Lesson 4

Lesson Goals

Texts

Core

• • “Homer on Hospitality,” Louis Markos, The Imaginative Conservative

• • The Odyssey, Homer, translated by Robert Fagles, Penguin Publishing Group, 1996

• • “What Is Xenia?,” Greek Comix, YouTube

Materials

Tools

• The Odyssey: Section 1 Diagnostic Checklist

• Character Note-Taking Tool

• Mentor Sentence Journal

Question Sets

• The Odyssey: Section 1 Question Set

Editable Google Docs

• The Odyssey: Section 1 Diagnostic Checklist

• Character Note-Taking Tool

• Mentor Sentence Journal

• The Odyssey: Section 1 Question Set

Activity 1: Discuss

We will discuss examples of xenia we read in the poem for homework.

Step 1

With your group, discuss the examples of xenia you read in the poem for homework. Be sure to write down examples cited by the group that you might have missed. Use the following guiding question:

1. How does the treatment of the kings by Telemachus—and the treatment of Telemachus by the kings—compare with the behavior of Telemachus toward the suitors (and their behavior toward him) in Books 1 and 2?

Step 2

Now, with your group, discuss the following question based on the homework:

2. In the cases where xenia has not been followed, what went wrong?

Share any new insights about Telemachus that you added to his Character Note-Taking Tool.

Activity 2: Discuss – Read

We will read an article about hospitality in ancient Greece and consider how the concept of xenia affects our definition of power.

Read and annotate the article "Homer on Hospitality" by Louis Markos, focusing on the first and third sections. As you read, consider the following question:

1. How does the concept of xenia affect the class’s definition of power?

With a partner, discuss this guiding question based on Markos’s article and your homework. Then, as a whole class, decide whether and how the definition of power should be modified as a result.

Activity 3: Read – Write

We will use a Mentor Sentence Journal to identify and record sentences we find interesting or ones that are strong examples of language concepts.

Reading like a writer involves studying how an author writes and determining why the author makes specific writing choices at the paragraph and sentence level. Understanding what those writing choices mean and deconstructing how the author made those choices can help you emulate those choices in your own writing practice and diversify your range of writing strategies. As you read the texts in this unit, use your Mentor Sentence Journal to compile sentences that stand out to you. These sentences might be interesting, or they might represent a strong example of a particular language use concept you have learned. You can use these sentences, as well as those from other units, to build a writer’s toolbox, wherein you have a number of techniques at your disposal to use when writing.

Follow your teacher’s directions on how to record your first entry.

Activity 4: Read – Write – Discuss

We will review pronoun-antecedent agreement and capitalization.

Step 1

Before we draft the Section 1 Diagnostic in the next lesson, it is important to review some important English conventions so that your writing is clear and correct.

Discuss the following questions about conventions with a partner:

1. What is a pronoun?

2. What is an antecedent?

3. What does it mean for pronouns and antecedents to “agree”?

Reread Paragraph 4 of the article "Homer on Hospitality." Identify the antecedents and the pronouns. Turn to a partner and share what you identified. Discuss if or how they are in agreement.

Step 2

Skim the article "Homer on Hospitality" for capitalized words. How do you know which words should be capitalized when writing and which should not? Identify what types of words words should be capitalized (e.g., people’s names are capitalized).

Now take a look at Paragraph 6 of "Homer on Hospitality." In Sentence 2, Agamemnon is referred to as the "Commander-in-Chief." Later, Agamemnon is referred to as "his commander." Based on the rules of capitalization, which is correct?

Step 3

Correct the following sentences by editing for pronoun-antecedent agreement, punctuation, and capitalization.

odysseus was a man of many twists and turns he relied not only on strength but also guile his other qualities were numerous skill with a bow courage intelligence and deep love for their family

After you have completed the activity, read your sentence aloud to make sure it sounds correct. How do you know there is agreement between the pronoun and antecedent? How do you know you capitalized the correct words?

Activity 5: Write

For homework, we will write a paragraph on xenia.

For homework, write a paragraph in your Learning Log that defines and explains the ancient Greek principle of xenia in order to prepare for your Section 1 Diagnostic, which asks you to explain how the concept of xenia affects the balance of power between Telemachus and another character. Be sure to correctly apply the English conventions we reviewed in the last activity.