Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Introduction to THE ILIAD



Dear Mythology Students,
Don't forget that you have a quiz on Thursday covering the introductory information I gave you regarding the ancient city of Troy. If you did miss class on Tuesday, make sure you obtain the information from someone in class. I have posted the handout for her below. Please remember to read the back of the handout for your quiz.
Homework:
1. Your Five Paragraph Film essay is due on Monday, Nov. 8th! If you missed class, please visit with a friend regarding this assignment. I can give you you the explanation when you return on Thursday.
2. The deadline for reading Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief for B1 is Feb. 3rd, B2 is Feb. 10th, and B4 is Feb. 17! The book must be read prior to watching the film, which opens on Feb. 12th. I gave each student a handout to use while reading the text. If you missed class on Tuesday, please remind me, so I can give you the appropriate handout.


In order to be prepared for Thursday's quiz, please familiarize yourself with the following:



1.Did the Trojan War actually take place? If so, what was the cause?

2. Why is Henrik Scheilmann important to Troy?

3. Explain Scheilmann's archaeological approach? What was it inappropriate?

4. How is the "Mound of Hissarlik" significant to Scheilmann?

5. Eris' golden apple....How is it relevant to The Iliad's plot line?

6. How does The Iliad begin?

7. Why are the events within The Iliad relevant to events within The Odyssey?

8. Make sure you can define the term "epic."


p.s. The bonus question on your quiz relates to the story from my last post!


THIS IS THE HANDOUT used in our class discussion
Homer's Epic of Troy
The Iliad
Mythology,

Mrs. Kori Crampton

Introduction:
What is an epic?

The Iliad:


Ilium:
Acheans:

The Odyssey:





Did the Trojan War actually take place and what was the cause?

Who discovered the ancient city of Troy?

“Road Map:”

“Schliemann's scar:”

Using a well read copy of The Iliad as his reference guide, he chose a spot on the Asian coast of Turkey called the Mound of Hissarlik, and began digging for the famous city of Troy. In the course of four years, he uncovered nine successive cities built on top of each other. The sixth city he declared the “City of Troy,” or as Schliemann called it the “Burnt City.” Later archaeologists through carbon dating and additional archaeological discoveries, proved that Schliemann's choice was accurate. What was once thought to be myth had been proven historically correct.


What we know about Homer.....
Many scholars have asked the question, “Were the epic poems of The Iliad and The Odyssey written by one poet or were they collective efforts on the part of several poets?” We will never know the answer to this question. Most scholars agree that “a Homer” existed, that he lived in the 8th or 9th century B.C., and that he was a well-known poet. Some references to Homer indicate that he was blind, which has been interpreted as a “sign of his greatness.” We know that Homer had a strong command of the written language, and that at one point he could see. His love for beauty and gory details are too advanced, especially for someone who might have been blind his entire life. He lived about 500 years after the events at Troy; therefore, the story he told was not original with him, but had been passed down in the oral tradition of the times.

Allow me to share two excerpts from The Iliad with you.
“...the spear of bronze went through
Below the brain and shattered the white bones,
Dashed out his teeth, and filled his eyes with blood;
And blood he spurted gaping through his mouth
And nose; and death's dark cloud encompassed him.”
Book XVI, lines 345-350

“Then answered Hector of the flashing helm,
His strength all gone: 'I beg thee by my life,
Thy knees, thy parents, leave me not for dogs
Of the Acheans by the ship to eat,
But rather take abundant stores of bronze and gold-
My king and queenly mother will give it thee-
And render back my body to my home,
So that the Trojans and the Trojans' wives
May give me due meed of fire in death.'

But scowling at him swift Achilles said,
“Do not entreat me, dog, by knees or parents ,
I only wish I had the heart and will
To hack the flesh off thee and eat it raw......”
Book XXII, lines 317-330

Your FINAL exam!

Dear Mythology Kids, It's nice to "see" you again. Let me offer some "study guidance" for your final exam. Please ...