Note taking

For the next several weeks we will be taking a lot of notes on The Odyssey.

Let’s look at some basic note taking techniques. The first is the simplest and one you’ve probably already learned. This technique uses bullets or numbering to organize information.

Heading or title goes here, for this example we will use: Colors

I. Primary colorsa. red

1. used to make orange w/ yellow

2. used to make purple w/ blue b. yellow

1. used to make orange w/ red2. used to make green w/ blue

c. blue1. used to make purple w/ red2. used to make green w/ yellow

For the Cornell method, divide your paper into two parts, writing important terms and questions

in the smaller left column.

Tips for note taking

What are some other methods I can use?

• Keep it simple– Paraphrase and write down the

main ideas– Use abbreviations so you don’t get

left behind– Write fast but legibly. You need to

be able to read it later!– Pay attention. If you fall behind, fill

in the blanks from a friend’s notes later. The rest of the class can’t wait for you!

– Keep your notes where you won’t lose them. A good place is a binder.

OF TROY

Everything in yellow must be written down!

The word hero has several definitions. The following is the main and most important definition:

he-ro (noun) – a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities

Heroes are everywhere!

There are real life heroes we learn about, like George Washington and Martin Luther King Jr.

Heroes are in the movies we watch:

Of course, women can be heroes too. A female hero is called a “heroine”.

Heroes are also in the games we play. Wherever we encounter them, you can bet that heroes are having

fantastic adventures.

Some of the most famous heroes are the heroes of Greek mythology.

Our next major reading assignment will be Homer’s The Odyssey.

The Odyssey is the epic story of the journey home of a Greek hero called Odysseus. It was written by Homer, a Greek poet and historian.

The word “Epic” is usually an adjective meaning “impressively great”. For example, a heat wave that breaks all records might be called “an epic

heat wave”.

The Odyssey is the story of an epic journey, or “great journey”, but it is also epic in a different context.

An epic poem is a poem that is very long, usually centered upon a hero, in which a series of events or achievements are narrated in a formal style. The Odyssey is one such poem.

Let’s take a moment and examine how this might look in your notes.

• Epic– Used as an adjective, means “impressively

great” (i.e. epic heat wave)– The Odyssey is an epic journey– Epic poetry is long, formal poems usually

involving heroes

Notice how I condensed all of the information, but it’s all still there. Write notes however they make sense to you. After all, you’re the one who must study them.

THE TROJAN WAR

Homer also wrote The Iliad which takes place during the Trojan War, the event which leads us to The Odyssey.

Before we learn all about Odysseus and his quest to get home, we’re going to learn about the Trojan War and what Odysseus was doing before The Odyssey.

GODS AND GODDESSES

The ancient Greeks were polytheists, which means they believed in many gods. The Greek gods were very human-like but were immortal and had great powers. They also loved to meddle in human affairs!

The Trojan War is the perfect example, and started because the goddess of discord, Eris, created a golden apple called The Apple of Discord.

Eris told three other goddesses that the Apple of Discord belonged to the “fairest” (most

beautiful) goddess.

From left to right:

Hera – goddess of marriage

Aphrodite – goddess of love

Athena – goddess of wisdom and war

Paris of Troy, a human, was made the judge.

All of the goddesses tried to bribe him.

Paris took Aphrodite’s bribe. She offered him the love of the most beautiful woman in the world.

Paris, fromthe movie “Troy”

MAJOR PROBLEM! The most beautiful girl in the world, Helen, was married to Menelaus, the brother of the most powerful king of Greece.

Agamemnon (his brother) controlled a powerful army and could unite Greece.

Helen Agamemnon with Menelaus

Paris went to Greece and Menelaus received him as a guest. Hospitality was very important to the ancient

Greeks. He even left his wife Helen alone

with Paris. However, when Menelaus left town, Helen (under Aphrodite’s power) fell in love with Paris and went back with him to Troy.

Agamemnon united the Greek armies and

they besieged Troy for 10 years!

The king of the Trojans was named Priam. Priam and Agamemnon both had many heroes which fought in this war.

The two most powerful and famous heroes were Achilles and Hector. Achilles is so famous, we have a part of our body named after him!

(Achilles’ Tendon)

Hector was a hero of Troy and Achilles fought for the Greeks.

Wearing armor forged by the gods, Achilles defeated Hector.

However, Achilles did not survive the Trojan War either. His one weakness was exploited and he died from a wound to his heel.

A weakness is now referred to as an “Achilles’ heel”.

The 10 year Trojan War was finally brought to an end by the hero we will be reading about in

The Odyssey. His name is Odysseus.

Odysseus is very clever. Even after 10 years the Trojan walls could not be breeched. So he

removed the walls from the equation.

The Greeks pretended to retreat, but left behind a wooden horse filled with soldiers. The Trojans thought the horse was a gift from the gods and brought it inside the city.

The Greek soldiers waited until the Trojans slept, then opened the gates to the Greek army.

All because of Odysseus’ clever plan, the Trojan war came to an end. Troy was destroyed, and

Helen returned to Greece with Menelaus.

Answer these questions while I check your notes:

What are some things you learned about the Trojan War today that you did not know before?

Place yourself in Menelaus’ shoes. How would you have reacted?

What about if you were Paris? Or Helen?