Station 3Odyssey Introduction
1. Read the “Introduction to The Odyssey” on page 1025-1031.
2. Select five (5) important facts about what you read. Choose 1 fact from a different section.
3. Record your five facts with a quote and citation and create a picture note for each one.
Italics= (Holt page #).Poem= (Homer l. #).
4. Put your facts and pictures into a chart format.
Station 4 The Island of the Lotus Eaters
1. Read the story, “The Lotus Eaters” 2. As a group, discuss the story 3. Answer the questions in short answer form
THE ODYSSEY: THE LOTUS EATERS READING FOCUS
Directions: Read the passages below and answer the questions that follow:
Odysseus tells what happens after he and his men left the island of Ismarus:
(1) “From Ismarus we sailed, with heavy hearts for the loyal friends lost, though happy to have escaped death ourselves.
Nor would I let the curved ships leave till we had called three times in ritual
to each of our luckless comrades, who died there on the plain, at the hands
of the Cicones. But Zeus, the Cloud-Gatherer, stirred the north wind against
our ships, in a blinding tempest, hiding the land and sea alike in cloud,
while darkness swept from the sky. Headlong the ships were driven, sails
torn to shreds by the force of the gale. In terror of death, we lowered the masts on deck, and rowed the vessels
wildly towards land.
(2) “There we stayed for two days and nights, troubled at heart with weariness and grief. But when Dawn
of the lovely tresses gave birth to the third day, we upped masts, hoisted the white sails, and took our seats
aboard, and the wind and helmsman kept us on course. Now I would have reached home safely, but as I was
rounding Cape Malea, the north wind and waves and the ocean currents beat me away, off course, past Cythera.
(3) “For nine days I was driven by fierce winds over the teeming sea where countless sea creatures lurked
all around us. I witnessed with my own eyes every sort of ocean creature imaginable. I saw an enormous,
leathery black tail rise high above the surface of the sea, monstrous sharks
hungrily followed our ship like greedy children lusting for candy, and slimy
tentacles were seen clinging to the sides of our ship. Despite our years of
experience and knowledge of the sea, the mystery of the ocean depths was
taking its toll on us. However, on the tenth, we set foot on the shores of the
Lotus-eaters, who eat its flowery food. On land, we drew water, and my friends
ate by the ships. Once we had tasted food and drink, I sent some of the men
inland to discover what kind of human beings lived there, selecting two and sending a third as herald.
(4) They left at once and came upon the Lotus-eaters, who had no thought of killing my comrades but
gave them lotus to eat. Those who ate the honey-sweet lotus fruit no longer wished to bring back word to us or
sail for home. They wanted to stay with the Lotus-eaters, eating the lotus, forgetting all thoughts of return. I
dragged those men back to the shore myself by force, while they wept, and bound them tight in the hollow
ships, pushing them under the benches. Then I ordered my men to embark quickly on the fast craft, fearing that
others would eat the lotus and forget their homes. They boarded swiftly and took their place on the benches then
sitting in their rows struck the grey water with their oars.”
Questions based on “The Lotus Eaters”
1. What does Odysseus mean when he says that he and his men have “heavy hearts”?a. Their hearts were heavyb. They were angryc. They all had bad heartsd. They were all very sad
2. Why does Odysseus make his men call “three times in ritual to each of our luckless comrades, who died there on the plain”? a. To keep evil spirits awayb. To honor those men who died fighting the Ciconesc. To curse those who died fighting the Ciconesd. To curse the Cicones
3. What does Zeus do to the weather and what effect does this have on Odysseus and his men?
4. Based on the information in paragraph 2, what keeps Odysseus from reaching his homeland?a. White sailsb. Cape Maleac. The strong windsd. Cythera
5. How long are Odysseus and his men “driven by fierce winds”?
6. When the winds finally die down, where do Odysseus and his men land?
7. Why does Odysseus send some of his men inland?
8. When the men of Odysseus meet the lotus eaters, how do the lotus eaters react to the men?
9. What effect does eating the lotus flower have on anyone who eats it?
10. What does Odysseus do to his men who are affected by the lotus flower?
11. Why does Odysseus force all of his men to leave the island of the lotus eaters?
12. CONNECT THIS STORY TO THE REAL WORLD:In the story of the lotus eaters, those who eat the lotus flower lose all desire to do anything but lie around and eat the lotus all day. What in our modern-day real world relates to this story?
