Odyssey Lesson

Odyssey Lesson Shared Learning Target

• I know that the ancient Greeks used myths to explain many values they believed people should live their lives by.

• I will learn about these values by reading and listening to excerpts from Homer’s Odyssey an epic poem.

• I will show what I know by creating a dramatic presentation using vocal techniques, slide shows, props , costumes.

Introduction : Phase One • The Odyssey is a 12,000-line Greek epic poem dating from the eighth century

B.C.E. An epic poem is a long poem divided into sections, or "books," that focuses on the extraordinary deeds and adventures of a hero. According to ancient Greek tradition, heroes were men who were born to one divine and one human parent. The story of The Odyssey recounts the adventures of the Greek hero Odysseus during his 10-year voyage home to Ithaca after the end of the Trojan War in the thirteenth century B.C.E. Odysseus is considered the ideal Greek hero: an aristocratic soldier of superior strength, intelligence, and courage, favored by the Gods.

• The poem is traditionally attributed to Homer (circa 700 B.C.E.), who is considered the earliest Greek poet. Little is known about Homer's life, but ancient Greek playwrights referred to him as a "gifted blind poet." Some scholars believe that a line from a choral song attributed to Homer confirms this description:

• "If anyone should ask you whose song is sweetest, say: blind is the man and he lives in rocky Chios."

• Other scholars believe that "Homer" was the name given to a collective group of bards or professional poets who sang Mycenaean folktales to entertain the nobles of Ionia, located on the west coast of Asia Minor.

• It is generally believed that the exact author of The Odyssey is not as important as the ancient Greek values it contains. By listening to the stories in the poem, ancient Greeks learned standards of honorable behavior. These values, forged in the "Age of Heroes" during the Mycenaean Period, became the foundations of ancient Greek society.

HHOMER

ODYSSEY ASSIGNMENT

PHASE TWO READINGS and Audio clips

Greek Values showcased in this lesson

Athleticism

Hospitality

Ingenuity

Intuition

Justice

Loyalty

Respect

Teamwork

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Dramatic Presentation: Phase Three

• Presentations will include Five Elements– 1. Dramatic reading– 2. A Power point Slide for visual of the Greek value– 3. A visual of a Greek value– 4. props, costumes and a mask– 5. questions to check understanding

Steps for Presentations• 1. Pass out handouts• 2. Review and assign roles• 3. review steps

• 1. Read and discuss your excerpt• 2. Choose lines for your presentation• 3. Brainstorm ideas and create a scene board• 4. Identify Greek Value and design visuals• 5. Prepare props and costumes for presentation• 6. Rehearse presentation

Closing Questions• What did you learn about early Greek culture

from the dramatic presentations?• What values seem to have been most

important to the early Greeks?• Which values do you think are similar to

American values?

Student Response to hand in:

• Create an eight panel comic strip about what you have learned about the important details associated with Odysseus’s adventures.

• The caption or voice bubble in each comic strip should include one of these terms.– Penelope , Cyclops, Circe ,Hades ,Sirens ,

Swineherd, suitors , Odysseus– Comic strip should have details and be fully

colored with voice bubbles.