Week 4 Syllabus: April 15
ODYSSEUS RETURNS TO ITHACA, not as a victor from war, but as a frightened, humble man. Unlike Haroun, who falls asleep and dreams his way into his hero-journey, Odysseus falls asleep at the end, and awakens on Ithaca with Phoenican treasure. He only learns he has returned home when Athena reveals herself, and tells him where he his. Odysseus lacks agency (or control) of his destiny. Q: How, then, will he overthrow the suitors? A: Not without a lot of help—from his son, his servants, his father and his wife. Even the great King Odysseus cannot save his kingdom without those around him.
TUESDAY, April 9
Starting class with our 20 minutes of SSR.
What is the correlation between a) written notes in the margins, b) worksheet assignments that require you to re-read, and c) results from the quizzes? Lecture on the importance of writing as a form of thinking.
In partners, reviewing your annotations and homework for books 13-18.
HW: Study for the quiz tomorrow. It will cover books 13-18, and will be twice as long as our previous quizzes.
WEDNESDAY, April 17
No class for PSAT
FRIDAY, April 19
Silent reading, a graphic novel on Athena:
Collecting your homework on Chapters 21 and 22
Checking your annotations on book 21.
Careful re-reading of book 21, and re-annotating of book 21, if needed.
Quiz on book 21.
HW: Read book 20 in Homer’s Odyssey. We finish the epic poem next week!