Iliad Reading Notes--Book 16, lines 1 -333

1. What does Patroclus propose to Achilles and what is Achilles’ response? Why does Achilles grant Patroclus’ request?

Patroclus asks Achilles if he can lead them into battle and Achilles agrees. Achilles agrees because he still has rage about what Agamemnon did to him and he can't seem to stop being angry.

2. On p. 413 line 35 (approximately), Patroclus tells Achilles that Achilles is “cursed in [his] own courage.” What does Patroclus mean by that and do you agree with him?

Patroclus means that Achilles is so confident of his strength that he can't control it. I don't agree with this because he seems to control his strength. He was able to decide not to kill Agamemnon and he stuck to that decision.

3. Either ask questions about the text or write down vocab words from the text with definitions.

I don't really understand why Achilles accepts Patroclus' request?

Who is Patroclus?

Is Patroclus a friend of Agamemnon?

Did Ajax die?

Iliad Reading Notes 521-869

1. Who is the character Phoenix?

Before reading this section, I thought Achilles a lot smarter than Agamemnon. I also thought he was more independent than the other soldiers. I also thought he was very brave but after reading it, I don't understand why he is staying out of the fighting. I think he might be afraid that he is going to die and that he might want to spend some time with his friends. I think it is kind of similar to the way Jesus died, how he had a last supper with his friends. Achilles' story reminds me of that.

Who is speaking? Phoenix
What does that person say and to whom does he say it? Achilles--trying to convince not to sail home from battle
What persuasive strategy is it? appeal to emotion
Why is it an example of that strategy? he's calling Achilles a coward for his actions

Who is speaking? Achilles
What does that person say and to whom does he say it? Phoenix--Achilles tells him why he doing what he's doing
What persuasive strategy is it? appeal to ethics
Why is it an example of that strategy? Achilles says he'll think about overnight and decide what is right to do

Who is speaking? Ajax
What does that person say and to whom does he say it? Odysseus--he's telling him there work is done
What persuasive strategy is it? appeal to logic
Why is it an example of that strategy? because he is telling him the way things are

Iliad Reading notes Lines 1-522

1. Who is Ajax?

Before reading this section, I thought at first that Agamemnon was someone who cheated on his wife, who slept with other women, who ws selfish and greedy and ruthless. I basically thought he was the worst type of person you would find around today. I also thought he was a cry baby. After reading this section, I don't really think he has changed much. He shows that he really is a cry baby. He tries to give everything away ust to get Achilles back into the war. I think he plans that once Achilles gets inside Troy and if he dies that then Agamemnon will get everything back.

Who is speaking? Nestor
What does that person say and to whom does he say it? Agamemnon's men--he tells them to take the message to Achilles that King Agamemnon is offering him gifts to get him back into war
What persuasive strategy is it? appeal to emotion
Why is it an example of that strategy? because it's appealing to Achilles feelings about getting gifts

Who is speaking? Odysseus
What does that person say and to whom does he say it? Achilles-- he tells him what Agamemnon said; what Nestor ordered him to tell Achilles
What persuasive strategy is it? appeal to emotion
Why is it an example of that strategy? because he is trying to scare Achilles into acting

Who is speaking? Achilles
What does that person say and to whom does he say it? Ajax and Odysseus--he tells them to take a message to Agamemnon to sail home because he will never take Troy
What persuasive strategy is it? appeal to logic
Why is it an example of that strategy? Achilles lays out the options for Agamemnon or he can fight and possibly die

Disagreement with a friend

Once upon a time, my friend and I were in an argument about whether how I was making my boofer weapons. Boffer weapons are medieval weapons made out of PVC pipe, foam and duck tape. My friend and I were arguing about whether mine that I made were safe or not. I thought they were just fine, but sometimes accidents happen. My friend said I didn't have enough foam on them to cushion the blow. This argument went on and on, and soon it ended because my friend couldn't take anymore of the argument. I then said to him that he needed to learn to take risks. My friend is still angry for the way I make my weapons, but we work around it. I hope this won't do anything big to our friendship.

Iliad Reflection 2/22--as an ancient Greek

If you were an ancient Greek, which of the following statements would you agree with?
A) Achilles’ rage is justified and I support his decision not to fight, even if it means the Greeks might lose lots of men, or even the war itself.

