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Lesson 1

We will review the events of Books 17–21 of The Odyssey in order to analyze the motivations of the major characters.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I use text evidence and original commentary to support a claim about Book 19 of The Odyssey?

  • Can I analyze how themes are developed through characterization and plot in Books 17–21 of The Odyssey?

  • Can I analyze how Homer develops complex yet believable characters in Books 17–21 of The Odyssey?

Texts

Core

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

Materials

Tools

Reference Guides

Question Sets

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Read – Discuss

We will review the previous Section Diagnostic and preview the section 4 diagnostic in order to generate a list of what we will need to know to succeed.

Step 1

We will preview the Section 4 Diagnostic in order to prepare for the end of The Odyssey.

Review your Section 3 Diagnostic. Think about the following in preparation for the Section 4 Diagnostic.

  1. What do you want to improve?

  2. What skill will you work on over the course of this section?

Step 2

Throughout The Odyssey, female characters display their agency and power (or lack thereof) in a multitude of ways. Write a response in which you analyze the various roles and identities of Penelope’s character. In composing your response, consider the following questions:

  1. How are the various identities related to one another? Where do they intersect?

  2. Which role or roles provide her with the most agency and in what ways?

In your response, be sure to do the following:

  • Form a central claim in response to the question.

  • Gather and organize strong and relevant evidence from the poem.

  • Integrate specific references and quotations.

  • Use academic language and demonstrate your understanding of literary elements, devices, and terminology.

  • Use appropriate syntax, grammar, and mechanics.

Think about what this prompt is asking you to do.

Step 3

With a partner, make a two-column chart and list what you need to know and be able to do in order to be successful on the Section Diagnostic.

Activity 2: Read – Discuss

We will review the events of Books 17–18, focusing on characters and events.

Listen as your teacher summarizes Books 17-18. Take notes in your Learning Log about anything that seems significant or interesting. Use the following guiding questions:

  1. What are the main events in these books?

  2. What stands out to you as most important? Why?

  3. Which characters have the most power in these books, and how do they demonstrate that power?

  4. Who demonstrates xenia in these books? How do they do that?

  5. In what ways do the gods interfere in these books?

  6. For characters who lack power, why are they powerless? Can they change that? Why or why not?

  7. In what ways are the gods powerful beyond their immortality? How do you know?

Activity 3: Read – Write

We will read Book 19, reviewing the thematic idea of power and its role in order to analyze the way in which characterization and plot are established.

Step 1

Read Book 19 using the following questions to guide your reading:

  1. How did Odysseus get his name? Do you think it is an appropriate name given his character and the events in the poem? Why or why not? Support your answer with details from the text.

  2. How can Penelope’s dream be interpreted? How is Odysseus represented in her dream?

  3. How would you best describe Penelope in this book? List three or four actions or decisions that Penelope makes in this book and what those actions reveal about her.

  4. Do you think Penelope knows who the beggar is at the end of Book 19? Support your ideas with details from the text.

Step 2

Work with a partner to discuss and respond to the following questions in your Learning Log and be sure to cite evidence to support your thinking:

  1. How did Odysseus get his name? Do you think it is an appropriate name given his character and the events in the poem? Why or why not? Support your answer with details from the text.

  2. How can Penelope’s dream be interpreted? How is Odysseus represented in her dream?

  3. How would you best describe Penelope in this book? List three or four actions or decisions that Penelope makes in this book and what those actions reveal about her.

  4. Do you think Penelope knows who the beggar is at the end of Book 19? Support your ideas with details from the text.

Step 3

Which questions generated the most discussion with your partner? Discuss these questions with the whole class.

Activity 4: Read – Write

We will form an evidence-based claim about who has the most power in Book 19 of The Odyssey.

Step 1

Use evidence from the discussion and your reading to answer the following question in writing:

  1. In Book 19 of The Odyssey, who has the most power? What does that character do with his or her power and how does that reflect on their character development?

Use the Forming Evidence-Based Claims Tool to form a claim in response to these questions.

Step 2

Review and revise your claim, read it, and ask yourself the following questions:

  1. Is the claim clearly stated?

  2. Does the claim communicate your opinion or conclusion about your character?

  3. Is the claim based on evidence that you gathered from the text?

  4. Is the claim supported by evidence?

If you answered no to any of the questions, think about how you might revise your claim.

Activity 5: Read – Write

We will read Books 20 and 21, focusing on the ways in which Odysseus, Athena, Telemachus, Penelope, and the suitors demonstrate their power. In particular, we will explore who has power and how they use it.

Read Books 20 and 21 using the following questions to guide your reading, and be sure to cite evidence to support your thinking.

Book 20:

  1. Consider Athena’s role and actions in Lines 20-60. How does she use her power to assist and calm Odysseus? Who is ultimately responsible for his bravery, Athena or Odysseus?

  2. Does Telemachus have a right to be angry with Eurycleia and his mother in Lines 135-149? Why or why not?

  3. Do the suitors have power prior to Odysseus revealing himself? If so, what is the nature or source of their power? If not, why do they not have power?

  4. Why might Athena allow Odysseus to hear all of the insults of the suitors in Lines 380-430? What impact does this action have on the plot?

  5. What is the significance of Penelope overhearing the mocking at the end of Book 20?

Book 21:

  1. How does Penelope demonstrate power and agency at the beginning of Book 21?

  2. Reread Lines 100-135. Is Telemachus seriously reprimanding and insulting his mother or is he playing into the plan? How do you know?

  3. Why do the suitors agree to Penelope’s plan? Do they have reason to believe they will be successful?

  4. Describe the relationship between the suitors and Penelope? How would you describe the power balance between them?

  5. How does Penelope show her power in Lines 350-359, and what effect does that have on the suitors?

  6. In what ways is it significant that Odysseus was able to string the bow without Athena’s help? What does that say about Odysseus?

Activity 6: Read – Write

For homework, we will read Book 22 of The Odyssey and continue completing our Vocabulary Journals.

Step 1

For homework, read Book 22 of The Odyssey. Use the following guiding questions to guide your reading. After reading, record your thinking in your Learning Log,

  1. What is Odysseus’s motivation for his actions?

  2. Are his actions justified? Why or why not? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

  3. What role do the gods play in these events, particularly Athena?

Step 2

Continue to add words to your Vocabulary Journal and Character Note-Taking Tools.