Formal written assessment for epic poetry

In the event that you are absent in class today and don't have the opportunity to start writing while with us...

Here is the assignment that will be due on Tuesday 1/5/09 due via google.docs.  Please do your best to work from what you know  - but if you MUST do some research, make sure to cite it appropriately.

Your task: Write a critical essay in which you discuss two works of literature (Gilgamesh and the Odyssey) from the particular perspective of the statement that is provided for you in the "critical lens." In your essay, provide a valid interpretation of the statement, agree or disagree with the statement as you have interpreted it and support your opinion using specific references to appropriate literary elements from the two works. 

Please select ONE of the following critical lens:

"The adventure of the hero is the adventure of being alive." - Joseph Campbell
"Myths and creeds are heroic struggles to comprehend the truth in teh world." - Ansel Adams
"What makes one heroic? - - Going out to meet at the same time one's highest suffering and one's highest hope." - Nietzsche

Guidelines:

• Provide a valid interpretation of the critical lens that clearly establishes the criteria for analysis.
• Indicate whether you agree or disagree with the statement as you have interpreted it.
• Use Gilgamesh and The Odyssey as your works of literature to support your interpretation
• Use the criteria suggested by teh critical lens to analyze the works you have chosen
• For each work, do not summarize the plot but use specific references to appropriate literary elements (for example, theme, characterization, structure, language, point of view) to develop your analysis
• Organize yoru ideas in a unified and coherent manner.
• Specify the titles and authors of the literature you chose
• Follow the conventions of standard written English.

Reminder - In class written assessment begins in class tomorrow 12/23

In class tomorrow you will be expected to outline and begin to construct a task 4 - critical lens essay on epic heroes and the epic form.

Please review your notes from Gilgamesh and the Odyssey and your notes about the epics and heroes...

You will be given a choice of 3 quotes - you will choice only 1.  You will interpret the quote, agree OR disagree with the quote and then use Gilgamesh and The Odyssey as the basis for your support for your interpretation. (You need to use two pieces of literature to support your assertion).

Make sure to be specific to the epic form and hero constructs instead of summarizing adventures. 

These assignments will be due on Tuesday, 1/5 emailed to me via google.docs (just share your documents with me)  Period 2 also share your documents with Mr. Nisonoff (robert.nisonoff@wjps.org)

They will be graded on a scale of 1-6 as if they were a real Regent Task -

Extra credit - Greek / Roman connections

In Global you've been studying the Greeks and will be studying the Romans after.  There are many similarities in their cultures...

In an effort to offer enrichment activities to anyone interested... I am going to posting Ovid's "The Metamorphoses" and Virgil's "The Aeneid" - Both are epic poems from the Romans...

It has been said by Mark Van Doren, "Homer is the world; Virgil, a style."  - I'm interested in what you think.

You'd be required to read some of each of the texts and note the similarities and differences in style, theme, language, ideas, structure

It would first take the form of a t-chart later to be written into a formal essay comparing "The Odyssey" to either The Aenead" or "The Metamorphoses"

http://www.online-literature.com/virgil/aeneid/ - the Aeneid

http://www.theoi.com/Text/OvidMetamorphoses1.html - the Metamorphoses

Themes from the Odyssey from class today - further discussion

http://www.leasttern.com/HighSchool/odyssey/Odyssey8.html - there are many things we learn about the Greeks from the themes portrayed in the Odyssey...

Remember our discussion of:

• loyalty
• fate
• hospitality
• resisting temptation
• self discipline
• justice
• pride and honor
• importance of lineage
• living life to its fullest
• revenge
• reconcilliation
• respect for the gods

Reminder for tomorrow - Friday, 12/18

Please make sure you have your lit circle books in class with your notebook.  You will NOT be permitted to go to your locker if you come unprepared without your book.

Final thoughts about the Odyssey

Please comment on this post on the blog

Why do you think contemporary readers can still relate to the characters and events in the Odyssey?  Be specific and articulate in your response.

