Odyssey Unit Outline

Day 1: April 25/26 Act out the Trojan War. (Borrow scripts and props from Kimberly, Gina, Laurie; assign parts ahead-of-time.) Explain that this is what happens right before The Odyssey begins.

Day 2: April 29/30 Journal: How would you define a hero? What qualities does a hero have? Consider the use of heroes in movies and literature. What are common traits of these heroes? Who is your favorite hero in literature or film? Why?

Take notes

Read pages 1037-1047.

Watch video clips:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=K3NTAmGig0U

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_nOxBDMWc90

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lCwP5YWs-Kg

Day 3: May 1/2 Journal: How do you feel when you get lost…either figuratively or literally? Who do you look to for help? What emotions do you experience when you are lost? Please journal about a time when you have been lost and what happened to you.

Take notes

Watch video clip:

 Start the following video at 30:00 and stop at about 43:00 (after Odysseus and his men sail away)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=c-7_8y-McLo

Begin Cyclops comic strips (show examples from slideshow)

Day 4: May 3/6 Journal: What characteristics does a civilized society have? What would you consider an uncivil society? What do you think the word savage means and suggests about a person? Why do you think that giants, ogres, and other large mythical creatures are often characterized as ignorant and savage?

In-class time to finish and turn in Cyclops comic strips. Day 5: May 7/8 Journal: Think of a time when you had to make a difficult decision. Why was the decision difficult? How did you make your decision? Consider what you know about Odysseus. How do you think he will make an important decision based on his previous actions?

Archetype Notes

Watch video clips:

 Start the following video at 1:35:25 and stop at about 1:41:24 (at the sunset).

Reading assignment: page 1075, #1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 11

Day 6: May 9/10 Journal: Consider a time when you met a relative for the first time. How is meeting relatives you don’t know awkward? What expectations do you have for meeting someone new that you have heard about before? Why is it hard to trust a stranger, even when they are your family?

Quiz over Part 1 (1037-1074)

Correct quiz and discuss in class.

Day 7: May 13/14 Journal: The word “fidelity” is a synonym for loyalty. We see that word in the Marine’s motto, Semper Fidelis, and in a common dog’s name, Fido. What does it mean to be loyal? Why would the Marines choose this for a motto? Why would a dog be named something that means loyalty? Tell about a time when loyalty (yours or someone’s you know) was tested.

Watch video clips:

 Start the following video at 2:20:18 and stop at about 1:41:24 (at the sunset).

Section summaries: each student wrote a summary of the two sections read today; if this was not completed in class, it is homework. For the summary, take a sheet of paper and fold it in half "hamburger" style. Title the front "The Meeting of Father of Son" and the back "The Beggar and the Faithful Dog"; on the bottom halves, write a multiple-sentence summary of that section, and on the top halves, draw a visual summary of the key event of that section. Day 8: May 15/16 Read pages 1085-1095.

Watch video clips:

Travel brochure assignment

Day 9: May 17/20 Travel brochures due today (or Day 10 at your discretion)

Read pages 1096-1101

Watch video clips:

Study stations… topics include: admirable qualities in Greek culture, Odysseus's vengeance at the end of the story, the significance of The Odyssey, the purpose of archetypes, Campbell's Heroic Cycle, epithets, and the different archetypes within the story.

Extra credit opportunity (must be turned in before the test).

Day 10: May 21/22 Odyssey Exam