13. What message or theme do you thing the story of the lotus eaters expresses?
14. Which word best describes the MOOD (emotional quality) of PARAGRAPH 1?a. Joyfulb. Mysteriousc. Discouragingd. Encouraging
15. In PARAGRAPH 1, what does the author mean when he says that “Zeus, the Cloud-Gatherer, stirred the north wind against our ships”?
a. Zeus is turning the ocean waters with a large spoon.b. Zeus is blowing Odysseus’ ship off course.c. Zeus is helping Odysseus’ ship get back on course.d. Zeus is trying to get the north wind to start a fight with Odysseus’ ship.
16. Based on how the word is used in PARAGRAPH 1, what does TEMPTEST most likely mean?a. Someone who tries to trick another person.b. The goddess of temptation.c. To desire; to want to possess something.d. A powerful storm.
17. What effect do phrases like “sails torn to shreds” and “terror of death” have on PARAGRAPH 1? CHOOSE THE MOST CORRECT ANSWER.
a. They make scene more descriptive and detailed.b. They help create an overall TONE of danger, fear, and helplessness.c. They emphasize the theme of choice.d. They illustrate the internal conflict Odysseus faces.
18. Which phrase from PARAGRAPH 2 best represents the MOOD of PARAGRAPH 2?a. troubled at heart with weariness and griefb. the ocean currents beat me awayc. we upped masts, hoisted the white sails, and took our seats aboardd. There we stayed for two days and nights
19. Based on how the word is used in PARAGRAPH 3, what does TEEMING most likely mean?a. abundantly full of lifeb. lifeless; deadc. musicald. to work together
20. Read the line below and indicate which literary term BEST applies to this line:“monstrous sharks hungrily followed our ship like greedy children lusting for candy.”
a. Metaphorb. Similec. Personificationd. Allusion
21. In paragraph 3, Odysseus says, “Despite our years of experience and knowledge of the sea, the mystery of the ocean depths was taking its toll on us. Based on this line, what can we most logically INFER about how the sea is affecting Odysseus and his men?
a. They are motivated even more than ever to find their way home.b. They are not as experienced and knowledgeable as they claim to be.c. They are becoming overwhelmed with fear and uncertainty.d. They are losing their desire to return home.
22. Which phrase below BEST ILLUSTRATES the consequence of the lotus flower?a. They left at once and came upon the Lotus-eaters, who had no thought of killing my comrades but gave them lotus
to eat. b. Those who ate the honey-sweet lotus fruit no longer wished to bring back word to us or sail for home. c. I dragged those men back to the shore myself by force, while they wept, and bound them tight in the hollow ships,
pushing them under the benches.d. Large warts formed on my nose and toes.
23. Based on how the word is used in PARAGRAPH 4, what does EMBARK most likely mean?a. to get onboard a ship.b. to leave a ship.
c. to take in or ingestd. to cut in half
Station 5Cattle of the Sun God
1. Read the story, “Cattle of the Sun God.”
2. As a group, discuss the story’s meaning.
3. So if you could only use 5 sentences to tell this whole story, what would they be? Choose five (5) key sentences in the story to illustrate. That means find a quote and citation.
Italics= (Holt page #).Poem= (Homer l. #).
4. Use a flow map to record the story.
Station 6Calypso
1. Read the story, “Calypso, the Sea Nymph”
2. As a group read the song “Calypso”
3. As a group, discuss the story’s meaning. Did you notice a difference in the two Calypsos?
4. Discuss and answer the questions in complete sentences.
STATION 6“Calypso” Questions
Directions: After reading Suzanne Vega’s poem/song, “Calypso,” answer the following questions in COMPLETE sentences:
1. What narrative point of view is used in this song?
2. What narrative point of view is used in The Odyssey?
3. Who is narrating the song?
4. Who is the man Calypso is referring to in the song?
5. Is he a guest or prisoner on Calypso’s island?
6. In The Odyssey, what does Calypso offer Odysseus to stay on her island?
7. In the song, Calypso, says, “I let him go.” How does this differ from her action in The Odyssey?
8. Would you consider this a love song? Explain why or why not.
9. Suzanne Vega was born in 1959. Why do you think she wrote asong about a story that is more than 3000 years old?
Station 7Travels of Odysseus Map
Directions: 1. Google “Map of Odyssey Tale” map locations
2. Use the Internet to find events that occurred at each numbered location on the map.
3. Briefly describe the events (on the wall map) that correspond to the numbers on the map and write them down.
Station 8Odyssey Letter Home
For this assignment, you will be pretending to be a member of Odysseus’ crew. You are distressed at the realization that you will not be returning home anytime soon, given what the gods have been doing.
Pretending such a thing could even make it back to Ithaca, you write a letter to a family member.
1. Pick a name. Look at the list of names at the beginning of the Odyssey, and create a new Greek sounding name for your crew member.
2. Select at least three SPECIFIC details from Part One stories to use in your letter, as you share with your family information about what’s happened. You must reference at least two stories.
I will be watching for your specific knowledge of the reading here, so be careful!
Don’t select a moment that a crew member may not have seen!
3. Write your letter home. Be sure to remember that this individual is writing to a person he cares about, so remember to think about your audience as you write!
Select specifically who the audience is, create a second Greek name for that person, and use the name and the person’s role in the salutation, such as:
Dear Mother Athena,
Station 2Land of the Dead
1. Read the Graphic Novel version of “Land of the Dead”
Odysseus and his remaining crew sail to the Land of the Dead. Following Circe’s instructions, he digs a pit, pours libations (liquid offerings) to the dead, and promises to sacrifice a heifer and a black lamb in honor of the dead when he gets home. Then he slaughters a black ram and ewe provided by Circe.
When the ghosts emerge from the pit and drink the blood of these sheep, they briefly recover their memories and power of speech. Odysseus must keep them away until Tiresias, who has retained his memory and speech in the afterlife, appears and drinks the blood, which will briefly restore his power of prophecy.
2. Odysseus sees the following ghosts:
His crew member Elpenor, who died on Circe’s island without Odysseus’s knowledge and must be buried. Tiresias the prophet, who tells Odysseus what lies ahead - including the challenge of facing the suitors. Odysseus’s mother Antikleia, who died of grief. She tells him
what is going on at home. The ghosts of many women who are the mothers of famous sons. Agamemnon , Odysseus’s commander at Troy Achilles (Akhilleus/Achilles’s Heel), the greatest Greek warrior,
who asks about his son and father. More Greek heroes and tortured souls, including Hercules,
Theseus, Tantalus, and Sisyphus. Then the ghosts close in on him. He is filled with horror and runs
back to the ship.
3. Focus on key passages: CHOOSE one of the following EXCERPTSYour group will examine the conversation between Odysseus and one of the ghosts above.
• Preview the questions below.• Closely read and annotate the relevant stanzas.• Discuss the passage with reference to the questions.• Be ready to report to the class on your group’s assigned ghost and to take notes on other groups’ reports.
4. With your group, discuss and report (Your individual responses need to be written in your INotebook. Each answer must be well-written.):
• What does Odysseus learn from each ghost -- both in terms of valuable information and “life lessons”?• What cultural values are affirmed in these conversations?• How do these encounters contribute to Odysseus’s transformation? • What stage of his larger hero’s journey does his visit to the Land of the Dead represent? • If you had to pick one, which ghost do you think has the greatest impact on Odysseus’s desire to return
home?• The land of Erebos, from which the ghosts emerge, means “darkness born of chaos.” How does this
episode speak metaphorically to the idea that Odysseus, like all returning warriors, must pass through a “dark night of the soul”?
• What must he confront to move on?
Station 1Circe’s Island
A.Read the story of “Circe’s Island.”B.Complete and record the following in your INote.
Figure out what these words mean as used in the text. Each definition will be used no more than once.
