Over the summer months, please prepare for our initial meetings by completing the two assignments listed below. The notes are due in school on or about Wednesday, September 6 2023. Be prepared for a quiz, essay, and/or discussion on summer work during the first few weeks of school.  Your notes will help to prepare you for these assessments as well as our in-class discussions.

You are encouraged to take notes on what you read and to consider the questions posted below. These notes are for your own use only. They will not be collected or checked; however, they will help to prepare you for the assessments as well as our in-class discussions. If you haven’t discovered a note-taking system that works for you, now is the time to experiment. We’ve included “Questions to Consider” and “Study Guide Questions” for each text below, if you prefer that method.

If not, you are welcome to make an outline, bullet key points, summarize each book, pull important quotes, or any other method that works for you. If you buy your own copies of the text, we highly recommend that you annotate them.

Assignment One:

Essays That Worked for College Applications: 50 Essays that Helped Students Get into the Nation’s Top Colleges by Boykin Curry

OR use the link below to access a PDF of some of the essays

Essays That Worked for College Applications: 12 College Admissions Essays That Worked

The essays in this book are written in varying styles and approaches. For each, think about the author’s structure, style, tone, voice, topic selection, and meaning.

Questions to Consider:

          • How does the author engage the reader in the beginning, middle, end?
          • Is the topic appropriate and/or engaging for a college essay?
          • What makes this essay stand out from other college essays?
          • What would a college admissions officer learn about this candidate through his/her essay?
          • How does the author’s style complement the content of the essay

Assignment Two: 

The Iliad of Homer (read only Books 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 11, 16, 18, 19, 22, 24)
There are multiple translations available, the ELA Department prefers Fitzgerald or Pope. This title can be found at one of our “Mighty Five Libraries” or accessed digitally HERE.

  • Read the background information below, which is necessary to understand The Iliad. You will be responsible for knowing the background information as well as the text.
  • Use the study questions at the end of this document to make sure you understand what you read and don’t miss the important points in each book.

 

WHAT IS THE ILIAD?

The Iliad is a long narrative poem in dactylic hexameter. The story combines the history, legends, and religion of the ancient Greeks with the imagination, invention, and lively story-telling abilities of a great poet. The events in the Iliad were as well known to the ancient Greeks as the story of Noah’s ark or the song lyrics of Michael Jackson are known to today’s young people. And, like a favorite story or song, the ancient Greeks wanted to hear this story, the Iliad, told again and again.

The poem begins with a dispute between the Greek king, Agamemnon, and the great soldier and Greek prince, Achilles. After a recent battle, each Greek hero has received spoils as his reward for victory. The king has received the most wealth and a beautiful woman, Chryseis, and each warrior has received his share of the spoils according to his rank and heroism.

Chryses, a priest of Apollo and Chryseis’ father, comes to Agamemnon with gifts and offerings to ransom his daughter. Against the advice of the army, however, Agamemnon refuses to let Chryseis go and Chryses prays to Apollo for revenge. Apollo sends a plague into the Greek army and many men die.

Achilles realizes that this scourge may be divine retribution and asks Calchas, a prophet, why they are suffering. Calchas, after extracting a promise of protection from Achilles, explains that Agamemnon has offended Apollo by refusing to return Chryseis.

Achilles confronts Agamemnon who grudgingly agrees to return Chryseis, but who then takes Achilles’ woman, Briseis, as a reminder that he, Agamemnon, is king. Achilles is inconsolable and asks his mother Thetis, a goddess of the sea, to persuade Zeus to punish Agamemnon by aiding the Trojans until his, Achilles’, honor is restored.

Thetis does as her son bids, and Zeus agrees with the result that the gods, already divided in their loyalties, enter the fray, each god fighting for or protecting his or her own: Athena and Hera supporting the Greeks while Apollo and Aphrodite support Troy. This expansion of hostilities further complicates the relationships among the Trojans, the Greeks, and their gods, and the resulting disputes form the basis of this epic poem.

But why are the Greeks and Trojans fighting? Why are the gods displaying so much love or hatred for one or the other side?

The answers lie in the events of Greek myths and legends which occur before this poem begins, and in the relationship the ancient Greeks had with their gods and goddesses.

