Blogger #32 - Enyu Zhu - Period 5 Day B - 12/22/20

 Freshmen 2021: Blogger #32 - Amy (Enyu) Zhu - Period 5 - 12/22/20 - Day B

RL: 5 The Odyssey: Cyclops

Housekeeping: To start off, Mrs. Peterson took attendance and explained upcoming assignments. The Postcard Mini Project, due on January 19th, requires students to choose two locations to create two postcards and students will pretend as if they’re Odysseus to write to their family about their experience during the journey. Next, there is a virtual debate, the Cyclops vs Odysseus, in which students will debate with one another’s statement in a Google Classroom assignment. These statements would be due on January 4th. 

Aim: How do Odysseus' actions in "The Cyclops" support or refute his epic character?

Do Now: THINK/PAIR/SHARE

As previously discussed, the term, “Xenia” is the ancient Greek concept of hospitality, the generosity and courtesy shown to those who are far from home and/or associates of the person bestowing guest-friendship. The rituals of hospitality created and expressed a reciprocal relationship between guest hosts.

Therefore, based on your understanding of the term, how important do you believe this attribute or behavior is to exemplify? Why?

Xenia is important to both parties because mutual respect and hospitality are believed to lead you to a greater future. In addition, according to Greeks, gods would disguise themselves to visit homes and if the owners didn’t show hospitality, they would receive severe punishment. Xenia allows people to help and welcome each other, which is a universal message Greeks want to convey. 

CLASS DISCUSSION

Reflect on the heroes you have encountered throughout your life, in various forms: literature, movies or TV.  Identify any weaknesses the  hero(es) may have, and explain how it impairs their ability. 

Weaknesses of heroes include women, physical weaknesses (Superman vs. kryptonite), family, masks, and social acceptance. These weaknesses would make the heroes’ question their rightful actions and would prevent them from completing their goals. 

 

Lessons/Notes: 

Homeric simile:

Epic similes in The Odyssey, also known as Homeric  similes, give Homer’s narrative depth and force. Homeric similes, also known as Epic Similes, are elaborate  comparisons, consisting of many lines,  between two different objects using “like”, “as”, “so”, or “just so”.  It is a comparison made between something unfamiliar or strange to the audience and something that is more familiar to them. We often use short similes in everyday speech, like the example, “She’s tough as nails.” A Homeric Simile, however, is used to redirect the reader’s attention in unexpected, humorous, gruesome or heroic ways.

Why might Homer choose to use this technique?

Homer uses these techniques because the uses of objects of comparison helps familiarize his audience, they are meant to ensure that the audience understands the visual that is being shown, and are used to glorify his characters, enrich his text, and deepen the readers’ understanding. 

What is Foreshadowing?

Foreshadowing is where future events in a story, or perhaps the outcome, are suggested by the author before they happen. They are usually considered to be ominous, warning signs, or signs of bad things to come.  Foreshadowing can take many forms and be accomplished in many ways, with varying degrees of subtlety. However, if the outcome is deliberately and explicitly revealed early in a story (such as by the use of a narrator or flashback structure), such information does not constitute foreshadowing.

Additional information on foreshadowing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P07O8cacBsk&ab_channel=VoxLetters

What is Hubris?

Hubris is a Greek term meaning excessive pride or over-confidence (think arrogance). It can cause the character to disregard reality or offend the gods, often leading to their downfall. It is a character flaw often seen in the heroes of classical Greek tragedies. Committing hubris was very much looked down upon in Ancient Greece.

Additional information on Hubris:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltLGpwvCxpk&ab_channel=LiteratureUnbounded

Copy of “The Cyclops”: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9xgktq1tg9eZkRKVWw4ODk2SnM/view

Summary of “The Cyclops”: 

Odysseus and his crewmates arrived at the land of the Cyclops. After taking 12 of his best men to explore a cave in a mountain, the crew began to plunder the goods. However, the crew was caught by one of the monster cyclops, Polyphemus. The entrance to the cave was a large boulder no man could move, so the crew was trapped inside. Polyphemus began eating and killing the men while Odysseus attempted to lead his crew to safety. Odysseus plans out an escape: he offers Polyphemus some wine which causes the cyclop to fall asleep and plans to tie himself and his men to the underbellies of the cyclops’ sheeps to leave the cave in the morning. Odysseus tells Polyphemus that his name is Nobody and he and his men stab a big spike into Polyphemus’s eye, causing him to scream for help to the other cyclop. Polyphemus tells the cyclops that Nobody has tricked him, leaving him hopeless and in pain. Odysseus executes the last part of his plan and is successful. Odysseus and his crew leave on ship, and angers Polyphemus, causing himself trouble in the future journey. 

