Rhetoric Literature Co-op #6 The Iliad

[LeeAnnP]

For parents:

We are beginning a seven week study of the works of Homer - this will cover 3 co-ops. First we will start with summaries and excerpts from The Iliad and lay a foundation with research on Homer. Then we will spend two full co-ops reading The Odyssey in its entirety. This is huge. I would encourage you to make this a priority in your students lesson plans. It is the most important thing we read this year (besides the Bible, of course). I am including a section from our teacher notes on Why Study Homer? to help you understand its importance. I encourage you to get the audio book of the Robert Fagles edition of The Odyssey so your students can listen and read along (it is voiced by Ian McClellan - amazing).

Why Study Homer? (from TOG Year1 Unit 2 introduction)
"Homer is a great writer" is one of the two biggest reasons for studying the Iliad and Odyssey. Homer's form is so outstanding that, ever since early times, it has been a standard by which literature in Western civilization is measured. "Does his poetry measure up to Homer?" is a question that has been asked of famous authors ever since the eighth century before Christ, which is when it is believed Homer lived. Many writers have also copied Homer's formal style and techniques: Virgil, Milton, Dante, Chaucer, and Shakespeare are just the beginning of the list. Homer's form has even shaped the ways Western authors think about storytelling and poetry - especially the epic (think Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Harry Potter - in modern times).

We study Homer for the greatness of his form and the fact that it has had such and impact on Western literature. The same is true of its content, which is frequently referenced, retold, and copied. Achille's anger and pride, the Trojan horse, Odysseus's visit to the underworld, the idea of the wandering hero, the sirens' song, the theme of homecoming and fighting for home, the faithfulness of Penelope (to name a few) have been referenced, imitated, and stolen since Homer wrote about them. As we proceed through our study of great literature over the next three years, we will find Homer referenced everywhere - even in Christian literature."

I will be using these two epics to lay the foundations of literary analysis we will cover in all four years of our Tapestry studies. It is a huge accomplishment to be able to say that you have actually read the entire Odyssey. More importantly, it is important that we recognize the importance of stories and their power to shape our thinking and our culture. These stories have done more to shape Western Civilization than any others beside the Bible.

Excited to begin!!