Syllabus for 4/6 thru 4/10
WELCOME TO QUARTER FOUR. This week we’re wrapping up Homer’s Iliad by taking a closer look at Achilles. What’s the lesson of the war for the Greeks? We know they are punished by the gods for their violent , reprehensible behavior journeying home. What is the lesson for the Trojans? Their piety and bravery is repaid by the burning of their city, killing of children, and enslavement of wives. What is the lesson for Achilles? He wins his kleos, but loses his beloved friend Patroclus, and will not live to see his homeland again. What, then, is the lesson of Homer’s Iliad?
MONDAY: BLUE DAY
You should have read and annotated books 21 and 22 by class tomorrow.
TUESDAY: GREEN DAY
We are meeting on Zoom at 12:50. Link is on this week’s Canvas syllabus.
We will start with a discussion of Achilles and Hector’s battle. How close does Achilles come to destroying not only the Trojans, but nature and the gods themselves? The ancient Greek audience sees his menis as justified…do we? Is it fitting that Achilles is only able to kill Hector with Athena’s subterfuge? Does this make Achilles defeat of Hector less meaningful?
Class will break from zoom to read the following article by Prof. Reeve.
HW: Read book 23 of the Iliad.
WEDNESDAY: BLUE DAY
Read book 23.
Our last novel will be Life of Pi by Yan Martel. If you don’t own a hard copy, please order an e-book version. We will start it next week.
THURSDAY: GREEN DAY
We are meeting on Zoom at 12:50. Link is on this week’s Canvas syllabus.
Why does Achilles agree to return Hector’s body? We will start with a zoom discussion.
We will finish by reading the following article comparing the Iliad and the Ramayana.
HW: Next week we will finish Homer’s Iliad and we will start Life of Pi. No homework over the weekend.
FRIDAY
No school for Good Friday, Passover, Easter.