Homer's Iliad and Odyssey
by CTCWeb Editors
Assignment Suggestions
Time Line
The construction of a time line is an excellent orientation tool to what happens in an epic poem, myth or historical period.
Artistic Assignment
How often are students in a history or language class asked to be artistic? Art plays a major role in all aspects of ancient Greek studies. It was and is a medium of education. Close examination of the art from the past may teach a student more than she/he can learn from a book or lecture. Students can design their own vases, sculptures or coins relating to their chosen or assigned topic.
Open Ended Discussion
What issues faced the ancient Greeks that are not of relevance to us today? What issues are relevant to people now and then? Come up with some questions that have no real answer and create a dialog between those in the class.
Word Analysis
Students do not have to know Greek to make use of the English to Greek Word Search. The appearance of the word in question in a definition found in the Greek-English Lexicon offers clues to its true meaning or to what the Greeks really meant by its use.
Art & Literature Comparisons
Sophocles’ plays were social commentaries but did you ever think that a vase could serve the same purpose? After reading Sophocles’ Ajax, a comparison to what happened in the play in regard to Achilles’ armor and Ajax’s suicide, was made between the text and vases that depict the scenes from the play. The play describes Ajax falling on his sword to take his own life but a vase depicts Ajax stabbed through the back with his sword. What is the painter trying to say with this depiction?
Family Trees
If you were to look at the Encyclopedia entry for any god or goddess, mythical or historical figure you would find notes describing their origin and offspring. From these Encyclopedia entries, family trees are easily constructed.
Atlas Assignment
Ancient Greek literature is filled with place names. References to sites where mythological births, deaths, travels or conflicts occurred are numerous. The Atlas is an excellent tool with which students may become familiar with the places and geographical areas from myth and literature. Combing the Atlas’ maps with actual site images will enhance students’ understanding of the world in which heroes lived and died, gods decided men’s and women’s fates and people went about their daily lives.