GROUP DISCUSSION

1. Based on your understanding of foreshadowing, review lines 153-156.  How is foreshadowing used, and what exactly is being foreshadowed?

An example of foreshadowing used is in lines 153-156. It states “...for in my bones I knew some towering brute would be upon us soon- all outward power, a wild man, ignorant of civility.” These lines foreshadow Odysseus’s meeting with Polyphemus, who is unaware of Xenia and humanity. It also foreshadows difficulties, death, and hardships. 

2. What heroic qualities does Odysseus display thus far?

1. What does the fact that he doesn’t want to attack the Cyclops reveal about his character?

Some heroic qualities Odysseus displayed so far are witty, bravery, leadership, loyal, and resourceful. He can outsmart Polyphemus with the name “Nobody” and uses his resources around him to find an escape route. The fact that he didn’t initially want to attack the Cyclops shows that he is smart and thinks ahead of his situation. 

3. Refer to line 232-243. How does Homer use figurative language to create imagery? (identify examples and explain their effect)

For instance, in line 234, it reads, “...caught two in his hand like squirming puppies…”. This illustrates how weak and small the humans are compared to Polyphemus. Squirming puppies is used to show that the men could not escape nor defeat the cyclop. 

4. How should we judge the heroic qualities of Odysseus based on his actions with the cyclops? (Heroic Qualities: Intelligence/Resourcefulness, Strength, Bravery and loyalty, Weakness)

We should judge the heroic qualities of Odysseus by basing it off of his actions and how he managed to lead his crew to safety. For example, Odysseus was able to use his resources to create a spike that can stab Polyphemus’s eye. 

5. Contrast Polyphemus’ values and the values of Odysseus (hospitality [xenia], respect for the gods, protections for his men). 

1. Can you identify any qualities/characteristics that both Odysseus and Polyphemus share?

2. If Odysseus represents civilization, and Polyphemus represents nature,  what do you think Homer is saying about the relation of man to nature?

i. Can you see potential dangers (that are becoming increasingly evident, especially in the modern era) in this position taken by Homer?

Polyphemus is ignorant of human civilization and xenia, so he hardly cares about treating Odysseus and his crew well. On the other hand, Odysseus continuously tries to tell Polyphemus how important Xenia is and the fear of punishment from gods. Hubris is shown by both Odyessus and Polyphemus. For instance, Odysseus angered the cyclops with unnecessary insults and Polyphemus is overconfident in destroying the men. Homer is trying to say that men are superior compared to nature, due to their intelligence.   Potential dangers are that men are ignoring their mistakes in nature, causing pollution and global warming, which can lead to the destruction of humans. 

6. As previously discussed, the story is told through flashback (Odysseus is revealing the past events of his journey), therefore, how has Polyphemus’ curse impacted the course of Odysseus’ future.

Polyphemus’s curse impacted the course of Odysseus’s future because it led to many tragedies and deaths of his crew during his journey home. 

Other material and enrichments:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHXak1aEexI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc1ePErv5ss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5OERqTniro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1Bl9Vvn92E

Reflection:

During today’s lesson, I learned about hubris, xenia, and the use of foreshadowing in literature. The explanation of foreshadowing helped me understand why it is used and inspires me to include it in my future writing as well. The lesson also helped me learn more about Greek culture and how Homer influenced literature in the modern world. In addition, “The Cyclops” was a thrilling story that caused a great amount of joy for me. I look forward to learning more about Greek literature and culture. 

Blogger #31 - Jacky Zheng - Period 5 Day B - 12/22/20

 Blog #31 - Jacky Zheng-Period 5 - 12/22/2020-Cycle B

Aim: How do Odysseus’ action in “The Cyclops” support or refute his epic character.

Notes/Discussion for the day

The Do Now from today’s lesson is a question that asks the following, “As previously discussed, the term, ‘Xenia’  is the ancient Greek concept of hospitality, the generosity and courtesy shown to those who are far from home and/or associates of the person bestowing guest-friendship. The rituals of hospitality created and expressed a reciprocal relationship between guest hosts. Therefore, based on your understanding of the term, how important do you believe this attribute or behavior is to exemplify? Why?”.