_____ 1. enchantress a. serious
_____ 2. nuzzled b. hungry
_____ 3. corridor c. a charm
_____ 4. famished d. a witch
_____ 5. sty e. one who can tell the future
_____ 6. herald f. a hallway
_____ 7. talisman g. one who announces
_____8. solemn h. to rub up against
_____ 9. mischief i. to cause someone to fall in love
_____ 10. seducing k. a pig pen
_____ 11. seer m. trouble
Questions for the “Circe” groups. Answer with COMPLETE sentences: 13.What does Circe say Odysseus must do in order to reach home? 14.What does Elpenor say happened to him on Circe’s roof? 15.Do you think Odysseus’s decision to sleep with Circe can be justified by his wanting to free
his men in order to get home? 16.Think about a time when you might have done something wrong in order to help a friend
such as cheating on a test. What happened?
Circe’s IslandThe Isle of Aeaea, known to the ancient
Greeks as the island of Dawn, with her finger tips of rose, was the really the place where the bewitching Circe lived. This very beautiful daughter of Helios was a powerful enchantress who loved using her magic to transform men into beasts. To add to this humiliation, Circe took pleasure in changing only their bodies while allowing her victims to remain in complete charge of their mind.
After losing all but one of his ships and many of his crew members to a race of cannibal giants, Odysseus and his remaining shipmates set sail to the east where they eventually found the shores of Aeaea.
Upon their arrival, the men drew lots to see who would stay onboard the ship and who would explore the newly found island. Eurylochus and twenty-two of the other men were chosen to go ashore. They found the island to be
a rich forest thick with oak trees. The wanderers walked through the woods until they came upon a clearing which led to the fabulous palace of Circe.
There were lions and wolves prowling about the grounds, all displaying characteristics of a most unusual nature. Instead of attacking the search party, they nuzzled their hands or tried to block their path.
As the men entered the corridor of the palace they found Circe sitting at her loom. She graciously invited her visitors to join her for dinner and at once set before them a huge banquet. The famished men eagerly accepted, all but Eurylochus, who suspecting a trap remained outside. Instead he chose to watch through an open window. Quickly and rudely, the sailors filled their bellies but to their despair, they soon found out that the food was drugged. Before long the entire party was fast asleep at the table. Circe touched them lightly about their shoulders with her wand and instantly transformed all of the men into swine. If they acted like pigs, she would treat them like pigs!
Feeling quite happy with herself, she hurried the seafarers into a sty where she left them to wallow in the mud. Shocked, Eurylochus returned to the ship and sadly reported to Odysseus everything he saw. Odysseus listened intently, and when the story was over he ran off to rescue his crew.
As he made his way to the palace, Odysseus was met by Hermes who had in his possession a magical white flower with a black root. This was a plant that could only be grown by the gods themselves and contained properties that would repel Circe's magic. Odysseus readily accepted the charm from the herald and hid it among his clothing before continuing on his rescue mission. He soon found himself standing in front of the great sorceress, who once again happily prepared a table before her guest.
As before, Circe encouraged her visitor to eat his fill and when Odysseus appeared to be asleep she took her wand and lightly touched him upon his shoulders. "Off to the sty with you too" she sneered but to her surprise, Odysseus having been protected by the magic talisman jumped up with sword in hand. Circe begged the angry Captain for her life, promising him in return that she would share her bed with him and also make him co-ruler of Aeaea. Knowing that he was dealing with a witch, Odysseus refused to hear of it until Circe swore a solemn oath to the gods not to make any further mischief against him.
This she did and afterwards drew her guest a warm bath which he enjoyed while drinking wine from a golden cup. She led him to her bed in the hope of seducing him but Odysseus continued to refuse her advances until she agreed to restore his crew to their rightful shapes. She also promised to remove the curse from all those who had been enchanted by her in the past. Once this was done Odysseus agreed to stay in Aeaea and in the course of time Circe bore him three sons. When the time came for Odysseus to continue his journey, Circe told him that he would have to talk to the seer Tiresias, who, unfortunately, was dead.
Story taken and modified from: “Tales of Circe.” Medea’s Lair. N. d. 11 Feb. 2009. <www.geocities.com/medea19777/circe.html>.
