4th Quarter   Mar-May

The Odyssey by Homer   
The State of Michigan has identified this piece as an "Anchor Text" for 9th grade
(see ELA 9 Michigan Merit Curriculum Course, pg 32).

Week 4: The Odyssey     Apr 26-30

Focus for 4th Quarter:
From ELA 9 Michigan Merit Curriculum Course Requirements, pg 32

Big Ideas
XX Relationships
XX Survival
XX Courage and Bravery
XX Effects of War
XX Faithfulness
XX Passage of Time
Themes
Balance is best in all things.
Love conquers all.
Nothing is more important than getting home.
Family relationships sustain us.
In time of tragedy, we rely on past relationships to give us hope for survival.

Mon-Tues                 
Read in the Red Book Ch 6 The Sorceress

Watch on the DVD:
8 On the Far Side of the World -
The Island of Circe
9 The Rescue - Odysseus talks Circe into returning his men to human form
10 Circe -
12 Five Years Gone -
Leaving the Island of Circe about 4 min
(Total running time for chs 8, 9, 10, & 12 is 22 minutes. 
Adding Ch 11 "Anticlea's Sorrow" will add 4 minutes, total running time of 26 minutes.
If we also watch chapter 7 Aeolus, it will be an additional 12 min, a total of 38 minutes.) 

Wed-Thur
In the Red Book, read
XX7 The Land of the Dead
XX8 The Six-Headed Monster
Quiz Chs 6-8

Watch DVD

XXCh 14 Hades - 12 min
XXCh 16 Scylla and Charybdis - 6 min
18 minutes total running time

Fri
In the Red Book, read Ch 9 Back to Ithaca
Quiz Ch 9

Watch DVD (Click "next" whenever film diverts from Ithaca.)
XX13 Young Telemachus - the Suitors arrive
XX15 The Suitors - intro weaving scheme
XX17 Unwelcome Guests - Reign of the Suitors
XX19 Assembly - Telemachus calls on the Elders
XX22 Tapestry in Flames
XX24 Nothing More, Nothing Less--return of Odysseus
Total running time, 20-25 min

Essential Questions
What is a relationship?

What obstacles stand in the way of enduring relationships?

In times of adversity, do family bonds/ relationships help us survive?

Does it take courage to sustain a relationship?

How do relationships endure over time?

· What is a relationship?
· What obstacles stand in the way of relationships' enduring?
· In times of adversity, do family bonds/relationships help us survive?
· Does it take courage to sustain a relationship?

Quotations
"Balance is best in all things."
-Homer, The Odyssey

"No man is an island"
-John Donne

As per ELA9 Michigan Merit Curriculum, page 32

Week 5: The Odyssey     May 3-7

Mon
In the Red Book, read
XX10 Odysseus and the Swineherd
XX11 The Return of Telemachus


Watch DVD
XX24 Nothing More, Nothing Less - The Phaeacians
XX25 Father and Son - and Swineherd 2:25:50 (8:30)
Total running time, xx min

Tues                   
In the Red Book, read
XX12 Telemachus Meets his Father
XX13 Odysseus Returns Home

Day 18

Read lyrics and listen to the song
, "Father and Son" by Cat Stevens. 

Have students do a Quick Write using one of these prompts
For 3 - 4 minutes, write as quickly as you can about all that this song brings to mind for you.  Borrow any line and write as quickly and as specifically as you can all that comes to mind, let the line lead your thinking.  Write about one of your own dreams or how your thoughts/plans may not "mesh" with your parents' plans

Wed                   
In the Red Book, read
XX14 Odysseus and the Beggar
XX15 The Nurse Recognizes
Quiz, ch 11-13

Watch DVD

XX26 Not the Right Time - Return; wrestling 2:34:30 (2:26)
XX27 The Promise - The Nurse 2:41 (4:00)
Total running time, 15 min

Thu
In the Red Book, read
XX16 Zeus Sends an Omen
XX17 Odysseus Bend the Great Bow
XX18 The Slaughter of the Suitors

Watch DVD
XX28 Odysseus - The Slaughter of the Suitors  2:45?   10 min?

Thu --Fri
In the Red Book, read
XX19 Odysseus and Penelope
XX20 The Feud is Ended
Quiz, ch 14-20

Watch DVD
XX29 Reunion  2:55?  5 min? 

4th Quarter Exam Review Checklist
As per ELA 9 Michigan Merit Curriculum Course Requirements, Page 33-34

Glossary Link 1: Meyer Literature Site
Glossary Link 2: U of N C, Pembroke
Our glossary is on pgs 967-978