Classmates were given time to come up with an answer based on their own opinion and use examples they encountered in their own life to support their response. Many classmates agreed that “Xenia” the Greek concept of hospitality is important as they said that they wanted to feel welcomed when invited and also wanted the guest to feel welcomed as well.  Our instructor Ms. Peterson added a comment at the end of the discussion in which she stated a common cliché  people would often hear which is “Treat others the way you want to be treated”. The inclusion of this statement allowed us to realize that the concept of “Xenia” is mutual since  when your guest feels welcomed, you as the host will also feel positive.

  

We moved onto the second slide in which the slide presents another question that is based on our prior knowledge. The question asks “Reflect on the heroes you have encountered throughout your life, in various forms: literature, movies or TV.  Identify any weaknesses the  hero(es) may have, and explain how it impairs their ability.” This question allows us to realize that a Hero may not necessarily have an immortal body as portrayed in movies and books.  Classmates suggested answers such as emotional weakness and that heroes can not find their own identity.  These can impair the ability of a hero as they can be vulnerable to things other than physical harm. This can impair their decision making causing them to make poor decisions. Odysseus is classified as a Greek hero therefore the addition of this slide is to demonstrate the conflict Odysseus might face in the story.

The next slide explains a technique used by the author of the Odyssey, Homer. The technique that is being discussed in the slide is Homeric simile.  Homeric simile is also known as Epic Similes. Homeric similes are elaborate comparisons , consisting of many lines,  between two different objects using “like”, “as”, “so”, or “just so”.  It is a comparison made between something unfamiliar or strange to the audience and something that is more familiar to them. The difference between Homeric simile  and short simile is that Homeric simile tends to redirect the reader’s attention in unexpected, humorous, gruesome or heroic ways. The Odyssey contains many Homeric similes as the Odyssey is an epic written by Homer. 

The next slide lists reasons why Homer might choose to use this technique. The reason that are listed are following:

-Use object of comparison that were familiar with his audience

-Meant to ensure that you understand the visual that is being shown

-Used to glorify his characters, enrich his text, deepen the readers’ understanding

This slide is included to help the students identify Homeric simile in the Odyssey. 

The next slide includes two more definitions of literary devices that will be encountered in the Odyssey which are foreshadowing and Hubris.  In summary foreshadowing is the outcome and future event that is suggested by the author before it happens through warning and signs. Foreshadowing can take many forms and can hint at various different types of outcome. However if the outcome is directly stated, it will not be classified as foreshadowing. 

Supplemental link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P07O8cacBsk&ab_channel=VoxLetters

On the same slide, Hubris is introduced. Hubris is a Greek term defined as excessive pride or over-confidence. 

Some aspect and  effect of a character with this  listed on the slide are:

• Can cause character to disregard reality or offending the gods, often leading to their downfall

A character flaw often seen in heroes of classical Greek tragedy 

• Committing hubris is pretty looked down upon in Ancient Greece. 

Supplemental Link :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltLGpwvCxpk&ab_channel=LiteratureUnbounded

After this slide the whole class participated in spirit reading of a section of the Odyssey named “The Cyclops” in which classmates volunteered to read a section of the text and the next person takes on the role as the reader. 

PDF Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9xgktq1tg9eZkRKVWw4ODk2SnM/view?usp=sharing

The section describes Odysseus and his man’s encounter with the cyclops. Odysseus assumes that the cyclop Polyphemus knows and follows the concept of “Xenia” which they do not. Polyphemus is hostile and suspicious of Odysseus and his men when he sees them. The cyclop went so far that he killed a few of Odysseus’ men for food. Odysseus controlled his anger realizing the only way to get out the island was with the help of the cyclops. Cunningly, Odysseus tricked one of cyclop, Polyphemus by offering him wine, making him vulnerable. Then Odysseus and his man created an opening  by stabbing Polyphemus' eye and preventing him from calling for help because he tricked Polyphemus into believing his name is Nohbdy (nobody). Odysseus and his man tied themselves under the rams and when the blinded Polyphemus patted the rams he couldn’t possibly know that it's another trick Odysseus planned out and created an opening for the rams not knowing that he had freed Odysseus and his man. Odysseus who could have returned safely did a surprising action in which he committed hubris. This links back to the previous slide as Odysseus purposely taunted Polyphemus and told him about all his information as he became suddenly arrogant from his victory. This allows Polyphemus to put a curse on Odysseus in which the curse determines Odysseus’ fate which is that he will never return home and that all of his companions will be killed. 

The next slide includes discussion questions which are assigned to be discussed in small groups or “breakout rooms” which consist of 5-6 students working in an independent room. 

1)Based on your understanding of foreshadowing, review lines 153-156.  How is foreshadowing  used, and what exactly is being foreshadowed?

