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Classical Literature 1: The Iliad and Odyssey of Homer

Completed by 1 learner
Ages 14-16
Live Group Course
In this 12-week course, students will immerse themselves in the Homeric world by reading and discussing the Iliad and Odyssey, where Greek mythology, ancient history, captivating storylines, and stunning literary devices are intertwined.
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(234 reviews)
Star Educator

Live video meetings
1x per week, 12 weeks
3-5 learners per class
120 min

What's included

12 live meetings
24 in-class hours
Homework
2-4 hours per week. Students can expect to read four chapters per week. Chapters vary in length, anywhere from 20-50 pages each. Discussion and analysis questions will be available in the Classroom to guide the reading and provide fuel for our in-class discussions.

Class Experience

US Grade 9 - 12
Students who love reading, Greek myth, and history: this class is for you!  Students who love talking about what they've read, asking questions, and thinking critically about material at hand: this class is for you! Students who have tried to read the Iliad before but have gotten bogged down in the details and names you've never heard before: this class is for you! 

Together in this course, we will read both of the classic Homeric epics, the Iliad and Odyssey, in full, unabridged form. These epics are phenomenally interesting, full of adventure, heroic journeys, sea monsters, ghosts, battles, gods and goddesses... And they also explore difficult topics of war, death, heartache, loss, homelessness, infidelity. Through all of it ultimately they explore what it means to be human. These poems might be thousands of years old, but they are still exciting and relevant to us today. 

We will discuss three chapters (called "books") each lesson, and as needed I will provide background information and cultural context to enrich your experience reading these astounding epics. The format of the class is many ways guided by our discussion questions, but we will not stick to those so closely that we miss out on other topics that come to mind as you read. If you have questions or observations to share, bring them to class and we will discuss them together! 


Reading Schedule:
*these chapters should be read BEFORE class that week as they will be discussed in detail during that week's lesson. Please see the detailed reading schedule (and discussion questions) in the Classroom for more information.

Day 1 - Iliad 1, 2, 3, 4
Day 2 - Iliad 5, 6, 7, 8
Day 3- Iliad 9, 10, 11, 12
Day 4 - Iliad 13, 14, 15, 16
Day  5 - Iliad 17, 18, 19, 20
Day 6 - Iliad 21, 22, 23, 24
Day 7 - Odyssey 1, 2, 3, 4
Day 8 - Odyssey 5, 6, 7, 8
Day 9 - Odyssey 9, 10, 11, 12
Day 10 - Odyssey 13, 14, 15, 16
Day 11 - Odyssey 17, 18, 19, 20
Day 12 - Odyssey 21, 22, 23, 24

Learning Goals

Students will read the unabridged epics of Homer. Students will learn cultural background and relevant historical information to contextualize these ancient epic poems.

Syllabus

Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum
12 Lessons
over 12 Weeks
Lesson 1:
Introduction to the World of Homer; Background of the Trojan War Epic
 Iliad 1-4 
120 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Host-Guest Friendship in the Iliad; Homeric Women
 Iliad 5-8 
120 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Kleos; The Delegation to Achilles
 Iliad 9-12 
120 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Patroclus and Achilles
 Iliad 13-16 
120 mins online live lesson

Other Details

Parental Guidance
These full epics contain graphic depictions of war scenes, death, man-eating monsters, mentions of sexual intercourse (nothing graphic here, just that it happened), and lots of suffering in general. Additionally, discussions may veer towards other associated Greek myths, many of which may be equally uncomfortable for some students. If you have any concerns about these topics, please email me and we can discuss specifics.
Supply List
Copies of the two books* - Iliad and Odyssey - translated by Stanley Lombardo. (My favorite translations for their readability for modern students.) If you already have unabridged copies of these works and prefer to use a different translation, please let me know in advance. It's much easier for everyone if we all use the same translation, but it can work with different ones, too. 

*I receive no benefits or commissions from your purchase of these or any other course texts
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:

Meet the teacher

Joined April, 2020
4.9
234reviews
Star Educator
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree in History from Brandeis University
Bachelor's Degree in Foreign Language from Gordon College
I have a BA and MA in Ancient Greek and Roman Studies, and have been a lifelong lover of Greek myths. I’ve read these epics more times than I can count, and it is my opinion that their inherent beauty and cultural significance far outweigh any potentially sensitive subjects contained within these works. Again, please feel free to contact me if you’d like to discuss this prior to enrolling your learner in the course. 

Reviews



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