’s and Yearlong 2014-15

Grade Level: Grades 9-12 Class Dates: Tuesday and Thursday, September 9—May 21 Class Time: 11:30 a.m. (EST), 60-75 min Instructor: Adam Lockridge E-mail: [email protected]

REGISTRATION: To register for Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey or other Scholé Academy courses visit www.ClassicalAcademicPress.com/ScholeAcademy.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: The story of the Iliad takes place near the end of the devastating Trojan War—a conflict between the Achaeans and the inhabitants of Troy. Achilles, the most revered Greek warrior, falls into a fit of rage that, in the words of Homer, “cost the Greeks incalculable pain, pitched countless souls of heroes into Hades’ dark, and left their bodies to rot as feasts for dogs and birds…” This story of intense conflict and gruesome fighting illustrates, in a timeless way, both the glories and dangers of the warrior spirit.

Homer’s Odyssey is something of a sequel to the Iliad and will be read during the second half of the course. The main character of the story is , a famous Greek warrior, who falls into trials which prevent him from returning to his homeland after the Trojan War. The story recounts his difficult journey home and the perils he faces along the way. Students will enjoy a great adventure story, but will also reflect on enduring themes of wisdom and virtue.

High school students (9th-12th grade) who successfully complete the course will mature in their reading skills and gain the confidence to tackle other great works in the Western literary tradition. In addition, they will learn to thoughtfully reflect upon their reading and express the fruit of that reflection in writing.

COURSE TEXT: IMPORTANT: Be sure to obtain the Fagles translations of both texts published by Penguin in their unabridged form. There are several different covers and editions of these available. All are fine since Penguin has preserved the same pagination; however, having this particular translation and publisher is critical to participation in the course.

From Amazon.com:

The Iliad The great war epic of Western literature, translated by acclaimed classicist

Dating to the ninth century B.C., Homer’s timeless poem still vividly conveys the horror and heroism of men and gods wrestling with towering emotions and battling amidst devastation and destruction, as it moves inexorably to the wrenching, tragic conclusion of the Trojan War. Renowned classicist Bernard Knox observes in his superb introduction that although the violence of the Iliad is grim and relentless, it coexists with both images of civilized life and a poignant yearning for peace.

Combining the skills of a poet and scholar, Robert Fagles, winner of the PEN/Ralph Manheim Medal for Translation and a 1996 Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, brings the energy of contemporary language to this enduring heroic epic. He maintains the drive and metric music of Homer’s poetry, and evokes the impact and nuance of the Iliad’s mesmerizing repeated phrases in what Peter Levi calls “an astonishing performance.”

The Odyssey Robert Fagles, winner of the PEN/Ralph Manheim Medal for Translation and a 1996 Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, presents us with Homer's best-loved and most accessible poem in a stunning modern-verse translation. "Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns driven time and again off course, once he ha d plundered the hallowed heights of Troy." So begins Robert Fagles' magnificent translation of the Odyssey, which Jasper Griffin in Book Review hails as "a distinguished achievement."

If the Iliad is the world's greatest war epic, the Odyssey is literature's grandest evocation of an everyman's journey through life. Odysseus' reliance on his wit and wiliness for survival in his encounters with divine and natural forces during his ten-year voyage home to Ithaca after the Trojan War is at once a timeless human story and an individual test of moral endurance. In the myths and legends retold here, Fagles has captured the energy and poetry of Homer's original in a bold, contemporary idiom, and given us an Odyssey to read aloud, to savor, and to treasure for its sheer lyrical mastery. Renowned classicist Bernard Knox's superb introduction and textual commentary provide insightful background information for the general reader and scholar alike, intensifying the strength of Fagles's translation.

2 STUDENT EXPECTATIONS: Students must join each class session on time with all assigned reading completed. Although we will always read some in class, there will always be more to read outside of class.

When students enter the online classroom, they will be invited to share their reading experiences and discuss a variety of elements from the story. The primary focus will be on the moral questions which arise from the reading, topics such as virtue, fate, wisdom, and honor. Epic poetry is meant to be heard, so students will learn to appreciate the beauty of Homeric verse by occasionally reading the poem aloud with proper clarity and expression. Student will also be asked to share short compositions (usually only a paragraph or two) throughout the course as fuel for our ongoing discussions.

STUDENT EVALUATION: Students will be evaluated on the timely and thoughtful completion of all reading and writing assignments. In addition, students will be evaluated in terms of their attentiveness in class and their thoughtful contribution to class discussion.

THE VIRTUAL CLASSROOM: We will be using free online “virtual classroom” software provided by Zoom, one of the leading companies that provides such software. The virtual classroom will provide students with interactive audio, text chat and an interactive whiteboard in which texts, diagrams, video and other media can be displayed and analyzed. We will provide students with a link (via email) that will enable students to join the virtual classroom.

Specific information regarding the technology used by Scholé Academy (including required technology) can be found by visiting www.ClassicalAcademicPress.com.

Students will submit documents by uploading them to an online project site. The location of this online site will be provided once the course begins.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: ADAM LOCKRIDGE

Adam graduated with honors from the University of Kansas where he received a BA in philosophy and a minor in ancient Greek. He went on to complete his MA at the University of Memphis specializing in the history of philosophy. His love for classical education was ignited during his Fellowship at the Trinity Forum Academy where he explored the relationship between early Christian theology and Greek metaphysics. Over the past six years Adam has taught in both Lower and Upper levels at Westminster Academy in Memphis, TN. He will be teaching Greek for Children, Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, as well as three God’s Great Covenant courses: Old Testament Book 1, Old Testament Book 2 and New Testament Book 1.

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SCHEDULE

CLASS SESSIONS: Classes will take place at 11:30 a.m. (EST) for 32 weeks and 64 classes on the following dates*:

September: 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30 October: 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30 November: 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20 December: 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18 January: 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29 February: 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26 March: 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26 April: 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30 May: 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21

Holidays: No Classes Scheduled November 24-28 December 20-January 9 March 30-April 5

*Please note the above dates and times are the anticipated class sessions for this course. However, all dates are subject to change as circumstances might dictate (e.g. illness, family emergency). Any classes canceled by the instructor will be made up at an alternate time designated by the instructor.

OFFICE HOURS: Students may use designated office hours for addition help, review, and guidance. These will take place from 4:45-5:30pm (EST) on Wednesdays.

COURSE MAP: After approximately one week of introductory material, students will read Iliad during the Fall semester and The Odyssey during the Spring semester. Together the poems are nearly 1000 pages in length. Although this is only about 30-40 pages per week spread evenly throughout the year, we will need to go somewhat slowly at the beginning. Thus, there may be some weeks with slightly longer assignments.

Short writing assignments will be submitted a few times per quarter.

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