Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Team TO's Threshold Crossing
Here's a little gift since we did not read Book XX. You will find Telemachus' threshold crossing into Team TO's adventure on page 407 in Book XX. Telemachus is responsible for Odysseus' threshold crossing into their adventure. You will find that at the top of page 412 in Book XX.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
The Homeric Hero
The following is an excerpt copied from Professor Roger Dunkle of Brooklyn College concerning the Homeric Hero (see Work Cited below). This should help you to think about the differences between what the society of Homer’s time thought of “hero,” and what we citizens of the 21st Century think of “hero.”
“The code which governs the conduct of the Homeric heroes is a simple one. The aim of every hero is to achieve honor, that is, the esteem received from one's peers. Honor is essential to the Homeric heroes, so much so that life would be meaningless without it. Thus, honor is more important than life itself. . . . A hero's honor is determined primarily by his courage and physical abilities . . . The highest honor can only be won in battle. . . . Homeric heroism is savage and merciless. Thus the hero often finds himself in a pressure-filled kill-or-be-killed situation. Success means survival and greater honor; failure means death and elimination . . . The Homeric hero is also fiercely individualistic; he is primarily concerned with his own honor and that of his household,6 which is only an extension of himself. . . . The Homeric hero is supremely concerned with the reaction of his fellow heroes to his actions, since ultimately it is they alone who can bestow honor.”
Work Cited
Dunkle, Roger. The Classical Origins of Western Culture. Online. The Core Studies 1 Study Guide. Brooklyn College Core Curriculum Series, 1986. http://depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/classics/dunkle/studyguide/homer.htm
“The code which governs the conduct of the Homeric heroes is a simple one. The aim of every hero is to achieve honor, that is, the esteem received from one's peers. Honor is essential to the Homeric heroes, so much so that life would be meaningless without it. Thus, honor is more important than life itself. . . . A hero's honor is determined primarily by his courage and physical abilities . . . The highest honor can only be won in battle. . . . Homeric heroism is savage and merciless. Thus the hero often finds himself in a pressure-filled kill-or-be-killed situation. Success means survival and greater honor; failure means death and elimination . . . The Homeric hero is also fiercely individualistic; he is primarily concerned with his own honor and that of his household,6 which is only an extension of himself. . . . The Homeric hero is supremely concerned with the reaction of his fellow heroes to his actions, since ultimately it is they alone who can bestow honor.”
Work Cited
Dunkle, Roger. The Classical Origins of Western Culture. Online. The Core Studies 1 Study Guide. Brooklyn College Core Curriculum Series, 1986. http://depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/classics/dunkle/studyguide/homer.htm
Juxtaposition of T's and O's Cycle of the Hero
The question on the test about the Cycle of the Hero is asking for an analysis of the cycle when Telemachus and Odysseus become like one hero ("Team TO"). Your task is to analyze their cycle together starting with their call to their adventure to kill the suitors. The following chart is an analysis of the cycle of the two individual heroes.