I agree that Achilles' rage is justified and I support his decision not to fight because he's making his own choice and everyone has a right to make their own choice. Not even the gods should be able to defy a person's choices. Achilles had a choice to listen to Athena or not. Athena said, "Down from the skies I come to check your rage if only you will yield. . .Stop this fighting" (Lines 242-245). He could have killed Agamemnon and ended the war right there, but he chose to listen to Athena. He said, "Goddess, a man submits though his heart breaks with fury" (Line254). But I understand why he didn't fight even if his heart was breaking with fury. He knew he could be remembered one day in a story like the Iliad and it might mean a lot to die with your name known in history instead of dying as a murderer (which unfortunately he ultimately did anyway).

Iliad Reading Notes Lines 408-506

Things that confused me about the reading:
· I was confused by how the dialogue was traded between characters. At times, I wasn’t sure who was saying what and what they were trying to say.
· When you just read the story without reading chapters, this story makes more sense. It doesn’t make so much sense when you have to stop all the time. I actually want to read more.

Important things that happen
· Achilles asks for help. I think it’s kind of strange that almost immortal man asks for help.
· He asks his mother for help.
· A new character, Odysseus appears in the story. He prays and makes a sacrifice to Apollo.
· Apollo answers his prayers by ceasing the plague. He also stops shooting his arrows.
· The men were singing when they noticed the plague ended. Apollo was the god of music and he was pleased to see them singing about him.
· It’s important to remember that there is joy in the world.

Iliad Reading Notes IV

What is the most important thing that happens in Lines 334-407?

I think the conversations between Achilles and Agamemnon arguing are the most important thing that happen in this section because it shows the emotions the characters have and it expresses how they are feeling.

Iliad Reading Notes III

Iliad Reading Notes
Book 2
2/15/07



Summaries of the stanzas

Stanza 220
· Achilles is just about to decide whether he should kill Agamemnon or not when Hera sent Athena down from the heavens.
Stanza 230
· Achilles asks why Athena has come down—to see the truth of what Agamemnon has done?
Stanza 240
· Athena tells Achilles not to kill Agamemnon because Hera loves them both and Achilles asks why.
Stanza 250
· Achilles put his sword away and he ceased from killing Agamemnon.
Stanza 260
· Athena goes back up to Olympus.


Questions about the reading:

1. Why is this part of the story so important?
2. Do you think Achilles would have killed Agamemnon if the gods didn’t come and interfere in his decision?

Predict what will happen next

I think Agamemnon will make things much worse because he wants Helen back for himself. I think he will make things worse by going to Troy and chaos will start up.

Iliad Reading Notes II

Summaries of the stanzas

Stanza 80
· Achilles asks the seers why Apollo is angry with them.
Stanza 90
· Calchas said he would tell Achilles the answer if he swears to protect Calchas whenever he tries to talk to the king, Agamemnon.

Stanza 100
· Achilles agrees and swears by the god Apollo that he will never let a soldier or Agamemnon lay a hand on Calchas.
Stanza 110
· Calchas says that Apollo is angry with Agamemnon because he burned his priest so the priest prayed to the god and Apollo answered his prayer to keep the plague going on until they carry out a task.


Questions about the reading:

1. Why do you think Achilles agreed to protect Calchas?
2. Why does Calchas want to be protected when he hasn’t been involved with Agamemnon and the other priest?

Predict what will happen next

I think Achilles will try to complete the task to stop the plague and I think he will succeed.

The Iliad Questions and Comments 1 -118

Questions

1. Why are they fighting over two people who are in love?
2. Why can't they just let them be--Paris and Helen?
3. Are there any reasons why you should think they shouldn't be together? If so, please post in your comments.
4. Who are your favorite characters in the story so far? My favorite is Apollo.

Iliad Reading Notes

Iliad Reading Notes
Book 1
2/13/07

Summaries of the stanzas

Stanza 30
· Greeks ask Agamemnon to ask a ransom but he refuses
Stanza 40
· Priest asks the god Apollo to bring wrath upon Agamemnon

Stanza 50
· Apollo hears the priest’s prayer and comes down from Mt. Olympus with his bow and arrow in rage
Stanza 60
· Apollo fires upon Agamemnon’s army
Stanza 70
· Achilles says that if they sacrifice a lamb to Apollo maybe he will defend them against the plague


Questions about the reading:

1. What is Achilles’ trying to say in Stanza 70? What are they supposed to do?
2. Why do you think the priest asked Apollo to attack Agamemnon’s army?

