Writing About Literature (Odyssey Essay Details)

Writing about Literature English 9: The Odyssey Unit Essay

OKAY! Now’s the time to prepare for and write your Odyssey essay! As you know, you may choose to write about any one of the following topics.

Put a check mark next to the one you’ve chosen:

______1. On at least three occasions in the Odyssey, good advice is offered and not taken, and disaster and suffering result. Discuss three such examples.

______2. In Part 2 of the Odyssey, Penelope shows that she is a strong woman, and therefore a good match for Odysseus, because she is clever. Discuss three times when Penelope was clever.

______3. What is the role of females in the Odyssey? Taking into consideration such characters as Penelope, Circe, Athena, the Sirens, and Anticlea (Odysseus’ mother), discuss how women are portrayed.

______4. What is the importance of the father/son relationships in the Odyssey? Thinking about what the story presents about the relationships between Odysseus and Laertes, Odysseus and Telemachus, and Polyphemus and Poseidon, describe what characteristics of this relationship the Greeks valued.

______5. The Odyssey contains some very graphic violence, some of which is done in anger and some of which is not. Select examples of each, and explain the purpose of each violent scene.

______6. Hospitality, the concept of welcoming visitors and treating them well, was important to the Ancient Greeks. Find examples in the Odyssey of times when the “rules” of hospitality are followed and times when it wasn’t. What role did these examples play in the epic?

ESSAY DO’S! Do be sure you show accurate knowledge of the Odyssey! Do write at least five substantial paragraphs for your essay, indenting OR skipping a space to start a paragraph. Do create a clever and appropriate title and hook. Do mention Homer’s name and the title Odyssey (or The Odyssey) in your introduction and conclusion, remembering to underline the title or put in into italics when typing. Do include a thesis statement that accurately illustrates the main point of your essay. Do plan your body paragraphs so that are organized in a logical way, saving the best point for the last paragraph. Do incorporate a well-chosen quote from the text for each body paragraph, indicating the line number(s) in parenthesis after the quote. Do use transitions words or ideas for every paragraph except the introduction. Do sum up your ideas in your conclusion, coming full-circle from your hook if you can. Do use vivid word choice whenever possible, but avoid casual language and slang. DO CHECK YOUR CONVENTIONS, PROOFREADING CAREFULLY! ESSAY DON’T’S Don’t forget to use quotes well and correctly! Don’t use you, I, me, us, let’s, in this essay, in this paragraph. Don’t choose quotes from the opening italicized paragraphs of the stories! Your Name______Hour______

Thesis statement:______Body paragraph ideas This idea will be paragraph: 1 2 3 idea:

Corresponding quote: Line(s):______This idea will be paragraph: 1 2 3 idea:

Corresponding quote: Line(s):______Title______Introduction: Hook: Conclusion: Full-circle?: