Friday, May 28, 2021

Blogger #25 - Andy Weng - Period 9 - 5/17/21 - Day C

 Aim:How can we evaluate Odysseus’ leadership through his decision-making in his encounter with “Scylla and Charybdis” in Homer’s Odyssey?


Do Now:Would you sacrifice one person in order to save five other people?

➢ What would influence your decision if you had to make a choice according to “The Trolley Problem?” [1:38]

Kahoot

 

    We did the kahoot first then we answered the question I will sacrifice 1 because 1 will die and the other 5 don’t and it is uneven so I want the least amount of people dead. I read the section Scylla and then the other which is Charybdis, then I read “Scylla & Charybdis”

     

Circe’s Advice

Just as she offered advice with the Sirens, Circe also gives Odysseus information about two other sea monsters he will encounter: Scylla and Charybdis. Only one ship (Argo) has ever managed to pass in between these monsters without losing any lives. Circe tells Odysseus that he should pass Scylla and sacrifice six of his men; rather than risk the entire crew to Charybdis. Odysseus asks if he can escape Charybdis and then fight off Scylla to save the lives of all of his men. Circe reprimands his stubbornness and informs him that Scylla is immortal.


Type of Allusion

Biblical- referring to the Bible or a religious work

Classical- referring to Classical Literature

Literary- referring to another literary work

Historical- referring to an event in history

 

Point of view

  1. Imagine you are one of Odysseus' men when he leads his crew to Scylla.

    1. How do you feel about his decision to take you closer to Scylla? Support Odyssey rather than be scared.

    2. Do you support his decision or not? Yes because he came out alive still.

  2. Also, Odysseus decides it would be best to not tell his men which route they are taking.

But as I sent them on toward Scylla, I

told them nothing, as they could do nothing.

  1. Would you have wanted to know which route Odysseus was leading you? Yes

    1. Why or why not? Because we can prepared for what coming 

  2. If you were the leader, do you think you would have made the same? No, I will tell them to cheer them up so that they can do it.

  3. Why might Odysseus have opted to withhold this information from his men? They might be scared and don’t go.

Blogger #30 - Ruth Weng - Period 7- 5/25/21 - Day C

Lesson 13 RL SP Odysseus: Dynamic Character & Growth Mindset


Aim: How can we use the theory of neuroplasticity to analyze Odysseus as a dynamic character? 


Do Now/Class Discussion:


Right off the bat, the class seemed split in half in the idea of trying something new. Half of the answers said that they were cautious and probably not very open to the idea. They were afraid of the outcomes and didn’t want something bad to happen to them. As a result, they would probably not risk it and not even try the new thing at all. The other half said they were more open to the idea and would be excited to try something new. Trying something new could be really fun; there would be no expectations for this new task. I could see both sides and how people would be afraid of the outcome but also be excited about something new.


Secondly, after the do now, we watched a video on neuroplasticity. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELpfYCZa87g )

Neuroplasticity is the theory that our brains can adapt and be changed/molded like plastic throughout our lives, not just during childhood. We can slowly rewire our brain when making different decisions/actions, different pathways are used/made in our brain, slowly making that pathway seem like second nature and replacing the old one. Even if you’re reluctant to try new things, you can still overcome this challenge.


Next, we did some spirit reading on neuroplasticity/learning agility. Learning agility is the speed at which people learn and the flexibility with which they apply that learning. Some ways to increase learning agility are, but not limited to: seek challenging feedback, reflect on what worked well and didn’t in different situations, and think about what could have been done differently and more. After learning about this, we can apply to Odysseus. We see that he learned from his encounter with Polyphemus/the Cyclop. Odysseus learns the value of his men’s lives and chooses better in the future. 


Moving forward from spirit reading, we discussed two different types of characters, dynamic and static characters. A dynamic character is one that grows/evolves and undergoes some kind of change by the end of the story (this can be positive or negative). The change is usually brought about by the learning that results from some kind of conflict. Some examples of these characters would be: Nemo from Finding Nemo, Beast from The Beauty and the Beast, and Simba from Lion King. On the other hand, a static character is one who does not change or evolve over the course of the story. Some examples are: Dory from Finding Nemo, Disney princesses, and Scar from The Lion King.


A video on dynamic vs static characterization → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azUsjQwF_UI 


Lastly, for this lesson, we had some class discussions/teamwork. Odysseus is not a perfect person. He has flaws and made many mistakes over the course of this journey. However, he has learned and grown from his mistakes. One dangerous situation Odysseus and his encountered was Polyphemus the Cyclop. Odysseus’s men wanted to go on the island to steal and stock up on provisions meant for their ship, but Odysseus, although acknowledging the brilliant idea, decided against it. He insisted that they stay on the island and wait for the inhabitant to return and they met the Cyclop for a price. Odysseus lost the lives of several of his men. As we progress through the story, we can see Odysseus has learned his lesson when it comes time for him to decide between Scylla and Charybdis. Odysseus chooses Scylla because while Scylla would take 6 of his men, he would not risk losing everyone, including himself to Charybdis. He learned the value of his men’s lives and not to hastily go into something like entering the Cyclop cave or  Charybdis.

Enrichment:

Video on Growth vs. Fixed Mindset → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVyc4qBn5mQ 

Interactive Quiz: Growth vs. Fixed Mindsets → https://www.londonacademyofit.co.uk/blog/interactive-quiz-fixed-vs-growth-mindset 

Mentimeter on Growth and Fixed Mindsets → https://www.menti.com/u1co8g9ius 



The Power of Yet → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-swZaKN2Ic


14 RL SP: Odyssey: Odysseus' Homecoming


Aim: How does the concept of “nostos” enhance our understanding of Homer’s Odyssey and the cultural significance of Odysseus’ homecoming?


Do Now/Class Discussion: Continuing from last lesson’s discussion, we can definitely confirm without a shadow of a doubt that Odysseus is a dynamic character. He learns from his past mistakes and he changes (for the better person, in my opinion) from the conflict he faces. For instance, I wrote that Odysseus learned to value his crew members’ lives, instead of carelessly sacrificing them to foes that would have never happened (Polyphemus) if he had just left. One interesting point one of classmates, Joanne, brought up was when after Odysseus encountered Polyphemus, out of pride/hubris, Odysseus yelled out his name, which caused Polyphemus’s father, Poseidon to curse him. As a result, Odysseus learned to keep a low profile especially when he was dealing with the suitors of his wife, Penelope. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wuy26Iir57h6BGE7FGKOvmgutlVgrLut/view?usp=sharing )


Spirit Reading: After the class discussion, we spirit read and learned the concepts of Nostos and Kleos. Nostos means return. It is the Greek word for homecoming, return to light and life. Kleos means glory, fame won at war. This is often achieved at the cost of one’s life. However, Oydsseus is different because in many cases, you either achieve one or the other. Many mortal Greek heroes could achieve kleos and immortality by dying in battle, but not be able to return home as they have died. Or the other way around, they do not achieve kleos but they do come home thus, reaching the goal of nostos. Odysseus is different in this way because nostos is very important to him. He wants to return home without dying. Successfully, he returns home with a few of his men and in the end, achieves nostos unlike many Greek heroes. However, he also achieves kleos by enduring the challenges he overcame during his journey home and participating in battle in the first place (The Trojan War).


Enrichment:

What is nostos in the Odyssey? → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sep_fOnez-k

15  RL SP: Odyssey Argus


Aim: How are ancient Greek values of respect and loyalty for family revealed in the episodes, “Twenty Years Gone…” & “Argus” in Homer’s Odyssey?


Do Now/Class Discussion: We discussed the following quotes:   

In addition, we also compared these quotes to “Twenty Years Gone…” and basically said that family is important, but although you are family, blood is sometimes just blood. Family can forget about you and even betray you. Especially if you’re gone for twenty years, the chances of your family and the people that were around during that time remembering you are very low to none. It is even less likely that they will stay loyal to you when they don’t even remember you. We see this happen with Odysseus when he returns home from his long, long journey.


Recap of “Twenty Years Gone…”:

  • Athena turns Odysseus into a beggar to disguise him, so people would not recognize him.

  • Telemachus, Odysseus’s son, at first doesn’t believe that this beggar is his father until Athena turns him back into his original form where they have an emotional meeting.

  • Finally, they hatch a plan to drive all of Penelope’s suitors away. 


What is a Motif? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcOv2T-vOcg )

A motif is a recurring image, spoken or written word, sound, act, or another visual or structural device that has symbolic significance. It can be a single object that appears multiple times throughout the work with most of the emphasis placed on the item.


Class Discussion: We conversed about how Odysseus didn’t meet Argus because he was afraid that his dog would give his identity. (Remember he was still his disguise he got from Athena) Argus’s death was no coincidence because the Greeks believe in fate and that Argus will at least see his master one last time before he passes away. This is also related to the motif of loyalty because Argus has been waiting 20 years to see his master again. And finally when he sees Odysseus again, he can peacefully pass away. Furthermore, we also know that Argus has not been treated well while Odysseus has been gone. The treatment of Argus could relate to the fact that most have probably forgotten about Odysseus and don’t respect him as much as they used to when he used to rule as King of Ithaca.



Enrichments:

Books 13-14 → The Odyssey by Homer | Books 13-14 Summary and Analysis [2:39]

Books 15-16 →  The Odyssey by Homer | Books 15–16 Summary and Analysis [3:09]

16  RL SP Rev: "The Suitors" & "Penelope"


Aim: How does Homer further develop Odysseus’ characterization as a cunning hero in his exchange with both the suitors and his wife, Penelope?


Class Discussion: If someone had gone away for 20 years, I would definitely lose hope at that point. It’s been 20 years; anyone would move on after a while and live their own life. If someone came back after 20 years, I think that anyone would be shocked as they would believe that person had passed (especially if they’re older) and not cling on to the hope that they’re still out there. 


Teamwork/Class Discussion - “The Suitors” https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ucD8eGPP2VPKIncTKf3kPhUY49a7wA_i/view?usp=sharing :

When Antinous attacked Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, it defied the natural order. (The natural order is this hierarchy where the Gods are first, then royalty, next wealthy, maybe merchants next, and so on.) Antinous went ahead and threw objects (without knowing it was Odysseus) at Odysseus, the beggar, asking for food. In this case, the Furies would have been summoned in order to bring balance back to the natural order. To avenge Odysseus after someone lower than him in the natural order defied him. In addition, Antinous broke Xenia, which would have resulted in a very angry Zeus if Odysseus were a god in disguise or Zeus, himself.


Enrichments:

Books 17-18 → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt3mmBHxhw8&feature=emb_title 

Odysseus’s Journey → https://www.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/index.html?appid=2154285a3d9a4448a1a6951dabd512c4 




Reflection:

This was a jam packed session with the four lessons and it taught me a lot. The lesson on neuroplasticity taught me about the brain and myself. I learned that the brain can adapt and mold based on different situations and environments. We can rewire our brains and we can often overcome some of our own personal struggles by making new choices and creating new pathways in our brains as a result. This made me realize that I can change and when I want to change a bad habit, it is possible. I shouldn’t be so stubborn about changing when my brain can so easily adapt. Applying this to Odysseus showed me how even the most prideful man can change and learn from their mistakes, which means I can also change. If he can have a growth mindset from losing so many men from each foe, I can also learn and improve from my past problems and continue to better my own life. Failing isn’t the end of the world. It was also really good to relearn what a motif is and learn what nostos and kleos are as they are likely to come up again in the future for my classes. In addition, knowing this extra information wouldn’t hurt me as even when I watch television or a movie, I could spot this and help me better analyze some of the characters and why they do what they do. In conclusion, I will definitely keep using the theory of neuroplasticity in my everyday life and be more open minded.


Thursday, May 27, 2021

Blogger #28- Lapyan Tsui- Period 7- 5/5/21- Day C

Aims: How does the concept of “nostos” enhance our understanding of Homer’s Odyssey and the cultural significance of Odysseus’ homecoming?

