Friday Wrap Up: Reading Workshop

Here's another idea for thought and possible free writing: Odysseus gets a lot of help on his journey, advice about dangers to avoid and knowledge about events that will happen before they happen. Do you agree that it is better to know about the dangers you may face, or would you prefer to face the unknown with no clue of what may come? And here's another related question: When someone tells you that they have good news and bad news, which do you say you want first and why?

Today you'll be taking quiz #2 on Greek and Latin cell words after you finish your warm up writing. As you finish it up and turn it in, you may get out your independent reading books and read silently with the rest of the shortened class. (Assembly day schedule)

Before class is over, be sure you complete your book log for this week and turn it in.

Have a safe, happy weekend. See you Monday.

Is Odysseus a Good Sport?

Warm up writing idea: What's your definition of a "good sport"? Competitive sports...even the Olympic games...originated from the ancient Greeks. What are some of the positive results of competition (sports, music, speech, academic, etc.), and what are some of the negative? How is sportsmanship nurtured in the public school setting? (You might think of the athletes or competitors, coaches, parents, and so forth.) Is sportsmanship a worthwhile lesson to learn, and are schools teaching it?

Believe it or not, I thought of this topic as I reread today's story, The Cyclops. Our hero, known for his wisdom, outsmarts an incredibly dumb monster. In fact, the story -to me- is almost so silly it seems slapstick. You have to wonder as you are reading today, why does Odysseus tell the Cyclops his name is Nobody! Then, amidst all the blood and gore of cannibalism, Odysseus dreams up a scheme to get his men out of the Cyclops's cave and safely onto the boats to leave. (There's a rodeo event today - I'm not sure what it's called- where a rider tries to ride on the underbelly of a sheep to see who can stay on the longest! I wonder where they got that idea!)

So...you'd think that Odysseus would gratefully row off into the sunset as he and his men escape with their lives, but no, he becomes the epitome of a bad sport. In what looks like a weak moment as his crew is rowing off, Odysseus can't keep his mouth shut. He yells at the Cyclops, taunting him by gloating about fooling him. It makes me think of the basketball player who has to slap the court or wave his fist to the crowd after he sinks a basket. I don't know about you, but it ruins the moment for me, and I think to myself, "I don't admire you anymore since you admire yourself enough already!" I thought that, too, of Odysseus. In my opinion, he deserves the trouble that will follow up due to this outburst of ego. Too bad. There's nothing like grace and humility combined with talent. Now that I admire!

The Story of Calypso, a Powerful Sea Nymph

No, this is not Calypso, but a sweet, baby girl (my new granddaughter) just entering the 21st century. She will be finding her way in a culture quite different from the one you'll be reading about today...or is it?


A suggestion for warm up writing today: In The Odyssey, why do you think so many of the monsters and negative forces were female? Who are more powerful, men or women? What might this say about the ancient Greeks? How does our culture view the role of men and women?

When you read the story of Calypso, what do you notice about the description of Calypso, her island, and all that she can offer Odysseus? It is said that this particular story is very appealing to the senses, and it is interesting to notice the details . . .clear, bubbling brooks, the scent of cypress, cedar smoke and smoke of thyme, beds of violets and parsley, Calypso's sweet voice . . . As you read (and hear) this story tomorrow, enjoy the images you visualize. (I've had students draw what they visualize in this scene as we read.)



Even with all this and the promise of immortality, Odysseus is seen weeping, gazing off into the horizon. With all of this in mind, what do you think this says about Odysseus? Why is he weeping, and what overall lessons could be drawn from the story? How might the ancient Greeks view marriage? How is Calypso shown differently in the poem on page 894 of your textbook? Which character do you prefer, the Calypso in The Odyssey, or the one presented in Vega's poem? By clicking on the word Calypso here, you can visit Vega's website and hear the second stanza of her song. (Be sure to click on the blue icon under the title to hear her recording.)

I hope you're enjoying reading about the journey. Look over the story of the Cyclops tonight, and tomorrow you will read (and hear) it together. Keep reading on your own in your independent reading books and tracking your pages on your reading log. Friday you'll get a chance to read those books in class and you'll turn in your logs. Don't forget there's another Greek/Latin cell word quiz on Friday.

Miss you guys and see you soon!

Fortune, Fate, or Free Will?

Warm up writing idea for today: 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?

Today you will be viewing a part of the story of The Iliad, and you may notice how often a Greek god or goddess steps in to change the course of events. 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? (The first story you'll read is about Odysseus's inability to leave Calypso's island!)

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.

It's late at night and I'm eye-burning tired, but I thought I'd take this quiet opportunity to slip into our "virtual" classroom. I've spent the day rocking, holding, and calming (trying to anyway) a sweet, new four day old grandbaby. Though I miss you guys, I have to say it's magical to have a new grandchild.

Thanks for all your hard work!

Monday, Monday

What or Who Frightens You Most?

Think of the villains and monsters you know from literature and history. Who are the most frightening to you? Who are the most powerful and why? As we get into our reading, it becomes clear that although Odysseus's strength is wisdom, but he's also fairly weak when it comes to pride. I enjoy reading the Odyssey because of the lessons still apply today, even though the story is pretty wild. It's interesting to see what the ancient Greeks valued.As to the monsters I have feared the most, I have to say that the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz was truly my worst childhood villainess. Interestingly, both The Odyssey and The Wizard of Oz have been compared as epic journeys, both main characters searching for themselves and for home. Think about it; there really are a lot of similarities.
posted by Ms. James @ 6:16 PM 0 comments links to this post