Wednesday, April 11, 2012

4/11/12

*Chalk Talk on the course. What's good? What's bad?*

How has Coming of Age changed?

  • Mental > physical strength
  • The age of the COA journey has gotten older
  • Financial rather than strength & courage
  • Now focused on society not personal self
  • Now females COA differently because it's not just about child birth

The Hero's journey
ex. Jason & the Argonauts & Hercules
  • The Call to Adventure
  • Helpers/Tools
  • Allies
  • The Quest/Challenges
  • The Goal and the journey home

4/10/12

Quizzes

  • Pegasus
  • The Golden Fleece
  • Otus & Ephialtes
  • Odyssey 1-5
  • Vocab from the Odyssey

Monday, April 9, 2012

Class Notes from 4/9/12

Coming of Age:

  • Reaching adulthood, more independent
  • Leave home ex. Telemachus stays home but takes over house
  • Get out of your bubble (T)
  • Meet requirements of society
  • Hero time! (T)
  • Finding a lover
  • Look after others (T)
  • Take initiative (T)
  • Confidence (T)
  • Men man up (T)
(T) = experienced by Telemachus

Class discussion
  • Mike Tyson = adult (tattoo)
  • selective services
  • Men=women

Class notes 4/6/12







Images from a Venn diagram comparing the Iliad to the Odyssey

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Class Notes 2/3/12

*Europa Presentation*

You can rewrite essays for up to full credit if the paper is handed in on time.

*Reading Quizzes*

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Class Notes 1/2/12

Class Discussion Topics:


  1. Why are there so many random names in the Iliad?
    • Again to emphasize the importance of lineage
    • To legitimize the text with concrete and minute details
    • To make the kills seem important (honor the dead)
    • To attach real names to the achievements of the warriors, credibility
  2. What's with the bronze armor?
    • another theme & word Homer uses often
    • The Illiad is during the Bronze Age. Thus, bronze is "the new thing"

*Watched Tantalus myth presentation*

New Essay Introduced
Creative Illiad Essay: Assignment #2

*Read Eskimo Creative Essay example*

Grammar fact of the day
If it's a foreign word use italics! Unless the word is in common usage

If you write your essay in the Homeric style: Use long and extensive simile

Class Notes 2/1/12

New Characters & Their Sides:

Greek, Achean, Argives

  • Diomedes
  • Patroclus
  • Athena
  • Posidon
  • Hera
  • Zeus (Goes back and forth)
Trojans
  • Aphrodite
  • Ares
  • Zeus (Goes back and forth because Troy is his favorite city)
Class Discussion Topics:
1. Homosexuality was not uncommon at war (Achilles & Patroclus ?)

2. To Supplicate or be a Suppliant "Placing yourself at the mercy of another"
    • Suppliants use a specific position of pleading when they supplicate (Thetis appeals to Zeus a.k.a. protector of the suppliants)
3. Kleos, Kudos, & Time
  • Kléos: fame, reputation, glory
  • Kûdos: charisma & star quality
  • tímê: honor, status, worth
4. Little Facts about Gods
  • Gods have favorite cities (Zeus-Troy?)
  • Gods can't die, but they can be hurt
  • Gods can't kill each other even though they're both immortal
  • Children of gods aren't necessarily better, but comparatively they're often more superior
  • Gods use mortals to hurt each other
5. Why did the Trojans go to war for Paris if there's no respect?
To protect Troy from being destroyed by the Greeks and to honor family lineage

6. Why does Homer indent at certain points?
The Illiad is a poem and it's to keep the meter of the poem going. Homer also repeats many themes such as epithets and dreams to achieve the correct meter.