Aim: How can an understanding of Greek myths and heroes prepare us for our examination of Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey?
We began our class today with a quiz on Kahoot. This quiz was on the topic of poetic devices and literary terms.
Next, we reviewed what was to be expected of our Poem Anthology Project, due next Tuesday on April 27. We were shown multiple examples of other students’ submissions. These examples had each of their own flaws, which we went over and corrected.
Things to include in your anthology -
A cover page with your name, period, group number, and class day (Day C)
An introduction that gives a basis of premise for why and what the project is about
A table of contents that includes page numbers
A Free Verse, Extended Metaphor (include annotations for this poem), and a Shakespearean Sonnet.
A reflection (not a conclusion)
Images and page numbers for each slide
Moving onto the actual lesson, we started off with a whole class discussion.
Do Now: WHOLE CLASS DISCUSSION
Brainstorm the qualities that you feel belong to a “hero”. What do you believe might be a working definition of “hero” you could share with the class.
Although our class was unable to come up with a definition for “hero,” several students contributed to a list of qualities and traits we thought belonged to a hero.
Selfless, courageous, confident, savior, determined, righteous, and kind.
WHOLE CLASS DISCUSSION
What (if anything) do you already know about Greek heroes and Greek mythology?
Many of our classmates already had previous knowledge on Greek heroes and Greek mythology.
My peers had specifically stated -
(Loezee) Greek heroes are typically strong and descended from gods.
(Ayad) Greek mythology is fake.
(Oscar) Greek mythology is supposed to teach you some things, such as morals.
(Eric) Greek mythology is often dramatized.
(Chris) The goddess of love (Aphrodite) is attractive.
(Sahil) The Greek gods are a lot more selfish and humanoid compared to other gods.
(Ethan) There is a lot of manslaughter and incest in Greek mythology.
(Lapyan) - Greek heroes go on long journeys and quests. On these quests, they fight monsters.
(Joanne) Greek mythology explains natural phenomenons and things in nature.
Although there are many gods in Greek mythology, here are some important gods to know…
Zeus
The God of the sky, lightening and thunder
King of the gods on Mount Olympus
Hades
God of the underworld / Lord of the Dead
His wife is Persephone
Athena
Daughter of Zeus and goddess of wisdom, courage, battle etc.
Poseidon
God of the sea and earthquakes
Next, our class took turns spirit reading about the religious customs and beliefs of the ancient Greeks. The Greeks believed in the existence of multiple gods and goddesses (polytheism). Greek culture was also known for hero-worship. A hero might be the town’s founder or a historical figure who played a major role in an important battle.
The Ancient Greeks also had an oral tradition, in which stories were passed orally (through verbal speech). This method of storytelling appealed to the non-literate, allowing the stories to be passed down from generation to generation as a form of entertainment.
Another thing the Greeks were known for was their “epic poetry.” The Iliad and the Odyssey were regarded with great respect by the ancient Greeks, and set the standard for the definition of the word, “epic.”
What is an Epic?
An epic is a long, narrative poem about a national or legendary hero.
As previously stated, Ancient Greece produced two epics:
The Iliad and The Odyssey (900 - 700 B.C.)
Both written by Homer
Next, our class read about what exactly made a poem an Epic, and the specific characteristics epics had in common.
Epics poems begin “in medias res” (in the middle of things). The poem usually uses a flashback to explain an important action that occured before the story.
Flashback: the epic hero recounts his adventures in a scene that interrupts the sequence of events in a narrative to relate earlier events.
Other characteristics of epics include -
Having a vast setting that covers many nations (and the underworld)
Featuring lengthy and formal speeches
Containing divine intervention (gods)
Featuring heroes that embody the values and morals of the civilization.
CLASS DISCUSSION
Why would an author / storyteller choose to use these elements?
An author / storyteller might choose to start a story in the middle of action to interest the reader. As readers, we might wonder, “How the heck did the characters find themselves in this situation?” or “What events lead to this situation?” Starting a story with a flashback would also help us readers gain better insight on the characters, as well as help us predict decisions the characters might make later in the story.
In addition, an author would give the hero flaws so the reader can relate to the hero. This might help the reader develop sympathy or empathy for the hero.
What makes a hero epic? Here are some qualities heroes in epics possess -
Superhuman qualities (stronger / braver than others)
Still human, so has a flaw / weakness
Must conquer many difficult tasks
On a quest for something of great value (to him or his people)
Villain(s) try to keep the hero from his quest
Physically beautiful
The term “hero,” has been changed and expanded on throughout history. Continuing the lesson, our class took turns spirit reading to explore the etymology (origins and history) of the word, “hero,” and the overuse of the term in the modern era.
Over the centuries, what was considered a “hero” had changed.
Our ancestral heroes first appeared in the oral storytelling tradition. They were superhumans, almost gods, and the actions they took were mostly in the best interest of humankind.
The original definition of “hêrôs” was "a being of godlike prowess and beneficence.”
During the Homeric period of ancient Greece, the word “hero” meant "a warrior-chieftain of special strength, courage or ability."
By the Encyclopaedia Britannica of 1911, the word had come to be applied "generally to all who were distinguished from their fellows by superior moral, physical or intellectual qualities."
Today, the term, “hero,” can be applied to basically anyone. Some argue that the overuse of the word "hero" is to such an extent that it doesn't really mean anything anymore. For example, every parent is a hero, every journalist is a hero, every police officer, firefighter, and soldier is a hero, and so on. This brings up the question, has the word "hero" been so overused that it's losing its meaning?
Since we were limited on time, our class was not able to conclude our lesson with a team discussion. Insead, we were advised to consider the following questions.
Draw your own conclusion on this argument. Do you agree or disagree with the concept that the word “hero” has become overused? Why or why not?
When we create heroes in fiction, we almost can't help but give them superhuman powers because what a hero does to be a hero is something which seems like people should be incapable of doing. It is something truly “other”.
Compare some of today’s superheroes with the original definition of “hêrôs”.
Do you think, as a modern society, we are searching for a “superhuman” hero similar to the Ancient Greeks, despite our overuse of the term? Why or why not?
Reflection
What did I learn?
Why did I learn it?
How will I use what I learned?
This lesson was mainly a review on Ancient Greek culture and traditions for me, since I had previously explored Greek mythology in the past. However, this lesson helped me expand on my knowledge of Epic Poetry of Ancient Greece. Though I’ve never read the original poems myself, I have a broad understanding on the events of both the Iliad and the Odyssey. However, since I had never read the actual poems, I did not know the poems started off with a flashback. I find it really interesting how Homer begins his epics “in medias res,” or, in the middle of action. I learned that epic poems do this to hook the reader into the story, and to interest and have them wanting to read on to see how the events unfold. This would actually be an effective way to start off any story, as it builds action and anticipation before the actual story even starts. If I were to write a story in the future, this could be a potential way to begin the story. In addition to Epic Poetry, this lesson made me consider what it truly means to be a “hero.” I never took into consideration the fact that the term, “hero,” was being used so casually nowadays. Growing up, we are introduced to superheroes who fight evil with their superhuman abilities. As we grow up, the term “hero” starts to be applied to other figures in our life, such as our parents, celebrities, firefighters, soldiers, scientists, etc. This lesson introduced to me the possibility that the concept of heroism is being overused, and that the literal term might lose its value. At this point, anyone who does a good deed can be considered a “hero.” I realized that this can also be applied to other words, such as “ironic” and “forever.” This lesson made me realize that some words might start losing their meaning, as they are being used so often. Taking this into consideration, perhaps we should pay more attention to the words we use to be more clear and to avoid confusion.
No comments:
Post a Comment