THE STORY BEFORE THE STORY: THE JUDGMENT OF PARIS

Before students begin to read the Iliad, they need to learn about the legend of Paris and Helen. This can be done by film or filmstrip, by reading the story or simply by the instructor telling students the story.

There was much feasting at the wedding of Peleus, king of Phthia, and Thetis, a sea goddess who would bear a son, Achilles. Everyone was happy and celebrating. Athena, Hera and Aphrodite were at the feast and amicably conversing when a golden apple rolled at their feet. Peleus picked it up and was embarrassed to find that it was inscribed “to the fairest.” No one knew for which goddess the apple was intended.

The golden apple had actually been tossed by Eris (“strife”), who was angry that she had not been invited to the feast. Zeus was asked to award the apple to the “fairest” goddess, but he tactfully declined and assigned Paris, one of the Princes of Troy (Priam’s second son) the unwelcome task.

Each goddess desired to be known as the most beautiful, and competed aggressively for the apple. Each goddess willingly disrobed so that Paris could see that she was “fairest.” Paris first examined Hera who promised him all of Asia and great wealth if he would choose her. Paris refused the bribe.

He next examined Athena who promised to make Paris victorious in all battles. She also promised to make him the most handsome and wise man in the world. Paris also refused this offer.

Finally, Aphrodite promised that she could offer Paris Helen, the wife of Menalaos (King of Sparta and Agamemnon’s brother) and the most beautiful mortal woman in the world, to become Paris’ bride. After Aphrodite swore that she could make Helen fall in love with him, Paris awarded her the apple. This decision so angered Hera and Athena that they plotted the destruction of Troy.

Aphrodite, long before this event, had doomed Helen and her sisters because their father, Tyndareus, had sacrificed to the other gods but had forgotten to offer a sacrifice to her. Aphrodite, therefore, swore to make his daughters known for adultery. Of course, Aphrodite approved Paris’ decision.

Later Paris, following Aphrodite’s’ instruction, visited Menalaos as a friend but eloped with Helen. The Greeks came to Troy to regain Helen and Menalaos’ honor.

 THE OATH OF TYNDAREUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY

The name of the mythological Spartan King Tyndareus is today most famous from the sacred oath that bears his name; the Oath of Tyndareus was the promise that ultimately brought together the Achaean forces to the gates of Troy. 

 KING TYNDAREUS

Tyndareus was the husband of Leda, father of Castor and Clytemnestra, and step-father of Pollox and Helen. Tyndareus was one of the most powerful kings of his day, and managed to unseat Thyestes from the throne of Mycenae when he sent his Spartan army there. Thus Tyndareus was the man who put Agamemnon on the throne of Mycenae, and made him his son-in-law, for Agamemnon married Clytemnestra. 

HELEN DAUGHTER OF TYNDAREUS

Tyndareus though had far greater problems when it came to marrying off his other daughter Helen. The King of Sparta sent out heralds announcing that eligible suitors could now present themselves, for Helen of Sparta was now of age.

In hindsight, this might not have been the cleverest announcement to make, for Helen was recognized across the ancient world as the most beautiful woman of the mortal plain. As a result, heroes, kings and princes travelled in their droves to Sparta. 

THE SUITORS OF HELEN 

Six names appear in all three sources:

Ajax the Greater, son of Telamon, and already a great warrior; Elephenor, king of the Abantes; Menelaus, son of Atreus, exiled Mycenaean prince; Menestheus, King of Athens; Odysseus, son of Laertes, King of the Cephallenians; and Protesilaus, son of Iphicles.

Across the sources, though, many other notable names appeared as suitors of Helen, including Ajax the Lesser, the son of Oileus and prince of Locris; Diomedes, the mighty warrior and King of Argos; Patroclus, son of Menoeitus, and friend of Achilles; Philoctetes, son of Poeas, Thessalonian prince and acclaimed archer; Idomeneus, a prince of Crete; and Teucer, son of Telamon and half-brother to Ajax the Great.  

TYNDAREUS’ DILEMMA

The gathered suitors of Helen represented all of the most powerful kingdoms of Ancient Greece and many were regarded as the best warriors of the day.

