March 31

We'll begin by defining five themes: courage pity revenge loyalty hospitality Then I have six questions for you to answer after reading pages 694-696. 1. Who recognizes Odysseus when he gets back to the Palace? 2. Eumaeus is the guy who takes care of the pigs for Odysseus family. When Odysseus asks him about the dog what does Eumaeus say? 3. In showing us how the old dog is treated what is Homer telling us about conditions in Ithaca? 4. "You know how students are: without a master they have no will to labor or excel." What does this mean? 5. What happens to the dog in lines 1079-1081? 6. Eurycleia is Odysseus' nurse. She recognizes him even though he is still looking like a beggar. How does she recognize him?

March 30

Start with 20 minutes SSR. Then Ms. Legakis is going to talk to you about how the Greeks fought their wars. Then we will show you parts of the movie Troy to give you some idea what these warriors looked like and how they fought.

March 29

We are beginning the second part of The Odyssey today. First I'd like to show you two short films about the last thing we read: Helios and his cattle. Then I'd like you to read page 690 in the textbook and answer these questions: 1. Odysseus' home is filled with men who want to kill him and take his wife. How does Odysseus get back into his home? 2. Why did Odysseus son, Telemachus, take off for Sparta? 3. Why did Telemachus need to sneak back to Ithaca? 4. Odysseus has been away for 20 years. In your opinion was it wrong for other men in Ithaca to try to marry Odysseus' wife (Penelope)? Explain why you think it was OK or NOT OK for the men to try to marry Penelope. Now try reading page 691 and answer these questions: 5. "Wolfish troup of watchdogs" means a bunch of guys who are hanging around Odysseus' house, eating his food and trying to marry his wife while Odysseus is at war. Why is Telemachus angry at these men? 6. A 'swineherd' is someone who takes care of pigs. Why does the Swineherd kiss Telemachus on the head when he first sees him? Turn the page: 8. Why does Telemachus call the Swineherd 'Uncle'? 9. Why doesn't Telemachus recognize his father? 10. What does the goddess Athena do to Odysseus while he's sitting in the big hall in his house?

March 25

Twenty minutes SSR.
Then we'll do a writing exercise designed to prep you for STAR testing.

March 24

We'll begin with questions about Helios and his cattle. Please read pages 684-686 and answser the questions I've given you.

Then we have a writing assignment meant to begin Part II of The Odyssey.

"Imagine that someone has been absent from home for many years. What might that person think or feel upon returning home? Make a list of possible reactions, and save your notes.

Now write a short story about what happened when this person first returned. Half page or more. Put your name on your paper.

March 23

Twenty minutes SSR.

Then some writing: we'd like you to (at least) fill one side of one piece of paper on this subject...

Remember (or imagine) a time when you were told NOT to do something (or eat something) but you did it anyway. Tell us what it was that you were not supposed to do or eat. Then relate the story of what happened. Did it work out OK? Did something bad happen?

And let us know WHY you did this despite instructions NOT to do it.
Who told you not to do this?
Where did this happen?
When did this happen?

If we have time we'll ask you to read pages 684-686 and answer a few questions.

March 22

5th period we have two films for you to see. Then we'll ask you to write up a summary of Circe's prophecies (predictions). You will be asked to write about The Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis. Half page minimum. If we have time we have a little writing assignment for you.

6th period you will finish the summaries that you started yesterday, then we have one film to show you. And then Ms. Legakis will do her PowerPoint presentation. You will be expected to take notes and hand in these notes before you leave today.

{Ms. Dodd, the summary is done on pages 678-680 in the Blue Book, lines 660-716. They should be sure to talk about the Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis.}