Juxtaposition of The Hero Cycle for Telemachus and Odysseus
Telemachus Cycle
Call to Adventure – Athena says go find your father
Helpers: Athena and Eurycleia (the “nanny”)
Threshold Crossing – goes into his father’s house to stand up to the suitors (steps into his father’s shoes)
Tests: dealing with the suitors’ insults; challenging the townspeople to support him. we have not read the books where he has to go to several different city states to talk to the kings who served with Odysseus on
Helpers: Athena
Triumph –what he is going after = Father Quest (search for his father)
Threshold Crossing: crosses back over the seas to get to Ithaca
Odysseus Cycle
Call to Adventure – Trojan War is over – Odysseus’ heart calls him home
Helpers: Other Greek kings; Athena
*Threshold Crossing – gets on his ship to sail back to Ithaca (but is thwarted by Poseidon)
Tests: all the stuff he goes through in the flashbacks
Helpers: Athena
Triumph –what he is going after = sacred marriage
Threshold Crossing: Poseidon’s last “hit” before Odysseus can be at home
Below are the elements of the cycle that you must identify for Team TO's cycle:
Telemachus and Odysseus (Team TO)Combined
Call to Adventure for Telemachus and for Odysseus:
Helpers:
Threshold Crossing into their combined adventure:
Tests:
Helpers:
Supreme Ordeal:
Threshold Crossing for Telemachus:
Threshold Crossing for Odysseus:
The Triumph for Odysseus:
The Triumph for Telemachus:
Juxtaposition of The Hero Cycle for Telemachus and Odysseus
Telemachus Cycle
Call to Adventure – Athena says go find your father
Helpers: Athena and Eurycleia (the “nanny”)
Threshold Crossing – goes into his father’s house to stand up to the suitors (steps into his father’s shoes)
Tests: dealing with the suitors’ insults; challenging the townspeople to support him. we have not read the books where he has to go to several different city states to talk to the kings who served with Odysseus on
Helpers: Athena
Triumph –what he is going after = Father Quest (search for his father)
Threshold Crossing: crosses back over the seas to get to Ithaca
Odysseus Cycle
Call to Adventure – Trojan War is over – Odysseus’ heart calls him home
Helpers: Other Greek kings; Athena
*Threshold Crossing – gets on his ship to sail back to Ithaca (but is thwarted by Poseidon)
Tests: all the stuff he goes through in the flashbacks
Helpers: Athena
Triumph –what he is going after = sacred marriage
Threshold Crossing: Poseidon’s last “hit” before Odysseus can be at home
Below are the elements of the cycle that you must identify for Team TO's cycle:
Telemachus and Odysseus (Team TO)Combined
Call to Adventure for Telemachus and for Odysseus:
Helpers:
Threshold Crossing into their combined adventure:
Tests:
Helpers:
Supreme Ordeal:
Threshold Crossing for Telemachus:
Threshold Crossing for Odysseus:
The Triumph for Odysseus:
The Triumph for Telemachus:
The Odyssey Book XIX (Book XX optional)
The Odyssey
Book XIX (Book XX optional)
Once again, Odysseus spins an elaborate tale of his background, this time for Penelope. Why does he do this? What do you understand about Penelope after reading Book XIX? The nurse, Eurycleia, has a vital role in the rest of the story. What is her relationship with Odysseus and with Penelope? What do you learn about Eurycleia’s character? What is Penelope planning on page 398?
Book XX describes more detail about the rudeness of the suitors. Reading this book or at least the summary will give you a better idea about why Odysseus and those who love him are so violently angry.
Continue to take notes on your notes page about the role of Athena and the role of disguise in the epic. Also, consider how dreams and omens are used to predict the future.
Book XIX (Book XX optional)
Once again, Odysseus spins an elaborate tale of his background, this time for Penelope. Why does he do this? What do you understand about Penelope after reading Book XIX? The nurse, Eurycleia, has a vital role in the rest of the story. What is her relationship with Odysseus and with Penelope? What do you learn about Eurycleia’s character? What is Penelope planning on page 398?
Book XX describes more detail about the rudeness of the suitors. Reading this book or at least the summary will give you a better idea about why Odysseus and those who love him are so violently angry.
Continue to take notes on your notes page about the role of Athena and the role of disguise in the epic. Also, consider how dreams and omens are used to predict the future.
The Odyssey Books XIV and XV
The Odyssey Books XIV, XV (optional)
In Book XIV, the reader is introduced to Emmaeus. What kind of guy is he? What do you learn about his relationship with Odysseus and his family? Why do you think Odysseus (disguised as a poor beggar) tells Emmaeus the “tall tale” about where he has been and what he has been doing (page 279+)? How does Emmaeus treat Odysseus? Why?
For your notes page: keep a log of rituals (other than the Hades ritual)
In Book XV, the stories are in “real time” – Telemachus’ return home is juxtaposed with Odysseus’ experience still disguised as a beggar. He continues to test Emmaeus’ loyalty. Reading this book, or at least the summary, will further your knowledge about specific themes and Key Features of Myth, but it is not required reading, nor do you have to blog about it. If you do the reading, keep your ideas on your notes page.
In Book XIV, the reader is introduced to Emmaeus. What kind of guy is he? What do you learn about his relationship with Odysseus and his family? Why do you think Odysseus (disguised as a poor beggar) tells Emmaeus the “tall tale” about where he has been and what he has been doing (page 279+)? How does Emmaeus treat Odysseus? Why?