Station 9Trojan War
Trojan WarHelen of Troy, daughter of Zeus and Leda, is the most beautiful woman in the world. She chooses Menelaus, King of Sparta, to be her husband and the other Kings of Greece swear an oath to support their alliance. Paris, son of Troy’s King Priam, sees Helen and desires her. She has, according to the playwright Marlowe, “the face that launched a thousand ships” because all the kings of Greece rallied to get her back. Aphrodite, goddess of love, helps Paris to kidnap Helen because he had chosen her (Aphrodite) to receive a golden apple marked “to the fairest” in a contest on Mt. Olympus between Aphrodite (Venus) and Athena. Following the kidnapping of
Helen, the other Kings of Greece join Menelaus to fight the city of Troy and return Helen to Sparta. This is when The Trojan War began. For nearly 10 years the Greeks besieged Troy. Homer’s the Odyssey is an epic, narrative poem that tells the story of the hero, Odysseus. Homer's other epic, The Iliad, concerns this siege and the many individual battles that were fought between heroes on both sides. (It also chronicles the involvement of the supreme gods, who descended from Mount Olympus to take sides in the contest.) Great warriors emerge and their fate is told again in The Odyssey. Characters like Achilles and Agamemnon, Greek warriors, and Hector, the greatest Trojan Warrior, all have great battles. Finally, Achilles kills Hector. The war ends with a gift from the Greeks, the Trojan horse. The Greeks build the Trojan horse and hide warriors inside while pretending to sail away. That night, the Trojans take the horse into the city and during the night the Greek warriors creep out and they open the city’s gates. The Greeks sack the city and win the war. The Trojan horse is the idea of the Greek Warrior, Odysseus. The epic poem of The Odyssey is Odysseus’ journey home. It is now 20 years since he has seen Penelope and his son Telemachus.
by Dorothy Wright http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1987/2/87.02.02.x.html
Station 9Trojan War
1. Read the text about the Trojan War.
2. Draw a comic strip with 7 scenes from the text.
3. Use a quote from the text and a citation in the 3 word bubbles. “quote” (Author’s last name).
The Odyssey Map Name: Period:
Extra ideas…
Jigsaw reading- one half of the class reads “Circe” and the other reads “The Land of the Dead.” The group members will answer questions about that story in their journals on the right side. Then each person will pair up with someone from the other group and will share their findings. I will walk around and provide help where needed. Questions for the “Circe” groups: What does Circe say Odysseus must do in order to reach home? Looking at lines 539-541, try to explain what happens to their ship by night. What does Elpenor say happened to him on Circe’s roof?
Questions for the “Land of the Dead” groups: Which outside forces and inner feelings does Odysseus confront as he faces the spirits of the dead? What character trait does Odysseus display in this section that he did not reveal before? What does Tiresias predict for the journey to come?
For the remainder of the class, we will go over each of the handouts. Students from each group should have shared their findings with their partner, allowing them to fill in the missing information. Our discussion will be based on the two episodes concerning the witch Circe and the trip to the Underworld. Do you think Odysseus’s decision to sleep with Circe can be justified by his wanting to free his men in order to get home? Ask them to think about a time when you might have done something wrong in order to help a friend such as cheating on a test.
We will bring the discussion from small groups back to the whole class. Here are some possible topics: Students should consider the significance of mortality within this episode. Achilles tells Odysseus that death is simply death, thus dismissing the notion that the hero dies with honor. What do you think this did to Odysseus? Does this change his view of death? What do you think about the hero’s mortality? Think about some heroes from history and popular culture (Martin Luther King Jr., Jack from Titanic etc. or Mufasa from The Lion King). What do they all have in common? Does dying with honor matter? Or because death is a natural part of life, does it have no significance?
I will briefly provide a few examples of what an obituary looks like. We can read excerpts from President John F. Kennedy’s obituary.
Go over homework: in your notebooks on the left side, reflect in a paragraph or two on someone’s death. Write about a literary figure, a war veteran, your grandpa or a person from the movies. Think of what their obituary would say. What did they accomplish in life? What was their greatest achievement? What was this person known for?