Each suitor brought with them gifts, but Tyndareus quickly realized he was in an impossible position, for choosing one suitor over the others would lead to bloodshed between them and a great deal of animosity between the different Greek states.

THE OATH OF TYNDAREUS

Tyndareus delayed making a decision and whilst the king waited, Odysseus came up with a solution to his dilemma.

Odysseus recognized that other suitors of Helen were even more eligible than himself, so the son of Laertes had instead turned his attention to Penelope, the daughter of Icarius. Being the daughter of Icarius meant that Penelope was the niece of Tyndareus, and so upon the promise of assistance in gaining the hand of Penelope, Odysseus told Tyndareus of his idea.

Odysseus told Tyndareus that the king should extract from each suitor an oath that they would protect and defend whichever suitor of Helen was chosen. No hero of note would break such an oath, and even if someone did, then they would have to face the force of the other suitors who were bound to protect Helen’s husband.

Tyndareus put forth Odysseus’ plan, and each suitor took the Oath of Tyndareus, with the sacred promise, and the oath was bound when Tyndareus sacrificed a horse.  

THE OUTCOME OF THE OATH

Tyndareus gave Helen a free choice in terms of which suitor to choose, and Helen chose Menelaus to be her husband; and because of the Oath of Tyndareus all the other suitors left Sparta with their honor intact.

The Oath of Tyndareus would of course be invoked by Menelaus when Helen was later abducted from Sparta by the Trojan prince, Paris. All of the Suitors of Helen would eventually gather at Aulis, although some did need persuading, including Odysseus the inventor of the Oath. From Aulis, a fleet of 1000 ships set sail for Troy to retrieve the wife of Menelaus. Source:http://teachersinstitute.yale.edu/curriculum/units/1984/2/84.02

Study Questions:The Iliad

Answer the study guide questions in complete sentences. Your responses must be original and in your own words. You must cite any quotes appropriately. All responses will be subject to submission to www.turnitin.com to check for academic integrity. 

Books 1-10

(1) Why are the Greeks and Trojans fighting?

(2) Why does Chryses come to Agamemnon?

(3) What is the cause of the quarrel between Agamemnon and Achilles?

(4) What does Achilles ask Thetis, his mother, to do for him? Why?

(5) How does Paris (Alexandros) behave in the following situations:

  • When the Greeks and Trojans met in battle?
  • When Menalaos accepts his offer?
  • When he sees Helen?
  • When Hector shames him?

(6) What kind of person is Paris?

(7) Which gods fight for the Greeks? Which fight for Troy? Why?

(8) During the first battle Hector visits home. Why?

(9) Briefly describe Hector’s visit with his wife and child. Why is it hard for him to return to battle? Why does he go?

(10) How do the Greeks try to protect their ships? What is their fear?

(11) Why do the three envoys visit Achilles? What arguments do they present? How does Achilles respond to them?

Books 11-24

(1) Briefly describe how Agamemnon, Diomedes, and Odysseus become wounded. Who is winning at the end of this day’s battle?

(2) How do the day’s events affect Patroclus?

(3) Why does Patroclus want to enter the war? What is Achilles’ reaction?

(4) What is Achilles’ reaction after Patroclus’ death?

(5) Why is it important for Achilles and Agamemnon to reconcile publicly?

(6) What hardships have resulted from Achilles’ anger?

(7) How does the tide of war change after Achilles enters the war?

(8) What is to be Achilles’ own future?

(9) How does Achilles honor Patroclus and dishonor Hector?

(10) Why do the gods interfere with Achilles’ plans for Hector’s body?

(11) What are the results of Priam’s meeting with Achilles? Why?

(12) The Iliad ends without total victory for the Greeks. Why?

(13) Suppose the Greeks had come to regain Helen, but Achilles and Agamemnon had not quarreled. How would the story have changed?

(14) In what ways do the Greek gods behave differently from divinity from other traditions?

(15) Contrast Hector and Achilles. Which do you like better? Why?

(16) In your opinion, is Achilles any different at the end of the story than he was at the beginning? Explain.

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