For your notes page: keep a log of rituals (other than the Hades ritual)
In Book XV, the stories are in “real time” – Telemachus’ return home is juxtaposed with Odysseus’ experience still disguised as a beggar. He continues to test Emmaeus’ loyalty. Reading this book, or at least the summary, will further your knowledge about specific themes and Key Features of Myth, but it is not required reading, nor do you have to blog about it. If you do the reading, keep your ideas on your notes page.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The Odyssey Book XI
The descent into "hell" is a very common theme in the stories of many cultures. In Book XI, Odysseus continues his narrative of his trials -- this time it is the story about how he was compelled to make a trip to the underworld, in Greek mythology this is Hades.
Be very specific in your comments to this post.
Describe in detail the ritual Odysseus must perform: why he does it, what he does, and what happens each time he performs it. (This would specifically address one of the Key Features of Myth.)
In your opinion, who are the most important "shades" Odysseus meets and speaks to. Explain why you think this.
What specifically does Odysseus learn about his future?
After reading the entire book, what have you learned about Odysseus in terms of his hero qualities (both Homeric and 21st Century)- be specific.
Be very specific in your comments to this post.
Describe in detail the ritual Odysseus must perform: why he does it, what he does, and what happens each time he performs it. (This would specifically address one of the Key Features of Myth.)
In your opinion, who are the most important "shades" Odysseus meets and speaks to. Explain why you think this.
What specifically does Odysseus learn about his future?
After reading the entire book, what have you learned about Odysseus in terms of his hero qualities (both Homeric and 21st Century)- be specific.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
The Odyssey Books IX and X
Book IX is Odysseus' recounting of his conflict with the one-eyed Cyclops, Polyphemus. In Book X, Odysseus relates the story of the death of his men and his encounter with the goddess, Circe. Include both books in your responses to the following questions. Post your responses so everyone can read what you think.
In your opinion, does Odysseus show he is a good and revered leader in this story? Support your ideas with specific examples from both books.
Aristotle defines "hamartia" as a "fatal flaw" (see the Tragic Man in your purple packet). According to Aristotle, the most common tragic flaw is "supreme pride" ("hubris"). What is the tragic flaw (or flaws)of Odysseus, in your opinion? Support this with specific examples from the Mandelbaum translation.
Why is it significant that Zeus rejects the sacrifice of the best ram by Odysseus at the end of Book IX? (Consider the events of Book X)
Note the frequent mention of the giving or the confiscating of goods and riches. Why do you think this is significant?
Post answers to these questions on your notes page. Be sure to refer to the pretest focus as you think about the stories you are reading. It is a VERY good idea to mark page numbers for quotations that you will need to support your answers in the test.
Continue to keep a list of examples that support the "Key Features of Myth."
Continue to keep a list of heroic qualities for both Odysseus and Telemachus. Read the "Homeric Hero" excerpt in your notes packet. Begin thinking about the comparison or contrast between your idea of a hero and the Homeric hero.
Continue to keep a list of themes.
In your opinion, does Odysseus show he is a good and revered leader in this story? Support your ideas with specific examples from both books.
Aristotle defines "hamartia" as a "fatal flaw" (see the Tragic Man in your purple packet). According to Aristotle, the most common tragic flaw is "supreme pride" ("hubris"). What is the tragic flaw (or flaws)of Odysseus, in your opinion? Support this with specific examples from the Mandelbaum translation.
Why is it significant that Zeus rejects the sacrifice of the best ram by Odysseus at the end of Book IX? (Consider the events of Book X)
Note the frequent mention of the giving or the confiscating of goods and riches. Why do you think this is significant?
Post answers to these questions on your notes page. Be sure to refer to the pretest focus as you think about the stories you are reading. It is a VERY good idea to mark page numbers for quotations that you will need to support your answers in the test.
Continue to keep a list of examples that support the "Key Features of Myth."
Continue to keep a list of heroic qualities for both Odysseus and Telemachus. Read the "Homeric Hero" excerpt in your notes packet. Begin thinking about the comparison or contrast between your idea of a hero and the Homeric hero.
Continue to keep a list of themes.
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