Ms.

Hensler Tips for Reading

The Odyssey
Because youre going to need them.

Tips for reading The Odyssey

1.Read on a nightly basis, even if we dont have a class meeting the
next day.
2.Dont fall behind!
3.Read out loud.
4.Picture what you are reading in your head.
5.Read slowly, and schedule plenty of time to complete a reading
assignment.
6.Break up your reading with thinking.
7.Read in an uncomfortable position.
8.Prepare questions as you read for class discussions.

Notes on The Odyssey

Or, Your Classwork Grade for Term 2

Using PDFs
Each individual book will be assigned through Google Classroom, but
you can also find the full text on the class website or under the
About tab for our class in Classroom.
You will use Notability to complete this assignment, which will allow
you to make annotations directly on the text.
Notes will consist of two components:
Annotations
Dialogue Journals

Annotations
These are the basic notes that you will take to help you follow along in
the story and prepare for class. Your annotations should only take a few
seconds each, and you should be making at least two per page of
reading.
Options for annotations:
Character development
Identifying themes discussed in class
Identifying conventions of epic or other literary techniques
Identifying elements of the Monomyth

Dialogue Journals
As you read The Odyssey, you will be expected to keep dialogue journal
entries within your notes. You are required to complete at least one
dialogue journal entry for each reading assignment, though you may
complete more. Dialogue journal entries should be completed using the
sticky note feature in Notability, which I will show you how to do in
class.

Ideas for Dialogue Journals:

1.Social questions: Look for inequality between characters and
within their relationships. Do these inequalities still exist today?
2.Great writing: Look for a line, phrase, or stanza that you think is
great writing. What makes this passage so great? Identifying
examples of good writing will make you a better writer.
3.Talk back: Get mad at the character or the storyteller. Talk back.
Disagree. Shout. These are great discussion starters.
4.AHA!s: As you read, you will start to notice threads that you
want to follow--look for repeated story lines, character changes, etc.
5.Personal connections: Talk about how the characters actions
make you feel, or how their choices reflect elements of your own
life.

Thrall and
Hibbards
Conventions

1.Opens with statement

of theme.
2.Begins by invoking the
Muse to inspire and
instruct the poet.
3.Opens in medias res,
giving necessary
exposition in later
portions of the poem.
4.Includes catalogues of
warriors, ships, etc.
5.Extended formal
speeches by main
characters.
6.Makes use of epic
similes.