Complete this assignment by Monday, 12/22

Leaving Class - from Mr. Nisonoff

This is directed towards 2nd period. For the past few weeks I have allowed students who came to class late and unprepared to leave class in order to get their notebooks, homework, textbooks, or pens and pencils from their lockers. This stops as of now. Please do not ask to leave the classroom if you come to class late and/or unprepared. We are quickly approaching the end of the first semester and you all know what is appropriate class protocol. Please come to class on time and prepared with your completed assignments.

Odyssey projects

If you are not pleased with your final product and/or you didn't complete a reflection...

It's not too late.  Please make an appointment to conference with me and you can still continue to work on your assignment.  I will give you some feed back about what can be changed and you can make the needed corrections.

Then you can write a second reflection about the revision process... making sure to consider the following:

• what did you change?
• what did you take away from the second experience?
• how have you improved your piece?
• do you understand the feedback that was given?
• what might you do in the future that you didn't do to begin with next time?

- Attention Lit Circle Readers -

Reading time and discussion time in class will be discontinued if students fail to be prepared in class.

This is valuable time to really talk about what you are reading and work with each other to successfully get through your classics -

If you are enjoying what you are reading for independent reading and/or lit circles now, please post a comment to "sell" the book to other potential readers... be specific without giving the book away.  What do you like about it specifically... why would other people want to read it?

Oedipus the King - February

In an effort to allow anyone who is interested to buy the next full length piece we will be doing, I'm posting this info now... We will be doing Oedipus the King.

The version we will be using is Sophocles I - Three Tragedies by Grene and Lattimore, second edition

isbn # 0-226-30792-1

Lit circle books for class tomorrow

Please remember to bring in your lit circle books and notebooks with postits for class tomorrow.

thanks,
Ms. S

Reflections -

Make sure you revisit the questions on the sheet...

also visit http://www.nylearns.org/ to address the standards

go to the standards pull down
ELA 2005
10th grade

Finishing part 1 of the Odyssey - due for Friday 12/11

Which episode or adventure did you enjoy most?  Why? Be specific to the text...

What can you predict about Odysseus's homecoming?

Looking ahead

On Friday, 12/18 - you will have a lit circle day in class. I've managed to move some things around to allot for an extra lit circle day in class before the break.

On Tuesday, 12/22 - there will be a written in class assessment on epic heroes.  You will use your knowledge of Gilgamesh and Odysseus to write a task 4 essay where you analyze a quote (you will be given a choice of 3), agree OR disagree with the quote and then use your knowledge of both Gilgamesh and the Odyssey to support your interpretation.

If you know you won't be in class on the 22nd due to family plans, please let me know in advance.

Thanks,
Ms. Sackstein

Lit circle directions for book 2 - the classics take 1

The book and conversation should be completed by class on January 15th (Friday)

You will have class time on Dec. 11 (next week) to read

• give out the roles (discussion director, word watcher, illustrator, illuminator and summarizer/connector)
• start assigning pages to read

You should be keeping logs in your notebook whenever you read:

• date
• pages read
• summary of your reading from that time
• whatever your role is

You should have evidence of group conversation... in your notebook the conversation should be driven by your role. 

• date of meeting and who was involved in the conversation
• conversation based on your role
• questions you have going forward

Notebooks will be checked in class when you are reading in class and on the 15th when you return the books -
I will be looking for evidence of:

• comprehension of the text
• your own analysis of the text
• conversation with your group and/or others
• following directions

At the end, you should have AT LEAST 10-15 entries - more is acceptable... less is not.

Corrections on Chronology of Odyssey

1. Troy - Trojan war ends after 10 years
2. Ismarus
3. Lotus Eaters
4. Cyclops
5. Aeolus (winds)
6. The Lestrygonians (cannibals)
7. Aeaea -Circe
8. Land of the Dead (Hades)
9. Sirens
10. Scylla
11. Thrinacia
12. Charybdis
13. Calypso
14. Phaeacia
15. Ithica (Return home)