The lines foreshadow that a cyclop will return to find Odysseus and his man inside his place of living. The name of the land suggests that cyclops live there and the line “I knew some towering brute would be upon us soon” furthermore characterizes the unpleasant feature of the cyclops and that something unpleasant will occur if the cyclop found out the presence of Odysseus.

2)What heroic qualities does Odysseus display thus far?

1. What does the fact that he doesn’t want to attack the Cyclops reveal about his character?

Odysseus displays heroic quality through mainly his great leadership. He is willing to put himself at risk to negotiate with the cyclop Perphemus demonstrating his courage and his influential qualities being able to control his man and carry out a deceptive plan

synchronously despite facing an intimidating supernatural being. Odysseus controlling his anger and does not want to attack the cyclops furthermore reveals his willpower.

3)Refer to line 232-243. How does Homer use figurative language to create imagery? (identify examples and explain their effect)

Homer used figurative language to create imagery within these lines when he said “caught two in his hand like squirming puppies” and “gaping and crunching like a mountain lion” which are both similar to describe how the cyclop Polyphemus is killing his men. The simile is used to describe how the man is defenseless and describes the cyclop as a brute.

4)How should we judge the heroic qualities of Odysseus based on his actions with the cyclops? (Heroic Qualities: Intelligence/Resourcefulness, Strength, Bravery and loyalty, Weakness)

Odysseus' heroic qualities can be judged based on his actions with the cyclops. Odysseus displays intelligence, bravery, and loyalty. His intelligence is used to deceive and trick Polyphemus and his bravery is used when he tried to confront Polyphemus. He does all this only so that his man can escape with him out of the cave.

5)Contrast Polyphemus’ values and the values of Odysseus (hospitality [xenia], respect for the gods, protections for his men). 

1. Can you identify any qualities/characteristics that both Odysseus and Polyphemus share?

2. If Odysseus represents civilization, and Polyphemus represents nature,  what do you think Homer is saying about the relation of man to nature?

i. Can you see potential dangers (that are becoming increasingly evident, especially in the modern era) in this position taken by Homer?

Polyphemus’ value includes respect for nature and hostility towards strangers. Odysseus’ values protection  for his man and “Xenia”. Qualities that both Odysseus and Polyphemus share is loyalty. Odysseus is loyal to his crewmate and Polyphemus is loyal to nature and his surroundings. Homer is trying to say that the relation of man to nature is that they often conflict with each other. Mankind often destroys nature for their own benefit and nature sometimes causes diseases and natural disasters which is becoming evident in the modern era.

6)As previously discussed, the story is told through flashback (Odysseus is revealing the past events of his journey), therefore, how has Polyphemus’ curse impacted the course of Odysseus’ future.

Polyphemus’ curse acts like a prophecy  directly telling the reader the outcome of the story and Odysseus’ fate. In the beginning of the story, we already knew that Odysseus will not reach his goal to return home. Polyphemus’ curse further confirmed this.

Reflection:

   This cycle focuses more in-depth on the characterization of Odysseus in the Odyssey. The main characters have very different values compared to others. In this case, Odysseus’ values “Xenia” while Polyphemus doesn’t. This will replay and become significant in other parts of the Odyssey. The cycle especially creates a shocking and contradicting trait of Odysseus which is over-pride. This references back to the slide of Hubris which confirmed many aspects that were listed in the slide. Hubris committed by Odysseus caused a curse to be implemented onto him which will eventually lead to his own misery and downfall which in this case is the loss of his men. The slide about foreshadowing also helped me in understanding Homer’s technique as it helped me identify foreshadows in this section. For example, when Polyphemus closed the cave with the slabs of stone, this is hinting the reader that Odysseus and his man would be trapped and caught. This lesson serves as a foundation for upcoming part of the Odysseus and an introduction to Homer’s style of writing.

Blogger #32 - Shi Ting Zheng(Christine) - Period 9 - 12/23/20 - Day C - Freshman 2021

 Blogger #32 - Shi Ting Zheng(Christine) - Period 9 - 12/23/20 - Day C - Freshman Lit 2021

Aim: How do Odysseus' actions in "The Cyclops" support or refute his epic character?

