Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Homework Due October 3rd 2011

Write a five paragraph essay comparing your heros with the Greek heros in the Illiad.

Read Iliad book 19 and 22
Add outline information to notebook.
  • New Characters
  • Character Development
  • Note New Vocabulary Words- look up definitions
  • Major Plots Developments
  • Examples of Literary Techniques
  • Your Interpretation of Passages
  • Interesting Quotes or passages

Answer 10 of the following questions. Respond in complete sentences.

1. Compair the characters of Achilles and Patroclus in the story this far. How are they alike or different?

2. What is Homers view of anger? Why do you think he has that belief?

3. What is the importance of armor for the ancient Greek soldier? Describe the items included in the armor and their use and importance.

4. Why do you think we know this story as the Illiad instead of naming it after one of the main character? If you could choose a title what would it be?

5. How is fate defined in the epic? How does that differ from your view of the ideal epic?

6. Compare and contrast the appeals to Hector by Praim and Hecuba in the opening section of Book XXII. How do they differ and how are they similar?

7. How do the appeals to Hector by Priam and Hecuba help to characterize them and help you to understand them more?

8. How do the Greek gods behave differently from our own divinity?

9. Contrast Hector and Achilles. Which do you like better? Why?

10. Suppose the Greeks had become to regain Helen but Achilles and Agamemnon had not quarreled. How would the story have changed?

11. What are some of the ways the future was revealed to the gods and some of the mortals?

12. Do you think the gods enjoyed interfering with this 'foretelling of the future' to the mortals?

13. What is the main prophecy that Cassandra shares?

14. What part does Aphrodite believe she has played in this whole mess?

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Homework due September 26th 2011

Homework for the week

Write a descriptive paragraph on the topic of your choosing.

Read Iliad book 16 and 18
Add outline information to notebook.
  • New Characters
  • Character Development
  • Note New Vocabulary Words- look up definitions
  • Major Plots Developments
  • Examples of Literary Techniques
  • Your Interpretation of Passages
  • Interesting Quotes or passages

Answer 10 of the following questions. Respond in complete sentences.

1. Think about the potential symbolism of the armor. What part of Achilles armor does Patroclus leave behind?

2. Patroclus convinces Achilles to let him enter battle wearing armor. Why doesn't he go himself? If he is so insistent on not participating why send Patroclus?

3. Patroclus kills Sarpedon, Zeus' son, whom Zeus considers saving. Why doesn't he? What happens to Sarpedon?

4. What happens to Patroclus after killing Sarpedon?

5. Is Patroclus diminished in the end of exalted? Is Hector's conquest of him glorious?

6. Why does Homer go into such detail about the laments of Achilles' mother and encamped women for Patroclus?

7. Thetis gives Hephaestus the full story of her marriage and says Apollo, not Hector, killed Patroclus; is this the way you see it?

8. What did the shield represent?

9. What are some examples of personification?

10. Who attacked Hector? How?

11. Why did Poseidon leave the battle?

12. What idea does Poseidon plant in Ulysses head?

13. What are the attitudes and rituals of the ancients toward their dead?

14. What did Achilles first think when he saw the chariot with Patroclus?


Review Quizlets

As always if you have any questions just shoot me an email!

I hope you are checking the blog

There will be a quiz on the material found here this week in class

Monday, September 12, 2011

Extra Credit September 2011

Extra Credit

Write an illustration paragraph on the topic
"Sir Walter Scott"
Complete any necessary research to complete the assignment.

Write an illustration paragraph on the topic
"Ancient Greek Religion"
Complete any necessary research to complete the assignment.

Write an illustration paragraph on the topic
"Literary Terminology"
Complete any necessary research to complete the assignment.

Homework Due September 19th 2011

Homework for the week

Write an illustration paragraph on the topic
"Ancient Greek Culture"
Complete any necessary research to complete the assignment.

Read Iliad book 9 and 11
Add outline information to notebook.
  • New Characters
  • Character Development
  • Note New Vocabulary Words- look up definitions
  • Major Plots Developments
  • Examples of Literary Techniques
  • Your Interpretation of Passages
  • Interesting Quotes or passages

Answer 10 of the following questions. Respond in complete sentences.

