the role reversal. Ms. Peterson speaks about when Odysseus journeyed to the land of the dead and received a prophecy about avoiding Helio’s islands, but Eurylochus insists on staying and resting on the island.
The signs that the gods gave them were making the dead cows move and walk around. To leave the cows alone, but the men ate them for 6 more days. The signs that were given to the gods were considered as omens. Omens are used in both positive and negative ways. Different application meanings depending on the context of the situation. With Julius Caesar being an example of how omens were used. Different incomprehensible events that happened acting as bad omens, signs that were telling Caesar not to go to the capital. A positive omen is the Knight's Tale. Three main characters with 2 knights being interested in the same gal. The 2 guys received positive signs that will win the girl’s hands.
We then as a team discussed:
What similarities do you see in Eurylochus' speech to the crew in this episode and Odysseus' speech in “Scylla and Charybdis”?
Lines 894-954
In "The Cattle of the Sun God", what does the wrath of the gods say about their involvement amongst mortals?
Assess their involvement!
What are some of their behaviors/actions at this point of the episode?
What details in lines 920-921 clarify the flashback presented here?
Kelly began our discussion with how both their speech talks about the survival of their men. Eurylochus talking about how the cows will save them, while Odyssesus’ speech on traveling through Scylla would save more men. Randy then answered the second question with how the gods will punish the mortals who go against them or cross the line. With the passage stating how the death of the cattles resulted in Zeus punishing the mortals, destroying the ships. Ms. Peterson then stated how the gods acted childish with their punishments, as they were punished for merely harming the cows. Over the top punishments. Kaitlyn then answered question 3 with how the flashbacks spoke to him, talking about the future, and talks about how he meets Calypso at the end of the story after escaping Charybdis. Randy also added, Odysseus not overhearing the conversation between Zeus and Helios. Enforcing how he did not have the directives firsthand.
After our discussion with these questions we moved on to another whole class discussion.
Do the members of the crew
deserve the punishment they receive
for killing the cattle?
Explain.
Zihan began with the men deserving the punishments because of their actions even though Odysseys told them not to eat the cattles. Referring back to the beginning of the class about the trust Odysseys put on his men to not eat the cattle, but they did anyway. James added on to the discussion by talking about the signs that were given to the men, with the additional knowledge of the wrath of the gods once they did something unfavorable.
Then, we finished the class with a final whole class discussion:
Is Odysseus learning to not be so proud and too confident?
Has his hubris been “put in check”?
Explain.
Owen began the discussion by saying he was learning and making safer choices that prevented the death of his men. Randy then added on how Odyessus was putting more trust in the prophecies and information that he has been getting. He is no longer the same reckless character at the start of the story. Pertaining to how he called out to the Cyclops after he took his eye. Ayah then added how his hubris has been put in check with how he chose the safer choice between Scylla and Charybdis to make sure more of his men would survive the endeavor.
Reflection:
Today’s lesson was mostly targeted at the growth and role reversal of Odysseus and how he has grown from his past self to what he is now. Using different lessons and understanding crucial information in order to protect himself and the ones that were following him. But also how his trust in his men brought trouble to him. Similar to our discussion about how we would feel when our trust is broken. Since he has put his trust in his men, he expected his men to act accordingly, following his wishes, in turn the men would survive and get home safely. But due to his men breaking the rules that Odysseus set, they were punished severely, at the same time breaking the trust that Odysseus placed in them. Showing how he controlled the trust he placed in people, but cannot control the people that were around him. Which shattered his trust. But throughout the events that happened, he was able to learn and slowly change his actions and ways of thinking. From being reckless to becoming sensible. Ultimately leading to the role reversal between him and Eurylchus. He would regard the information and prophecies that he received to be important and put it at the front of his mind to save his men. But couldn’t because of the unexpected betrayal of his men at Helio’s island. From the advice that Ms. Peterson gave and the lessons learned from the story, I learned that there really isn’t a point to spare any effort for people that don't appreciate the actions or effort that I spare for them. If I were to spare any trust for someone, I cannot believe that they will be the person that I want them to be. They cannot be the way I want them to become because I as a person cannot control how they are. Their feelings, emotions, and actions, there is nothing I could do to change what they do. I learned this because this is how the world functions. You can only trust in what you do and what you want to do, sparing minimal effort for the ones close to you. Everything that you accomplish will ultimately depend on yourself because of the control of the choices that you make. With this, I will use it to eventually benefit myself and choose the ones that I wish to keep. Using what I learned, I make sure that the actions I take will ultimately depend on my control over the different situations that come up in my life.
No comments:
Post a Comment