Before starting the lesson, Ms. Peterson first introduced our “RL: Odyssey Post Card Mini Project'' and our “The Cyclops vs Odysseus Virtual Debate”. The postcard project is not homework for over the break but it is posted now because there might be things that are covered in today’s lesson that can be used for the project. So having an acknowledgement of the project would help us be aware of key points that might be helpful to the project. Some examples of a postcard are shown and the structure and requirements of the project were reviewed. We have to create two postcards written to Odysseus’ wife, Penelope, or Odysseus’ son, Telemachus, in the perspective of Odysseus’ during his journey. Each postcard has to be written in the setting of two different locations from Odysseus’ journey and create a postcard for each location. On the front of the postcard, there should be a graphic illustration to demonstrate the location or represent something that happened in this portion of the journey. The back of the postcard should look similar to the structure shown in the image below. Additionally, the website Canva can be used to design the postcard digitally. Students can also choose to draw the postcard by hand if they prefer to do so and they can take a picture of the postcards and upload it onto google classroom. 

For the virtual debate, each of us have to post a statement on the google classroom assignment to take the position of defending Polyphemus or Odysseus. Then, we would have to reply to one of the statements made by our classmates so that we’re debating with them. Both parts need to be completed. A video link to Discussion Board Etiquette: YouTube Video is provided guidance to improve the debate and utilize the discussion board efficiently. In addition, a chart is also provided with discussion questions to complete using evidence. The chart is optional to use but it can help students with organizing their evidence and their argument for the debate. 

Additionally, there is also a link to The Odyssey, Book X provided in the assignment of our lesson today for anyone that wants to get a head start on the reading.  

Do Now: THINK/PAIR/SHARE

As previously discussed, the term, “Xenia” is the ancient Greek concept of hospitality, the generosity and courtesy shown to those who are far from home and/or associates of the person bestowing guest-friendship. The rituals of hospitality created and expressed a reciprocal relationship between guest hosts.

Therefore, based on your understanding of the term, how important do you believe this attribute or behavior is to exemplify? Why?

We had a class discussion on this topic, some students believed that it is important to provide hospitality to people around us because we would want others to treat us back the same way that we had treated them. Therefore, xenia is important because we would want others to treat us the way we treat them. Not to mention, it would just feel good to treat others with warmth and not stay so distant from others and in the future when you need the help, they would remember the generosity that you expressed to them in the past. However, there is also a portion of students that were more cautious and believed that we had to decide depending on the person that we are treating. In ancient Greek, xenia was rather influenced by religion so they thought that they were obliged to help everyone but now we treat others the way we would want to be treated. So if someone staying in your home is making you feel uncomfortable whether it is their attitude or what they’re doing, then it might be a better option to consider your decisions. This is because they don’t want some people to take advantage of their hospitality. 

Class Discussion:

Reflect on the heroes you have encountered throughout your life, in various forms: literature, movies or TV. Identify any weaknesses the hero(es) may have, and explain how it impairs their ability. 

Our class discussed that in a lot of TV shows and movies, heroes are often selfless and would risk their lives to save others which indicates that they would put others before themselves. They would sacrifice themselves for the well-being of others which is what makes them a hero in the first place but it also means that they might have to protect others before ensuring the safety of themselves. Additionally, another weakness that some heroes would have is that they would be really proud of themselves and they would put their pride above everything else. This might cause their downfall as well. 

Homeric Simile:

The next next slide describes the literary device of a Homeric simile, also known as an epic simile. Homeric similes are elaborate comparisons between something unfamiliar or strange to the audience and something that is more familiar to them. This literary technique contains the word “simile” which means that it is a comparison that only uses the words “like”, “as”, “so”, or “just so”. The purpose of Homeric similes is to redirect the reader’s attention in unexpected, humorous, gruesome or heroic ways. Homer might have chosen to use this technique because it can deepen the readers’ understanding of his text, ensure a better visual for the reader and glorifies his characters. 

Foreshadowing:

Foreshadowing is a technique used to suggest a future event or outcome to the reader before it happens. Foreshadowing is often ominous, warning signs or predictions of something about to happen. There are many forms of foreshadowing, however, if the outcome is explicitly revealed by using a flashback or by a narrator, then this is not considered foreshadowing. A video link is provided help elaborate on the definition of foreshadowing: Foreshadowing | Definition & Examples of Foreshadowing [2:31]

Hubris:

Hubris is a Greek term meaning excessive pride or over-confidence and it is the characteristic that often causes the character’s downfall when they start to disregard reality or offend the gods. This is a weakness often seen in the heroes of Greek tragedies. Another supplementary video is provided to elaborate on this topic: What Is Hubris | Its Greek Origin & Usage In Modern Literature | Definition and Examples of Hubris [2:51]