Predict what will happen next

I think Apollo will keep on attacking, but he will put a plague, not on the army, but on the city instead.

My Rage- Cause

I'm angry because I don't always get what Want. I hate it when I am selfish. When I feel that way I don't think about anything but myself. It's bad for expressing myself and it's wrong.
But why do people want to be selfish? I think it's because they want attention, happiness, love, and power. It's hard to control rage. It's like a crisis that stop on its own will. Anger will forever be a phenomena of endless mystery.

Extra Credit: What would Bradbury have thought about blogging?

I think Bradbury would be amazed that I could write a story on a device that will keep it posted in its memory forever. So I will never have to worry about my work getting destroyed by being burnt. I think Bradbury would have thought blogs would be an excellent form of communication for Mildred and Montag because they could express their thinking easier by typing it instead of having to talk and listen to one another. I think they would communicate more often because blogging would be new and something exciting that would be easier and better than talking to one another.

Revised D.P. 2/9

Montag thought, "Oh my god, he's coming closer.

What's he going to do?

Is he going to kill Mildred?

Will he kill me?

Will he kill Faber?

What I need to do is pull this trigger.

Why does he keep coming closer?

Where's the hound? Where's the hound? Where's the hound?

I know it's here.

Why is he coming closer to me?

I think I'm going to . . ."

And then fire came from the nozzle.

2/8 Descriptive Writing Assignment

Montag thought, "Oh my god, he's coming closer. What's he going to do? Is he going to kill Mildred? Will he kill me? Will he kill Faber? What I need to do is pull this trigger. Why does he keep coming closer? Where's the hound? Where's the hound? Where's the hound? I know it's here. Why is he coming closer to me? I think I'm going to . . ." And then fire came from the nozzle.

2/6 - Hesiod Writing Assignment

Explain how Zeus came to power. Write about these following issues: How is he similar/different to Uranus or Cronos? Is his grip on power secure or fragile? Explain why or why not.

First at the beginning of time, Gae--young earth who later becomes mother earth after she marries the sky Uranus, and then eventually she gives birth to Cronos and Cronos overthrows Uranus. Then Cronos fears that one of his off-spring will do the same to him so he swallows each of his children each time his wife gives birth. When his sixth child was born, Rhea--Cronos' wife--asked Mother Earth for help. Mother Earth had been waiting for this and she has been controlling the destiny of all of her children. Gae helps Rhea and when Rhea gives birth, Rhea gives Cronos a stone to swallow instead of the child. Rhea takes Zeus, the new born child, to an island where he is raised. Once he grows up, he defeated Cronos and freed his brothers and sistesrs.

Zeus is similar to Cronos because he overthrows his own father; however he is not like him because Zeus is a god and not a Titan. Zeus is like Uranus because he was a father to many children just like Uranus. Zeus had conflicts with Rhea just like Uranus. After Zeus came into power, Gae got upset with Zeus for putting the Titans--her sons into the underworld.

Zeus' power is secure because he is immortal and he's a really good leader.

Descriptive Writing: 2/7

Page 113--scene of Montag arriving at his house and he has to burn it

numb
featureless
burdensome
fire eaten
clenching rigidity
warped glass
incomprehensible storm
queer
nuzzling gout

These words were good to represent fear because they show things. Numb means you can't feel or can't move and that means you are so afraid or are intimidated. You might be so numb that your face would be featureless. Anything that is described as fire eaten reminds me of something that is reduced to ash and this is scary. Something that is incomprehensible is scary because you can't understand it and it's really a good way to describe chaos and that is something that is feared.

I'm not really sure what "gout" is, but a nuzzling gout sounds scary.

Descriptive words

The three words from my descriptive paragraph are: hairy, lumbering and eight.

Lumbering describes a large thing's way of moving and it describes its shape as well.

From Junior's blog, I really like the word "thorny" because it is used in a lot of different phrases like you are a thorn in my side. Thorns are usually pointy. I think what Junior was trying to say was that the papers were an annoyance to him so he just put them in his backpack to do when he got home.

Amiry's description of a brass "circular" lever makes me think of a door opening. It tells the shape. It sounds like a doorknob rotating. It's very, very descriptive and almost mysterious.