Fortune, Fate, or Free Will?

Here's another idea for thought...and possible free writing:
You've been reading about how the Greeks attributed all actions and events to the will of the gods. If a man or woman had good fortune, it was because he or she was in the favor of a powerful god. Likewise, to make a god angry meant losing favor
and suffering bad consequences. It's as if humans were simply pawns in a board game being played by the gods. This might explain natural disasters, love affairs, death, and even being trapped on an island with a beautiful sea nymph for seven years! (Do you think Penelope was a fool to wait so many years for Odysseus?) How much truth, if any, do you place in fortune or forces outside yourself? Do people today still believe as the Greeks did? Are there times humans cannot control themselves due to outside forces?
Keep reading and I hope you will enjoy the stories within The Odyssey.
So many references to mythology appear in other literature, even literature we'll read this year. Understanding these allusions (references) reveals a deeper appreciation of literature.
On a personal note to my class, I am making progress in my recovery. I now have a clunky boot instead of a cast on my left foot, and I have a new, shorter cast on my right arm, giving me use of my right elbow! I'm still not supposed to put weight on my foot yet, but I'll try to get in for visits by the end of next week and back at work with you the next week. Thanks for all your hard work. I'll not blame this accident on bad luck or fate. Who knows? It could always have been worse!

What Makes a Hero?

Here's an idea for thought - and possible free writing:

I guess most of us know the superheroes of today's culture - Superman, Batman, Spiderman, and so forth. They have super-human powers and defend the weak and innocent and uphold the ideals of truth and justice. Who is your favorite superhero? Have you ever thought who our real heroes are today? What qualities do they demonstrate? Why does (or should) society look up to them? How do they compare to the characters you've been reading about?

Are you bringing your textbooks with you to class each day? You should be. I know they're heavy, but just think about the arm muscles you're building! Don't leave your books in the classroom because those are the ones that eventually disappear, and they are expensive. I hope you're bringing your free reading book, too. You may begin to find time during class or Chief Time to read!

What Does Man Value Most?

As you begin to read about the first beauty contest and the beginning of the Trojan War, you might begin to wonder how much the world has really changed. What do men really want most these days? Money? Power? Women? What do you think a man (Paris, in this case) valued most back in ancient Greece? By the way, isn't it interesting how the goddesses competed in the beauty contest by attempting to offer Paris the best bribe? I think Zeus was very wise to ask Paris to judge instead of getting involved himself.

As you begin to read, you might notice that it's hard to keep the names straight and who is on which side. Sometimes the Trojans are referred to as Spartans and sometimes the Greeks are called Achaeans. Don't let that confuse you or ruin the story. If you like to read online, Wikipedia has some interesting articles, pictures and maps.
Happy reading, and remember, don't look a gift horse in the mouth!

*Speaking of gifts, if you didn't do so well on the Edith Hamilton quiz, I hope you took advantage of the opportunity to regain points!

Let the Journey Begin: Getting Organized

First of all, thanks for the beautiful letters. I am enjoying reading through them and getting to know you. So many of you expressed a love of poetry (at least the coffee house, anyway), creative writing, drama, and reading of all kinds. Many of you voiced your concerns about getting up in front of class as well as a fear of sharing your writing with others...so don't feel alone. So far all of you have written about wanting to be stronger readers and writers, and for that I commend you. To begin, I hope you've done your shopping so that you can mark your divider pages. Don't throw anything away in this class! There are several three hole punches in this class, and you can keep everything in your binders.

Section 1: hand outs and other general info (put the syllabus, MLA handout in here.)
Section 2: mini lessons (we will study 6+1 traits, grammar, various genres, study skills and writing notes...
I don't think you have anything for this section yet.
Section 3: Writer's notebook (this will have free writings chronicled by date - and usually we begin class with free writing. The writing survey you took Friday goes in this section. We will add writing territories after I come back - and other writing notes and ideas.)
Section 4: Finished writing pieces (there will be three pieces consisting of first draft scribbles, conferencing notes, second draft and conferencing notes and revisions, and beautiful third draft with a letter of reflection, all of which I will teach when I return.) You don't have anything to put in this yet.
Section 5: In-class literature: Any notes regarding classroom literature units...Edith Hamilton's mythology, The Odyssey, study guides, quizzes (the ones you are allowed to keep), notes you take over lecture or your reading. Later we'll add Mockingbird and Romeo and Juliet.
Section 6: Independent reading (reader's notebook) You will keep track of the books you read on your own in a reading log -which we haven't handed out yet. You can keep your reading survey in this section.
*We may add a couple of sections when I get back, but for now these six will do.

Today you will get your textbooks. Put your names in the front in ink! The books may be old, but they are expensive. As you read, you may take notice of the values of this ancient culture. A question worth exploring as we read is: What is courage? What does this society value? In fact, this question can guide us as we examine the major works we'll read together this semester.

Meanwhile, I'm going to get back to reading your letters and some wonderfully creative accounts of how I landed myself in my current state with two casts! Thanks for your hard work.