After the class discussions and spirit reading of the literary devices, the class then spirit read through the Cyclops excerpt. Overall, in the beginning, Odysseus and his crew arrive at the land of the Cyclopes, which were groups of one-eyed creatures. They then arrived upon a cavern yawning above the water, the cavern was the home to a prodigious Cyclop called Polyphemus. Odysseus took twelve of his best fighters to explore the place and indeed they found many treasures. His men tried to persuade Odysseus to simply take all the treasures and run. However, Odysseus insisted on seeing the caveman, yet the consequence of this decision did not turn out to be good. When Polyphemus returned, the entrance to the cave was blocked with a large boulder, trapping the crew inside. He soon noticed the crew and asked them who they were. Odysseus replied to him by making up a story about who they were and why they were there, but unfortunately, Polyphemus did not believe him, he simply feasted on two of Odysseus’ men. Odysseus planned out an escape for the next day and he offered Polyphemus some of his wines. Once Polyphemus was drunk, Odysseus told him that his name is Nohbdy, and his remaining men drove a big spike into Polyphemus’ eyes. Polyphemus called for help from Cyclopes nearby, as he calls that Nohbdy has tricked him, yet all the Cyclopes did was laugh at Polyphemus. Odysseus’ next step was to leave the cave, he hid his men underneath Polyphemus’ flock of sheep, and waited till the morning until the Cyclops let his rams out. His plan succeeded and once he was as far off shore as shouted words would carry, he shouted at the Cyclops saying that he deserved his punishment for feasting on his men. However, Odysseus’ crew did not agree with his act of shouting to the Cyclops because they think that it might cause him to attack them out of rage. In conclusion, Odysseus was cursed by Polyphemus, who had prayed to Poseidon for Odysseus to lose all his companions, return home under a difficult condition, and to live a bitter life at home. 

Class Discussion: We discussed these questions as a class together after we finished reading the excerpt. However, we were left to do questions 5 and 6 on our own because it is relevant to our virtual debate and also because we were running out of time. 

1. Based on your understanding of foreshadowing, review lines 153-156.  How is foreshadowing used, and what exactly is being foreshadowed?

Lines 153 to 156 talks about wineskin that they brought and it foreshadows how Odysseus would then utilize the wine in his plan against Polyphemus. The wine had drunken Polyphemus which allowed Odysseus to then catch him off guard in that condition. Additionally, the line “I knew some towering brute would be upon us soon” foreshadows the upcoming meeting with Polyphemus. 

2. What heroic qualities does Odysseus display thus far?

1. What does the fact that he doesn’t want to attack the Cyclops reveal about his character?

Some heroic qualities that Odysseus displayed was leadership, intelligence, bravery, resourcefulness and loyalty. He realized that the Cyclops had blocked the entrance to the cave which meant that they would be trapped inside the cavern forever if he had killed the Cyclops. Therefore, he instead created a plan to escape from the cave using the resources that he had. Additionally, he displayed loyalty and leadership because he did not give up on his men and led them out of the cave safely. 

3. Refer to line 232-243. How does Homer use figurative language to create imagery? (identify examples and explain their effect)

In lines 232-243, Homer created the imagery of the ruthless slaughter of the two men by describing the scene as “caught two in his hand like squirming puppies to beat their brains out, spattering the floor.” Homer then describes how the Cyclops feasted on the men as well. The effect of this imagery is that it creates the tone of this part of the text and emphasizes the dangerous situation that Odysseus and his crew was in. 

4. How should we judge the heroic qualities of Odysseus based on his actions with the cyclops? (Heroic Qualities: Intelligence/Resourcefulness, Strength, Bravery and loyalty, Weakness)

According to Odysseus’ actions with the Cyclops, he demonstrates many heroic qualities such intelligence, bravery and loyalty. He utilizes the resources as he can and formulates a plan to escape the Cyclops as soon as possible. He would have to risk his life in front of the Cyclops in order for the plan to be successful which demonstrates his bravery. Lastly, he demonstrates loyalty because he didn’t give up on any of his men and tried to bring all of them safely home. 

5. Contrast Polyphemus’ values and the values of Odysseus (hospitality [xenia], respect for the gods, protections for his men). 

1. Can you identify any qualities/characteristics that both Odysseus and Polyphemus share?

2. If Odysseus represents civilization, and Polyphemus represents nature,  what do you think Homer is saying about the relation of man to nature?

1. Can you see potential dangers (that are becoming increasingly evident, especially in the modern era) in this position taken by Homer?

