As you may have noticed, last week I dealt with teaching connections throughout the week and readings of Gilgamesh. This week, I'm going to do much the same thing with the Iliad in that I'll focus on continuing to ask questions to connect to the text.
In the first moments of the books for today, there is a clear distinction between cowardice and bravery. We've already seen cowardice in Paris and bravery in Menelaus, and these themes occur throughout the text. Agamemnon looks like a coward and defeated when he says that the Achaeans will just go back home with their tail between their legs. Diomedes is brave for rescuing Nestor. When having students question the text, ask them who in the news today is brave and who is a coward. They can them pick two brave characters and two characters who are cowards and compare and contrast. The following website has a ton of graphic organizers for comparing and contrasting: Comparing and Contrasting Graphic Organizers.
When discussing Agamemnon's offer to Achilles, it is easy to draw comparisons to leaders today. Would Agamemnon be apologizing to Achilles if the Achaeans were winning? Is he really sorry? Is Agamemnon the best leader in the story? I mean, he is a king. Students can find leaders in today's society and explain what makes them a good or bad leader. Again, comparing and contrasting, asking questions, will lead to making connections with their lives and the text.
Another moment to discuss is Achilles's refusal of Agamemnon's offer. He is still angry with Agamemnon and holding a grudge. Is this healthy? Ask students if they can think of a time when they held a grudge and if it turned out well. Do they think Achilles will regret his decision of holding out? Is he selfish?
A moment in the text that students can relate to is the omen that is seen by the Trojans. It is enough to almost make them stop fighting. Do students believe in things like omens or fate? A fun activity would have students read horoscopes in a newspaper or on a website and match them up to characters they believe match those horoscopes. To make a personal connection, students can read their own and explain whether or not they believe in it, relating it back to the Achaeans and Trojans.
As I said yesterday, questioning doesn't happen before you read, but also during. Encouraging questions can be essential for students to understand the text and connect to it. We learned that making connections is proved to be the most effective reading strategy.
Hopefully you thought today was a little shorter and more bearable. Clear and concise. Clear and concise. That's the goal. Tomorrow, we dive into Books XIII-XVIII. More battles and dying!
Until tomorrow,
Cassy
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