Honors English 9

1. Honors English 9 Week 4: January 23-27 2012

2. Due Today: Hercules Hero Chart Monday, January 23, 2012 • Walk-IN: Take out your hero chart and open up to the Hercules myth. • Learning Objective: • Students will improve reading comprehension by discussing selected texts with their peers. • Agenda: • Hercules Review Homework: Plan out your Hero Paragraph Greek Roots Hypo-Phil Due Blockday

3. The Hero’s Journey and Hercules

4. How to Identify a Hero Take notes on the characteristic of a hero: • Heroes are often obscure or mysterious origin.They may be sons of gods or royal parents. Their childhoods may be unusual; they may be left to die but then they may be rescued and brought up in poverty or isolation. Often they do not discover their real parentage until they are older and can prove themselves through some sign. • Heroes are neither fools nor invincible. Heroes, while they may be partly divine, are definitely human in their natures. They are subject to fear and danger; they are not immortal but may suffer harm. Sometimes heroes are invulnerable except for one spot on each of their bodies. Also, sometimes heroes may be defeated only with one particular weapon. • Heroes are called upon to make a journey or to follow a goal or quest.Heroes frequently choose difficult or dangerous adventures. Sometimes they do not choose, but are chosen for the adventures. An event, sometimes traumatic, leads to the adventure or quest. The quest takes the heroes away from their family or homeland. They labor for the good of others by ridding a land of a hideous monster, or they seek to bring back to their people some object which has been lost or stolen. Their quest may not always be for something noble, but they follow through nobly and refuse to surrender. Heroes must prove themselves many times while on their adventures.

5. How to Identify a Hero Take notes on the characteristic of a hero: • The heroes’ ways are not always direct or clear to the heroes.The way or path of life is never clear, thus heroes frequently become lost or must take detours or solve riddles. • The heroes’ ways are beset with dangers, loneliness, and temptation.Cruel kings, horrible monsters, dangerous seas—all these are physical dangers faced by heroes. Far more dangerous may be the feeling of isolation or alienation as heroes go far from home alone. Heroes are often tempted to give up or give in. Temptations appeal to their senses rather than to their intellect when they are encouraged to rest, eat a certain food, or to drink a certain wine. Women often appear as the most dangerous temptation of all. • Many quest tales supply friends, servants, or disciples as company for heroes.When heroes are given companionship, they are often still alone because the friends or servants do not understand the quest or are not motivated by the sense of mission but by friendship. • Heroes have guides.Frequently heroes receive help from unexpected sources be they fairy godmothers or beautiful/ugly witches or sorceresses. The heroes may be given a magic potion or weapon or simply information. Sometimes guides are limited by powers stronger than their own and therefore they can only help up to a certain point.

6. How to Identify a Hero Take notes on the characteristic of a hero: • Heroes descend into darkness and are not the same after emerging from the darkness.Usually the final test of heroes is their descent, either physical or emotional, into some Hell-like place of suffering or death. The fear, loneliness, or despair experienced by heroes is a type of death-rebirth which leads to enlightenment or maturity, changing heroes in some important ways. • What heroes seek is usually no more than a symbol of what they really find.While the goal is usually something tangible, the success or achievement of that goal is somewhat more spiritual. The maturity or growth of heroes becomes more important than the actual object of the quests. • With few exceptions, mythological heroes are male.While women may be equally courageous and noble, they are not often seen in the role of hero. Women provide protection, guidance, and knowledge for the hero; they give him the secrets of life. Davis, Bryan M. "The Archetypal Hero in Literature, Religion, Movies, and Popular Culture." 11 Oct 1997: 12 pp. Stephen F. Austin University. day Mon. Year. <http://titan.sfasu.edu/~beenet/resources/heromain.html>.

7. Due Today: Nothing Tuesday, January 24, 2012 • Walk-IN: Turn in your Hero Chart. Take out your Mythology book and your planning for your hero paragraph. • Learning Objective: • Students will identify the characteristics of a hero and the stages of the hero’s journey in order to support and analyze a position in a short constructed response. • Agenda: • Hero Quiz • Mythology review Homework: Greek Roots Hypo-Phil Complete Mythology Review

8. Wednesday/Thursday, January 25-26, 2012 Due Today: Mythology Study Guide • Walk-IN: Take out your Mythological Tales Review handout. • Learning Objective: • Students will increase their vocabulary by learning Greek Root words, and the different meanings they have. • Students will improve reading comprehension by discussing selected texts with their peers. • Students will review the Mythology text and work with your reading partner to complete a study guide. • Agenda: • Review Mythological Tales • Create Your Own Myth Writing Assignment • Greek Roots (Hypo-Phil) Review • Greek Roots (Phob-Topo) Homework: Study For Mythological Tales Test Complete Phob-TopoGreek Roots for next blockday

9. Choose your structure • Traditional/Creation Myth Step 1: A myth is a made-up story that explains the existence of a natural phenomenon — such as where thunder comes from or why snow falls from the sky. Myths — which often include gods and goddesses and other supernatural characters who have the power to make extraordinary things happen — are popular even when people know the actual reasons for natural phenomena. Before you start writing your own myths, try reading one that I've created! You can use it as a model for your own work.