Based on how Polyphemus had treated Odysseus and his men, it can be assumed that Cyclops do not value xenia in their culture. Additionally, it is demonstrated that Polyphemus had believed in Poseidon, as he had prayed to him when he had cursed Odysseus. On the other hand, it is shown that Odysseus believed in the god of Zeus. As one can see, Polyphemus and Odysseus believed in different gods. Furthermore, Odysseus had tried to protect his men and lead them home safely. On the contrary, when Polyphemus was harmed and called for help, other Cyclopes did nothing but laugh at him, which shows how the Cyclopes didn’t really care for others. However, some traits that Odysseus and Polyphemus seem to share is that they both value pride. For instance, Polyphemus was clearly overconfident which is what caused him to fall into Odysseus’ plan. On the other hand, Odysseus’ taunting in the end had also led to a bad consequence for himself because he had revealed his true name. If Odysseus represents civilization and Polyphemus represents nature, then Homer is implying that both mankind and nature are harming each other. Civilization would have the ability to harm nature, yet the harm done to nature would also threaten the civilization as well. This poses potential dangers especially in the modern era because what we are doing to the environment around us would impact ourselves as well. 

6. As previously discussed, the story is told through flashback (Odysseus is revealing the past events of his journey), therefore, how has Polyphemus’ curse impacted the course of Odysseus’ future.

Polyphemus’ curse had impacted the course of Odysseus’ future as it had created many difficult challenges on their journey home. For instance, they encountered the Lotus-eaters when they were heading home which greatly hindered their movement because many men were unwilling to return home after eating the lotus. This event demonstrates an example of an obstacle that they faced on their journey home. 

Reflection:

In this lesson, I learned about some literary devices and a few Greek phrases that were demonstrated in the reading of Odysseus’ encounter with the Cyclops. In the excerpt we read today, Homer used both Homeric similes and foreshadowing to shape his characters. For example, the foreshadowing that Homer used in lines 153-156 had not only suggested the upcoming event, but it had also suggested Odysseus’ resourcefulness by utilizing the wine. Additionally, the two Greek phrases that were mentioned in today’s lesson were xenia and hubris. Xenia basically means hospitality and hubris is defined as overconfidence. Both terms were not explicitly mentioned in the excerpt but the traits were shown through the characters as Polyphemus did not demonstrate xenia and both Polyphemus and Odysseus demonstrated hubris in some way. I learned this information because it had helped me look out for these key points while reading the text and it helps me understand the details of the text more thoroughly. Learning about Homeric similes and foreshadowing had helped me recognize these techniques while reading the excerpt. Similarly, I am also able to recognize xenia and hubris through the characterization of Polyphemus and Odysseus. In conclusion, I can also utilize the information I have learned in the future while reading the upcoming parts of the Odyssey. These phrases and literary devices can help me recognize key points to note in the upcoming readings and it can also help me in my writing as well. 

Blogger #30 - Henry Zheng - Period 5 Day B - 12/17/20

 Aim: How does “Sailing From Troy” and “The Lotus Eaters” (Book IX) establish Odysseus’ role as a leader?

The Do Now for today’s lesson was:
Consider the fact that Odysseus has been trying to return to his home in Ithaca for 10 years. Imagine being away from your home for that long. 

1. What would you miss the most and why? 

2. Why do we have sayings like the ones below?

The second part of the do now was accompanied by the following pictures:

Mrs. Peterson put our class into breakout rooms and we were given about 5 minutes to answer and discuss the do now questions. My group quickly decided that we would all definitely miss our family. Since we spend so much time with them, especially with remote learning, we take many things for granted. For example, a family member to keep you company, cooks you meals, etc. Artem commented saying that these sayings are most commonly thought of when someone may be enduring some hardships in life, because for many, home is associated with the feeling of comfort or relaxation.

After time was up and we returned to the main room, Mrs. Peterson began the class discussion. Many groups like us, said that they would miss their family, even if they may find them annoying, or loud sometimes. This especially true if you were in a situation like Odysseus, who is the main character of Homer’s The Odyssey in which he tries to get home after the Trojan War and ends up going on a long journey for 10 years. Others said that they would miss their bed, and the environment of their house. Mrs. Peterson noted that a home serves as a “safe space” for many people. At this point, the class moved onto slide 2 of the lesson.

On the second slide, we learned about the two different types of characterization that writers use to create a personality and appearance of their character. The first kind is direct characterization, in which the author will directly tell the reader what they want them to know about the character. The second type of characterization, known as indirect characterization, is different because the character is described by the actions they make, their relationships with others, thoughts, feelings and dialogue.

In order to help us better apply and understand indirect characterization in practice, Mrs. Peterson showed us the STEAL method on the following slide. The STEAL method is as follows:

• Speech

• Thoughts

• Effect on others toward the character.

