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Section 4: Overview

Odysseus and Penelope

In this section, we will consider Penelope’s various roles and the fluctuating agency she has given these roles. As we explore her identity using the thematic idea of agency, we will consider how her various identities relate to one another and where they intersect. We will also make a claim and provide reasons and evidence for which role provides her the most agency.

  • 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 2:

    We will summarize and discuss Book 22 and read and analyze Book 23, focusing on character motivation.

  • Lesson 3:

    We will use an Evaluating Ideas Tool to analyze the article “A Translator’s Reckoning with the Women of the Odyssey” and apply the ideas to the text.

  • Lesson 4:

    We will discuss the ending of The Odyssey and prepare for the Section Diagnostic by continuing to study the character of Penelope.

  • Lesson 5:

    We will examine the power and agency of females in The Odyssey, focusing on Penelope. To demonstrate our understanding, we will write an expository essay about the roles and identity of Penelope.

  • Lesson 6:

    We will review feedback on the Section Diagnostic. We will use the feedback to make revisions to our work.

  • Lesson 7:

    We will share the analyses we have made about our independent reading texts and make connections to the unit. We will plan a final product to share our experiences from reading independently and the knowledge we have gained.