How are ancient Greek values of respect and loyalty for family revealed in the episodes, “Twenty Years Gone…” & “Argus” in Homer’s Odyssey? 

How does Homer further develop Odysseus’ characterization as a cunning hero in his exchange with both the suitors and his wife, Penelope? 

How can we use the theory of neuroplasticity to analyze Odysseus as a dynamic character?


Do Now: Neuroplasticity

Class Discussion: How open/receptive are you to try something new, even when it’s scary?

Eric Lu said, “It’s scary, I get nervous, not knowing what to expect.” Loezee agreed, adding that it could be embarrassing in front of your peers.

Mohammed countered, as it could be really nice, and he could find something he might like, such as lobster. Christopher Salguero also said, “I’ll put myself out there to try something new, but not in the case of food. I used to be very scared of rollercoasters.”And finally, Darren said  he was open-minded to try new things, because variety is the spice of life.


We also read the articles on neuroplasticity, kleos, and nostos.


Group Work:

We were supposed to evaluate Odysseus’ character growth, learning agility, and wisdom throughout the Odyssey. Also, we had to answer and give our opinions on the events in the passage about Odysseus’ dog Argus. Unfortunately, we were unable to do most of it in class.


Materials

Video On Neuroplasticity 

Video on symbolism, themes, and motifs 

 “Penelope” pdf [2 pages]

“The Suitors” pdf [3 pages]

“Twenty Years Gone” pdf [5 pages]

Dynamic vs Static Characterization [4:40]

“Argus” pdf [1.5 pages]



 

Based on Culturally Responsive Teaching & The Brain (Hammond 40-43)

This is an article on neuroplasticity in literature that we read together in class.

Learning Agility: Where Wisdom Meets Courageous Problem Solving


The Iliad is the earliest piece of Western literature and illustrates the generally distinct characteristics of wisdom versus problem solving with risk and courage. King Nestor the wise might miss opportunities for gain due to his caution, but is renowned for eventually making great decisions based on his judgement, knowledge, and experience. While Odysseus has a great ability to courageously solve problems in circumstances of extreme risk, but more often than not gets himself into such situations due to his own lack of wisdom![Wisdom does not only apply to solving difficult problems, but also means not being reckless and getting yourself into dangerous situations and avoiding the problem in the first place.]


So what exactly do we mean by “learning agility”? While the ability to learn can be broadly defined by one’s ability and willingness to do so, learning agility concerns the speed with which people learn and the flexibility with which they apply that learning.  A hallmark of the agile learner is their ability to learn from previous experience and apply that learning in current situations, often in creative or unique ways.  Sounds wise, right? Yet agile learners do more than learn from their previous experiences. They also have Odysseus’s panache when it comes to putting themselves into challenging/uncertain situations. Like our Greek Hero, they are sufficiently present and open to challenge the status quo, remain calm in the face of adversity, and be open to testing alternatives. In doing so, they are able to courageously seize opportunities and turn adversity to their advantage.


So what leads to differences in learning agility? One of the key ingredients is the mindset that facilitates or inhibits a leader from demonstrating the behaviours associated with continual growth, development, and the use of new strategies that will equip them for the increasingly complex problems they face. If people have a fixed mindset, they believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits. They spend their time documenting their intelligence or talent instead of developing them.  For this reason they are less likely to reflect on and learn from failures as they see them as an indication that the limit’s of one’s ability was reached. For this reason they are also less likely to be comfortable putting themselves into challenging/uncertain situations or trying out new strategies that entail risk of failure.


If on the other hand they have a growth mindset, they will believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for the growth and development associated with great accomplishment and learning agility.  They are comfortable risking failure because getting it wrong just presents an opportunity to further learn and grow.  It is in such fertile soil that the seeds of problem solving grow.


Furthermore, decades of research into neuro-plasticity has taught us that those with the growth mindset are right. Your talents and abilities aren’t fixed and can be developed through experience and opportunity. Yet even the most growth mindset oriented amongst us can have difficulty remaining calm in the face of adversity and making risky decisions when the stakes are high. This is where our courage quotient comes to the fore in the shape of courageous problem solving.