• Actions

• Looks

On the fourth slide, we went a bit more in-depth with how to use the STEAL method, and Mrs. Peterson showed us a quick 4 minute video of the 2 methods of characterization using the movie Frozen from Disney. 

When we moved onto the next slide, the class read the excerpt Sailing From Troy from the Odyssey as a whole with the help of spirit readers. The passage is about Odysseus talking about why getting home was so important to him and recalling his journey home. One day the wind brought him and his men to Ismarus, where he and his men plundered the area. They enslaved the women, and feasted on goods and livestock. When the army of Ismarus retaliated, it caused the death of many of Odysseus’ men before they could retreat to their ship and make their escape. While reading we briefly discussed terms/names that we may not have known. For example: guile, Ithaca, Calypso, etc. After reading, we were split into our breakout groups once more to complete the following questions:
Identify lines in which Odysseus talks about his home in Ithaca.  

• How does he feel about it? 

• Find lines & specific evidence that describe these feelings.  

The first thing we did in our groups was the events that took place in the excerpt and what is shown through Odyessus’ dialogue. Our group collectively came up with the answer of: “In lines 35-37, Odysseus talks about the traits and aspects of his home that he adored. As well as how there is no place that has the same sweetness to a person as their home, even if they were to find something of very high value elsewhere.” This question relates to the do now question, with the idea that home is extremely important to every person and is irreplaceable. After a few groups discussing their responses which were all quite similar to ours, we read the following chapter of the Odyssey, The Lotus Eaters. 

The Lotus Eaters tells the reader about another one of Odysseus’ many adventures as he journeys home. After many days of terrible weather causing Odysseus and his crew to seek refuge on a lee, they eventually come upon the island who was home of the Lotus Eaters. Odysseus sent a few of his men off to see what types of people inhabited the island. However, these men lost sense of self after eating the sweet lotus on the island. Odysseus and his men had to forcefully drag these men back on the ship so they could continue sailing home. 

In our breakout rooms, we had to summarize The Lotus Eaters as well as answer the following questions:
What kind of world do you think the Lotus Eaters live in?

• Describe the type of lifestyle it is?

For this question, our group decided that the lotus eaters lived in an extremely carefree world, because they believed that they had everything they needed on the island and had no goals. Due to their lack of motivation, the lotus eaters felt content and didn’t wish to go anywhere else.

• What do you think Homer is implying about this?

• How does the Odyssey characterize the land of the Lotus-eaters as a veritable (real or genuine) paradise?  And, why, then, is this land seen by Odysseus and others as negative, and something from which to escape?  What do you think is wrong with such a place, if anything?

The Odyssey characterizes the land of the Lotus Eaters as a paradise by showing that by eating the lotus and staying on the island the men could be carefree. However, Odysseus and the others didn’t like this because it made the men mindless with no goal in life, and they wished to return home. In such a place, without motivation you can't get anything done.

• Consider the kind of leader Odysseus appears to be in "Sailing from Troy."

• How do his leadership abilities compare to how he is in "The Lotus Eaters?"

• Has your opinion of him changed? Why/Why not?

• Why do you think these events are important to understanding Odysseus' character?

For this  final question, our group went over the passage and compared Odysseus’ actions. We came to the conclusion that Odysseus is a much wiser leader in the Lotus Eater. Mainly due to the fact that he controls his men. Odysseus drags his men who have been affected by the Lotus Eaters back onto the ship. This is  unlike in “Sailing from Troy”, where he allowed his men to plunder the area. This led to many of his men dying after the people of said area retaliated. Therefore, in “The Lotus Eater”, Odysseus is a much wiser leader. This changed our opinion of him as an arrogant leader. 

In conclusion, this lesson has taught me a lot about the different types of characterization. To restate a main point that I said before: in direct characterization, the author will tell you details about the character they want to know. In indirect characterization, the author will show you, through dialogue, relationships, actions, etc. 

We were only able to come up with responses for the questions relating to The Lotus Readers and Sailing From Troy with the knowledge of indirect characterization. The STEAL method also came in handy when analyzing the text. Many times writers will not exactly say that a character has changed. The reader has to be able to see and tell that for themselves. To answer this lesson’s aim: “How does “Sailing From Troy” and “The Lotus Eaters” (Book IX) establish Odysseus’ role as a leader?” It shows Odysseus slowly adapting to fit into the role of leader that takes responsibility for his men. This is definitely shown through the contrast of his actions in The Lotus Readers and Sailing From Troy.