THE ODYSSEY

By Homer

 

1. WORKSHEET: Ideas are tricky to convey in a second language class! Illustrations can be more powerful than words–especially in the realm of ideas! Print a “cartoon” worksheet for each student to fill in and keep.

 

2. THE CURTAINS OPEN: Wheel of Fortune

Preview the ideas and issues in the lesson with a contest.

A. COMPETITION: Wheel of Fortune

Play Wheel of Fortune to introduce the plot, action, characters, and vocabulary for this classic.

B. GAME WORDS/PHRASES: The Odyssey, blind, hero, trials and temptations, epic poem.

 

3. HOMER: Visitor

A sudden, unexpected knock at the door creates delight and wonder in a classroom.

Surprise visitors interrupt the daily routine, tell their story, pose dilemmas,

and answer questions.

Rehearse the Visitor Script ahead of time and put together a costume. Knock on the door, burst in the classroom, and portray the visitor! Engage the class by asking them questions and allowing them to ask you questions, too! Make a flamboyant exit!

 

4. VOCABULARY: Learning new vocabulary words often becomes tedious drill — students can recite the definitions but they have no clue what the words really mean. Try exercises that train students to think and use reasoning skills while they learn new vocabulary.

A. Kidnapped: To take by force.

B. Trick: To deceive or cheat.

C. Hero: A very brave person.

D. Revenge: To return evil for evil.

E. Trials: To be tested or to have hardships.

F. Temptations: Something hard to resist.

G. Magic potion: A drink to kill or make go to sleep.

H. Enchant: To use magic and put under a spell.

I.  Lure: To attract with a bait/decoy.

J.  Shock: To be surprised and angry.

K. Disguise: To hide who you really are.

COMPETITION

A. Before class write the list of words on the board.

B. Pronounce each word. Students repeat.

C. Explain the contest! Teams of 2-3 race to look up the words and compose one example sentence using the word. First team to give the definition and use the word correctly in a sentence scores 2 points. Other teams can score 2 points for a correct sentence.

D. Do all the vocabulary words in turn.

 

5. THE ODYSSEY: Theater on a String

Theater is riveting. Before the curtain rises the plot, action, characters, and setting are

only a script on paper. Theater relies on the audience’s imagination and suddenly there

is magic. This is theater on a string!

INSTRUCTIONS

A. Stretch a rope/line across the front of the room. Get two students to hold the two ends — hold it up high so all can see!

B. Use the props to tell the story by hanging them on the line with clothes-pins as you tell the story.

C. Find clever ways to clarify the plot, action, characters, and ideas in the story. Let the class repeat the names and the story line! Go back to the beginning often and check their memory then resume the story!

PROPS

1. The props must be big enough for the students in the back to see!

2. The paper dolls should be 20IN-24IN tall. The same paper doll can be Odysseus, Romeo, Hamlet, Prospero, or the Merchant of Venice! Save them–change the costumes for each classic. Clothes do make the person!

 

YOU TUBE

A. Odysseus and the Cyclops–1MIN 58SEC.

B. Search for Homer’s Odyssey. The epic tale cut down to 15SEC. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3GmNMbuMbc

 

6. QUESTIONS: Tic Tac Toe

Questions can teach students HOW to think rather than WHAT to think.

Ask questions that will require reason and imagination.

Draw the Tic Tac Toe Board on the blackboard. Make two Teams: Ask the first person from Team “X” a question. If correct, that team puts an “X” on the Tic Tac Toe Board. Team “O” gets the next question. Continue asking questions until one team wins.

A. Yes/No: The Odyssey is a story that begins at the end of the Trojan War.

B. Wooden horse or wooden boat? What clever idea did Odysseus use to win the war?

C. What did the Cyclops’ father do to Odysseus?

D. How did Odysseus keep his men from hearing the call of the Sirens?

E. What happened after Odysseus sailed by the six-headed monster?

F. Why is The Odyssey important today?

G. Pretend that Calypso offered you the chance to live forever — if you never went home again! Would you accept?

H. If your good friends tried to steal your wife/husband and your kingdom–what would you do?

I. What trials and temptations do students at university have today?

J. Name two trials Odysseus faced.

K. Name two temptations Odysseus faced.

 

7. RE-TELL THE STORY

Now it is the students’ turn! Take all the clothes-pins and props off the line. Hold up each prop in turn and ask the class to explain the plot, action, characters, and ideas in the story. Prompt them if necessary.

 

8. TEMPTATION: You Tube Video

Apply the ideas in the lesson in an imaginary YOU TUBE Video.

Temptation: Something hard to resist.

QUESTIONS

A. Why are temptations hard to resist?

B. What is a temptation you did resist?

C. What is a temptation you did NOT resist?

D. QUOTE: I can resist everything except temptation.

YOU TUBE VIDEO

Small groups create a 30SEC pretend YOU TUBE video about temptation. Perform for the class.

 

9. THE SIRENS’ E-MAIL

Correspondence is revealing. Some E-MAILS are polite. Some ask questions.

Some are confessions. Some express wishes.

A. Read this E-MAIL from the Sirens to Odysseus.

Dear Odysseus,

You are dead meat. We are going to get you our little pretty!

Don’t even try to resist our songs.

BFF,

The Sirens

B. Explain that everyone will pretend to be Odysseus and write an E-MAIL:

1. His wife and son explaining one of the trials or temptations.

OR

2. Calypso explaining why he refused to stay on the island.

C. These are not long epistles–allow 2-3MIN.

D. Then everyone find a group, exchange the E-MAILS, and read them aloud.