1. Contrast Agamemnon's instructions with what Pheonix, Ajax and particularly Odysseus do and say when they see Achilles. What is the difference in their approaches?

2. What are your thoughts about Agamemnon's offer to Achilles? Does Achilles' refusal of this seemingly generous offer change your attitude about him? Why or why not?

3. Phoenix relates the myth of Meleager here. Do you see how this might relate to Achilles?

4. There is a lot of wounding in this book. Most of the main Acheans are wounded. Why is Paris' wounding of Machaon so important?

5. How do the gods relate to men in these two books? Has the relationship changed?

6. Who do you see as the most heroic at this point in the epic? Why?

7. How do the Greeks try to protect their ships? What is their fear?

8. Which gods fight for the Greeks which for Troy? Why?

9. What kind of person is Paris? What are his admirable, and un-admirable traits?

10. What are some important symbols and images in these two books? How do they relate to ones you've encountered in the other books?

11. What qualities make Achillies godlike? Why?

12. What does Homer think of war and heroic glory?

13. What kinds of images and similes does Homer employ to describe the deaths of warriors?

14. What does honor and glory mean to Homers society? What makes you think that?


Review Quizlets

Review notes from Notebook check- remember there will be another check mid-October.

As always if you have any questions just shoot me an email!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Personal Reading Improvement

PERSONAL READING IMPROVEMENT

1. The Basic Program 1. Two or three times a day, read something you enjoy for 15 to 20 minutes without stopping. See how much you can read within 30 seconds. 2. Record your reading rate and chart your progress. Recording and charting are essential if you wish to make real progress.

2. Speed – Push yourself gently as you read. If your mind wanders, get it back on track.

3. Vocabulary – Wait until you’ve finished reading to look up unfamiliar words. (If you

stop, you’ll reduce your level of comprehension.)

4. Comprehension – To improve comprehension, recite the chapter after closing the book. See how many specific details you can recall. The more you interact with your text, the more you’ll recall. Recollection and comprehension require a vigorous approach.

5. Practice – Twice a week for an hour, use speed Reader II at the Academic Skills Center. This excellent computer reading program will boost your rate, eventually resulting in skill transfer. Phone us to reserve a time slot.

6. Rate Goals – Set reading rate goals for yourself. A 10% increase in your reading rate over the previous record in a good rule of thumb.

7. Skimming & Scanning – Find an interesting newspaper column or magazine article. Rapidly read the article, sampling just the first sentence or two of each paragraph and a few key words. Jot down all the facts you can remember. Then reread the article slowly, giving yourself a point for every item you can recall.


Calculating Words Per Minute (WPM)


Example Problem

Using the information below, determine your reading speed (WPM) if you read 14 pages and 15 lines in 10 minutes from Sample Book.

Sample Book’s Characteristics

Average number of Words per Page: 237

Total number of Pages: 339

Average number of Lines per Page: 27

Total (approximate) number of Words: 80, 343

237 x 339 = 80, 343

Total (approximate) number of Words per Line: 8.8


Solution

1. Multiply the number of pages by the number of words per page:

14 x 237 = 3,318 words

2. Multiply the number of lines by the number of words per line:

15x8.8=132words

3. Add the products of steps 1 and 2:

3,318 = 132 = 3,450 words

4. Divide the total number of words by the reading time:

3, 450 / 10 = 345 WPM Your reading speed = 345 WPM


The overall VPM value is affected by round-off error. However, the previous method (above) provides a good approximation of one’s reading speed (Words Per Minute).


Academic Skills Center

California Polytechnic State University

http://sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssl.html

used by permission

Bibliography

ASC Study Skills Library Kennedy Library 112 ~ 805-756-1256 http://sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssl.html

Sydnor, William E. Personal Reading Improvement. California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, 1983.

Reminder

Just wanted to remind everyone that I'll be checking your notebook on Monday! Make sure your notebooks are complete and organized. Any questions just shoot me an email.
Hope you enjoyed Labor Day!!