When we think of courage we often think of the big examples; examples such as those who otherwise risk life and limb in the process of saving another or doing what’s right. Yet personal courage is something we all have the opportunity to demonstrate on a day-to-day basis and build and develop as a function of practice and application.  Personal courage is about acting when we experience anxiety due to uncertainty or risk – defining features of the contexts in which learning agility is displayed. Fortunately, most of our decisions do not run the risks experienced by Odysseus, such as being turned to stone, lured into crashing our ship onto rocks, eaten by monsters, or sucked into whirlpools. Yet the brain often treats the risks we do encounter (e.g., risks to status, autonomy, and the approval of others) in much the same way.


So all we need to do to increase our learning agility is combine the best characteristics of our Greek hero! Fortunately learning agility isn’t something you have or don’t have, but is instead something we can all develop and grow[learning agility is a skill, not a talent] in rather less epic circumstances than the Iliad or the Odyssey.  Some of the things we can all do in our daily lives to increase our learning agility are:


  • Seek challenging feedback

  • Take action when we experience anxiety and there is some element of uncertainty or risk (i.e., exercise personal courage)

  • Reflect on what worked well and didn’t in different situations, and think about what could have been done differently

  • Ask questions to understand without the need to be understood

  • Try to identify and challenge some of the basic assumptions underlying our usual way of seeing things


Notes:

-Nostos: Greek for one’s return home

-Kleos: Greek for the glory of battle, but usually at the cost of one’s life

-Achilles achieves Kleos, while Odysseus gets both Nostos and Kleos

-Dynamic characters’ character change is usually triggered by learning from some kind of conflict.

-Scientists used to believe the human brain did not change much after childhood, but this was disproven

-Neuroplasticity: The ability for the brain to become rewired and discover new ways of thinking/acting. 

-Dynamic Character: A character who changes throughout the story(e.g, Nemo, the Beast, Shrek, Simba)

-Static Character: A character who does not change much throughout the story(Dory, Scar, Snow White, Cinderella)

-A motif is a recurring image, spoken or written word, sound, act, or another visual or structural device that has symbolic significance.

-A prevalent motif in part 2 of the Odyssey is loyalty to one’s memory in their absence.

-Athena turns Odysseus into a beggar(20 years and Gone) -Athena shows favor toward Odysseus. She is his “guardian goddess” -As the goddess of battle and wisdom, Odysseus exemplifies traits that are most important to her. -At first, Telemachus does not believe that this “beggar” is his father, but after Athena turns him back to his original form, he realizes the truth and the two exchange an emotional reunion. -Telemachus tells him of the suitors trying to marry Penelope. -They devise a plan to get rid of the suitors. -In “Argus”, Odysseus’ dog Argus recognizes him.

-Argus has been neglected and abused his whole life after Odysseus left. -Odysseus must ignore him so as to not reveal who he really is while disguised. -Shortly after reuniting with Odysseus, Argus is finally laid to rest, and dies. -In “The Suitors” a disguised Odysseus enters his home, and is immediately confronted by his suitors. -The suitors disrespect him, and do not follow xenia, and treat him rudely. -Not knowing that he is Odysseus, and Odysseus even gets a stool thrown at him by one of the suitors, Antinous. -Odysseus warns Antinous that he will not live to see his wedding day(foreshadowing) for his violation of the rules of hospitality, and for trespassing his land when all the disguised Odysseus needed was food. -In “Penelope”, she has just seen Antinous, one of her suitors, throw a stool at the beggar, who unbeknownst to her, is Odysseus in disguise. -Later, she talks to the disguised Odysseus, who assures her that Odysseus is alive and well, and will return soon, so she should not remarry.

Reflection(What did I learn? Why did I learn it? How will I use what I learned?):

Today, I learned about the Greek concepts of Kleos and Nostos, prevalent motifs in the Odyssey, dynamic and static characters, and neuroplasticity. I learned these concepts so I can apply the concepts I learned today to future texts as well as when I write to demonstrate a character’s growth or adaptability to a reader. Also, I can now identify these concepts in the future when reading to gain a deeper meaning and understanding of the passage.