Cold-Read Task Answer Key

1.

Character Similar Meaning Evidence Implication

Andromache: "his peerless wife" C B A ​ ​ ​

Hector: "striven ever to excel always in the D F vanguard of the battle" ​

Standards: RL.9-10.1, RL.9-10.3, RL.9-10.10, L.9-10.4a, L.9-10.6

2. __A__ Part A

__D__ Part B

Standards: RL.9-10.1, RL.9-10.3, RL.9-10.10

3. __C__

Standards: RL.9-10.1, RL.9-10.3, RL.9-10.10

4. __C__ Part A

__D__ Part B

Standards: RL.9-10.1, RL.9-10.2, RL.9-10.3, RL.9-10.10

5. __D__ Part A

__C__ Part B

Standards: RL.9-10.1, RL.9-10.6, RL.9-10.10

Grade 9: The Odyssey

6. __C__ Part A

__D__ Part B

Standards: RL.9-10.1, RL.9-10.4, RL.9-10.10, L9-10.5a

7. __A__

Standards: RL.9-10.1, RL.9-10.3, RL.9-10.5, RL.9-10.10

8. Exemplar Student Response

The Iliad is an epic about the events that happened in the Trojan War. The protagonist, Hector, faces difficult ​ decisions as a leader in the army and a husband and father. His conflicting motivations and ultimate decision conveys the value that the ancient Greeks placed on both fate and duty.

In Book Six, the character Hector has a resigned tone as he explains to his wife, Andromache, that although he wants to stay with his family, he must protect them by serving his country first. There is no doubt that Hector feels conflicting motivations as his wife reminds him of the damage Achilles has brought to her family in the past. She even begs him to “take pity on [her] now ,” to not “make [his] son an orphan, [his] wife a … widow” (3). Although he wants to fulfil Andromache’s request, his duty as prince of Troy comes first. After Andromache pleads with him to reconsider his battle plan, he replies, “I too am concerned,” but then he says, “none will send me to Hades before my time” (4, 6). Hector believes that if he is meant to die, then he will die. Hector’s accepting attitude communicates that belief in fate causes people to make radical choices. He ​ ​ knows that his fate and the fate of his people is ultimately out of his hands.

Hector also has conflicting feelings about his brother, Paris. Proudly, Hector declares, “I have striven ever to excel always in the vanguard of the battle” (4). Hector means that he has always fought on the front line in contrast to his brother, who brings shame to the Trojan army. It is obvious that Hector feels strongly about courage and patriotism, which demonstrates that loyalty to a code requires us to make difficult choices ​ between honor and pride in oneself and the well-being of family. Hector’s response to conflict proves that he ​ is a loyal warrior in contrast to his brother, who caused so much trouble for the Trojans.

The Iliad, like The Odyssey, is ultimately a story about honor through difficult circumstances. Even though our ​ ​ ​ culture may not understand the warrior code that the ancient people followed, their allegiance to their country is admirable.

Grade 9: The Odyssey

Standards: RL.9-10.1, RL.9-10.2, RL.9-10.3, RL.9-10.10, W.9-10.2a, W.9-10.2b, W.9-10.2c, W.9-10.2d, W.9-10.2e, W.9-10.2f, W.9-10.a, W.9-10.10, L.9-10.1a, L.9-10.1b, L.9-10.2a, L.9-10.2b, L.9-10.2c

Grade 9: The Odyssey