January 31st

1. Discussion of the indirect characterization of the four major characters in The Iliad. 

2. Review of the Epic Hero Characteristics. Examples of how Achilles and Hector function as an epic hero.

3. For Friday: Response to the prompt... Is Hector or Achilles a better example of an Epic Hero and why? Submit to Google Classroom.

After your exploration of both Achilles and Hector's function as an Epic Hero, you will be making the argument that either Achilles or Hector are a better example of the traditional Epic Hero. Using the characteristics as your guide, make the argument with examples that ONE character represents this character type more than the other. Neither character are a clean sweep... so you will need to acknowledge the counter-claim for the other character in your argument.

Remember the thesis/claim structure: Subject + attitude/belief + blueprint.
Sample:
"Although Achilles (shows this specific trait.. etc.), Hector represents the Epic Hero character type more comprehensively because ..... "

MLA Formatting
2 pages.
Textual evidence cited correctly.

January 30th

1. For today, you should have notes on characterization on 4 major characters of the books of The Iliad that we have read so far- Achilles, Hector, Andromache, and Priam.
2. Using the STEAL process of determining indirect characterization, you will need to work with a partner and identify each step of the “STEAL” process with each of the characters. This information need to be added to your notes.
3. For WEDNESDAY- You will need to have IN your notes how both Achilles and Hector function as an EPIC HERO… utilizing the characteristics of an Epic Hero given to you on Monday. You will need specific examples from the text.  I will be checking these notes on Wednesday.

I am in the building, but have a professional meeting during the first part of the day. If you have any questions, I will be here after 4th hour.

January 29th

We have examined literary theme and in conjunction to The Iliad. You know the process of recognizing a literary theme.

Class Today:

1. Taking 3 books you have read in a classroom setting over the last 2 years, you will identify a literary theme for each and provide one specific example. You will submit this on Google Classroom.

2. Characterization: The techniques an author uses to develop a character. (Notice that it is a study of the techniques or the strategies... it is not the result of these strategies)

Direct Characterization: Tells the audience what the character's personality/purpose is
Indirect Characterization: Shows the audience things that reveal the personality of the character.

Techniques an author uses for INDIRECT Characterization: STEAL
S: Speech- What does the character say? How does the character speak?
T: Thoughts-What is revealed through the character’s private thought s and feelings?
E: Effect- on others toward the character. What is revealed through the character’s effect on
     other people? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character?
A: Actions- What does the character do? How does the character behave?
L: Looks-What does the character look like? How does the character dress?

Imagery: Words and phrases that invoke the senses (Think of the five major types of imagery)

Allusion: Indirect reference to a notable person, event, book in history/literature/art, etc. Provides added meaning with the reference.

Please get the Characteristics of an Epic Hero in your notes: 

Characteristics of an Epic Hero

For TUESDAY:
1. Start generating character notes on ACHILLES, HECTOR, ANDROMACHE, and PRIAM.

Teacher of the Year Nomination Form
Due by Wednesday, January 31st
Send to Laura.Maxwell@lsr7.net 

January 26th

1. Your 4 themes and textual evidence in The Iliad are due today.  In Google classroom, please post your 4th developed theme in the comment section so your classmates can read them. You do not need to add the evidence you have gathered... just the thematic statement.

2. Once your classmates have posted their themes, you need to pick 3 themes from your class list. Add these to your notes, and add evidence from Books 1, 6, and 22 to support these themes.

3. Add evidence to your other 4 themes from examples from Book 22.

4. For Monday, January 29th, please read the Book 24. Take good notes.

January 24th/25th

The KC Star did a feature on the actor who is the lead in Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Check it out! KC Rep- Actor with Tourette's

As I referenced in class, here is the story on Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. Please turn your notes into me. KC Star- Shawnee Mission Northwest

1. Today we will be having small group discussions over The Iliad books 1 and 6. These questions are to guide your discussion, but to also help supplement your notes. You don't need to write down "the answers" but bullet point ideas that develop in your conversations. In your conversation, you need to reference/cite specific examples in the text, not broad general comments. 

2. As a group, you will complete a collaborative Google Slide Show that addresses EACH BOOK with:

• Books' summaries
• Character descriptions
• Important findings
• Critical literary devices
• Carry over between the two books. 
• Differences between two books.  
• Student impressions/quotes on The Iliad. 

Book 1

Summarize Book 1 of The Iliad. 

1. What emotion identified in the first line is central to the entire Iliad?
2. What two gods are angry at the Greeks and why?
3. Try to think of ways in which the opening lines of the Iliad and the Odyssey are similar, and also different.  (Ignore this question in classes in which we have not read both of these works.)
4. Explain in what way the quarrel between Achilles and Agamemnon and its results are the equivalent of the plague.
5. Does the response of Achilles to the disrespect of Agamemnon seem to you out of proportion?  Or, to put it another way, do you think that T. S. Eliot was right to call Achilles “little more than a superhuman adolescent”?
6. How do the conflicts between mortals compare and contrast to the conflicts between the gods in Book 1 of The Iliad?
7. In what ways are Achilles's and Agamemnon's characterizations of each other in Book 1 of The Iliad justified?

Book 6

Summarize Book 1 of The Iliad.  

1. What reasons does Andromache give for asking Hector not to return to the battlefield?  Do you think Andromache ever believed Hector will stay away from the battlefield?  Explain.
2. Hector’s conflict between home and the battlefield brings to light the role of men in the ancient society.  Hector loves his family, but leaves them for the battlefield.  What does this say about Hector and about his culture?  
3. This is Hector's book. Here we see who, what and why he is. How does the narrator seem to feel about Hector? Compare and contrast his heroism with Achilles. Consider his relations with women. Note his self-consciousness about the inevitable fate of Troy and his family (520). What, exactly, motivates him to keep fighting? Do you see anything potentially wrong or self-contradictory with his reasoning? Don't sentimentalize his hopes for his son too much.

General Questions: 

1. What similarities and differences do you see between Books 1 and 6? - Plot, characterization, tone, imagery? 
2. What role does the narrator/poet play in The Iliad? When is he evident in the action? Why at that point? Why does he shrink away at other parts of story? 
3. What figures of speech do you see being utilized? Similes, metaphors, epithets? 
4. What is the author's attitude towards his world? Towards fate? Towards the gods?  

For FRIDAY:

1. Your 4 themes and textual evidence are due IN YOUR NOTES... with textual evidence. 

2. Read Book 22 of The Iliad.  Page: 201

January 23rd

For today, you have read part of the first book of The Iliad.  You should have taken notes on 2 things. First, basic plot conventions, tracking what is happening. Second, examples of the epic conventions and epic literary style.

Today, we will be examining theme: definition, thematic issues, and the method of determining theme.

Once we go over this we will be looking for evidence of three specific themes (given in class) in The Iliad. After you have found examples, you will be developing your own theme that you see developing in the Iliad as the 4th theme.

For Wednesday/Thursday:
1. Read from Book 6 of The Iliad. 195-200
2. Continue theme work- all 4 themes with evidence are due Friday.

January 22nd

Happy Monday!

1. Quiz over historical context of The Iliad. 

2. You have read the background on the Ancient Greeks for today. We are diving into the quintessential Ancient Greek text today, The Illiad. 

Terms/concepts to know:
1. Epic
2. Epithets
3. Epic simile
4. Theme
5. Epic conventions.

Make sure that these terms/concepts and definitions are in your notes.

For Tuesday, please read 178-194. Make sure to read the italicized section on 182. It will help as a preview of the plot.

In your notes balance the following:
1. Plot events.
2. Evidence of the Epic Conventions/Stylistic techniques.