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fandomhigh2005-11-22 10:49 am
geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2005-11-22 10:49 am
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Introduction to Western Literature, Lesson Five
Tuesday, November 22, 1:00PM FST
[Professor Chaucer is sitting in his usual spot behind the desk, writing. The room appears to have been decorated with dozens of multi-colored origami cranes.]
In light of the upcoming holiday, I'm going to keep the lecture and discussion brief and give you part of the class period to read or catch up with your classmates.
[Lecture] The Odyssey is the second of the two great Greek epic poems ascribed to Homer, the first of which is the Iliad. The 11,300 line poem follows Odysseus, king of Ithaca, on his voyage home after an heroic turn in the Trojan War. It also tells the story of Odysseus' wife Penelope who struggles to remain faithful, and his son Telemachus who sets out to find his father. In contrast to the Iliad, with its extended sequences of battle and violence, all three are ultimately successful through use of cleverness, and the support of the goddess Athena. This cleverness is most often manifested by Odysseus' use of disguise and, later, recognition. His disguises take forms both physical (altering his appearance) and verbal (telling the Cyclops Polyphemus that his name is "Nobody" then escaping after blinding the Cyclops because Polyphemus cries foul at the hands of "nobody").
The poem is considered one of the foundational texts of the Western canon and continues to be read in both Homeric Greek and translations around the world. While today's Odyssey is usually a printed text, the original poem was an oral composition sung by a trained bard, in an amalgamated Ancient Greek dialect, using a regular metrical pattern called dactylic hexameter. Each line of the original Greek was composed of six feet; each foot a dactyl or a spondee. Among the most impressive elements of the text are its strikingly modern non-linear plot, and its elevation of the status of women and the lower classes. In the English language as well as many others, the word odyssey has come to refer to an epic voyage.
[Discussion] Choose an episode from one of the three 'books' you read for class today, and give me an example of how the Odyssey has influenced modern popular thinking or culture.
Taking a page from the Doctor's book, I'm also going to give you the opportunity to ask me one question about myself if you feel so inclined -- which I will, of course, reserve the right not to answer if I feel it's likely to incriminate me.
Once you've participated in the discussion, feel free to use the remainder of the period for reading or socializing. There will be no office hours today, so if you need to speak to me please do so during this time.
***Assignment for Next Week: Read Plato's Symposium***
The following students have more than one unexcused absence. You need to see me immediately to discuss makeup work or risk failing the class. I will forgive one unexcused absence. More than that requires makeup work.
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___lily_evans_: two absences
miss_thomasina: two absences
studentwillow: four absences
[Professor Chaucer is sitting in his usual spot behind the desk, writing. The room appears to have been decorated with dozens of multi-colored origami cranes.]
In light of the upcoming holiday, I'm going to keep the lecture and discussion brief and give you part of the class period to read or catch up with your classmates.
[Lecture] The Odyssey is the second of the two great Greek epic poems ascribed to Homer, the first of which is the Iliad. The 11,300 line poem follows Odysseus, king of Ithaca, on his voyage home after an heroic turn in the Trojan War. It also tells the story of Odysseus' wife Penelope who struggles to remain faithful, and his son Telemachus who sets out to find his father. In contrast to the Iliad, with its extended sequences of battle and violence, all three are ultimately successful through use of cleverness, and the support of the goddess Athena. This cleverness is most often manifested by Odysseus' use of disguise and, later, recognition. His disguises take forms both physical (altering his appearance) and verbal (telling the Cyclops Polyphemus that his name is "Nobody" then escaping after blinding the Cyclops because Polyphemus cries foul at the hands of "nobody").
The poem is considered one of the foundational texts of the Western canon and continues to be read in both Homeric Greek and translations around the world. While today's Odyssey is usually a printed text, the original poem was an oral composition sung by a trained bard, in an amalgamated Ancient Greek dialect, using a regular metrical pattern called dactylic hexameter. Each line of the original Greek was composed of six feet; each foot a dactyl or a spondee. Among the most impressive elements of the text are its strikingly modern non-linear plot, and its elevation of the status of women and the lower classes. In the English language as well as many others, the word odyssey has come to refer to an epic voyage.
[Discussion] Choose an episode from one of the three 'books' you read for class today, and give me an example of how the Odyssey has influenced modern popular thinking or culture.
Taking a page from the Doctor's book, I'm also going to give you the opportunity to ask me one question about myself if you feel so inclined -- which I will, of course, reserve the right not to answer if I feel it's likely to incriminate me.
Once you've participated in the discussion, feel free to use the remainder of the period for reading or socializing. There will be no office hours today, so if you need to speak to me please do so during this time.
***Assignment for Next Week: Read Plato's Symposium***
The following students have more than one unexcused absence. You need to see me immediately to discuss makeup work or risk failing the class. I will forgive one unexcused absence. More than that requires makeup work.
___lily_evans_: two absencesmiss_thomasina: two absencesstudentwillow: four absences
Re: DISCUSSION