10. Traditional/Creation Myth Example Traditional Myth: Mother Earth's Son Long ago, when Mother Earth lived by herself, far from her sisters and brothers, the stars, she was lonely. She was so lonely, she decided to make a family for herself. So she fell asleep under a blanket of ice, and when she woke up, she was the mother of a beautiful baby boy. Now, like all little babies, the little boy was at first easy to handle. He slept a lot and ate very little, and Mother Earth carried him about on her back in a sling woven of grass and reeds. When the baby was tired, she sang to him. "Oh little son of mine, little baby, the stars who are your uncles and aunts look down and send sweet dreams. Dreams like sugar cane, like the bees' honey." And he would fall asleep without a bit of trouble. But as the boy grew older and began to walk and then to run, he would sometimes get into trouble. He would fling things around and splash in puddles. He would take water into his mouth and spit it all over the place. Then he would laugh and laugh, thinking this mischief was very funny. His mother scolded him in all the languages of the earth. She would say "Little son, kleinemann, toto, mi nino, what are you doing? Do not treat your mother this way." Like all children, for the most part he was sorry, and tried hard to be good. But every once in a while, the mischief in his head got into his hands and feet and mouth, and then he made a mess. Everywhere. Today we know this boy by one of his mother's pet names.

11. Brainstorming and Warming Up Step 2: Brainstorming—Traditional Myth • Myths are stories that explain a natural phenomenon. Before humans found scientific explanations for such things as the moon and the sun and rainbows, they tried to understand them by telling stories. These tales — which often include gods and goddesses and other supernatural characters who have the power to make extraordinary things happen — remain popular today. As you start to think about writing your own myth, try these warm-ups. They should help you begin to plan your story. Follow these five steps. Step 1: Pick out the natural phenomenon you want to write about.Make it something that really interests you. If you live in the desert, you might want to think about the way a single rainstorm can cause a flood. If you live in the North, think about the way a snowstorm can cover the ground like an icy blanket. If you live near the ocean, consider the way the tide comes in and out each day. In other words, find something that is familiar that you can observe. Step 2: Observe carefully.It helps to know a thing well before trying to make up a story about it. The old myths were created by poets and storytellers who were well-acquainted with nature. Find out as much as you can about the natural phenomenon that you've chosen.

12. Brainstorming and Warming Up Step 3: Write down what is actual about the phenomenon.Keep a record of what you have observed or read. What are the smells, sights, and sounds connected to this natural phenomenon? If you are artistic, you might want to try drawing sketches or painting pictures. Think of yourself as a reporter, not a storyteller. Step 4: Write down key words from your research.If you're researching the desert, the words you find could be: sand, rain, gully, wash. Then look in a thesaurus or dictionary to find as many synonyms, phrases, and meanings for your words as you can. For example, under "sand" you might find grain, granule, gravel, shingle, powder, pulverizer. As you are writing those words down, think about the images behind them. • It's those images that will help you build your myth. For example, I thought of a pepper grinder when I reached the word pulverizer. Once you've got a picture in your mind, it's time for the big WHAT IF. Step 5: Ask yourself, WHAT IF?Hop onto your image and head off into myth land. This is the point from which you need to start brainstorming! Take a picture in your mind of what an aspect of the world would be like if certain events happened. Then use this "what if" to create a story that explains why the natural phenomenon exists. The story can be as fantastic as you want. • For example, take the pepper grinder from Step 4. What if there was a chef to the gods who lived in a beautiful green countryside but became upset one day because no one ever complimented his cooking?

13. Brain storming and Warming Up • While wandering around, he sat under one of those beautiful green trees and wished (always be careful what you wish for in a myth) that he could somehow make the gods take notice. And suddenly in front of him was a special pepper grinder that said, "Use me, and you will be noticed." And so the chef took the pepper grinder and used it that evening as he was seasoning the gods' stew. But instead of churning out pepper, it ground out sand — more sand than the chef had ever seen! The sand kept pouring out, completely covering the beautiful green countryside. And thus the desert came into existence.

14. Writing your own Traditional Myth Are you ready to write your myth? Then let's begin! • Pretend you have an audience of the king's court before you. Or that you are in a cave with other cave painters trying to summon the sun or the rain. Or think of yourself as a griot in an African village who is about to explain to your people how the world began. Using your brainstorming observations and ideas, write a story that explains a phenomenon in the natural world that you've experienced or witnessed on TV. You can pick almost anything — a snowstorm, an earthquake, or even a rainy day. Be as creative as you can — let your imagination run wild!

15. Choose your structure • Hero’s Quest Step 1: The hero's journey is a pattern that can be found in myths, stories, and legends from a range of cultures and time periods. From ancient Greece to modern Hollywood and anywhere beyond or in between, the hero's journey is an important archetype (or basic original pattern) from which many stories have been derived. • Ancient hero's journeys (such as The Odyssey by the Greek poet Homer or the legends of King Arthur) were not composed with an awareness of the pattern. The hero's journey, is largely the product of the scholarship of Joseph Campbell, who studied myths, stories, and religions from all over the world to find their common elements.

16. Brain storming and Warming Up Step 1: Name your hero Step 2: Unusual Birth • Oftentimes there are unusual circumstances surrounding the birth of a hero. The hero is frequently born to royalty or has a god or goddess as one of his or her parents. The hero is sometimes in danger at birth and needs to be hidden or disguised. Step 3: The Call to Adventure • Heroes can begin their journeys in a number of different ways, but usually a traumatic event occurs that leads to the hero wanting or needing to leave home. • When the a hero is called to leave home, he or she may refuse to leave at first, only to be convinced, tricked, or forced into leaving later. In other cases, the hero leaves willingly. Still other times, the hero begins the journey on accident. Step 4: Guide • The hero is usually aided by someone, often old and wise, with magical and mystical power. This figure serves as a guide and mentor as the hero embarks into a new world and faces challenges to his or her life and character.

17. Brain storming and Warming Up Step 5: Talisman or Special Weapon • The hero often has a weapon or protective device given to him or her that will be useful on the journey. The supernatural helper may be the one to give the hero the weapon or to tell him or her about it. Step 6: Crossing the Threshold • At some point, the hero leaves the familiar, safe world of childhood and home and enters fully into the new world of the journey. Step 7: Trials • The hero has to succeed at a series of trials that challenge and build his or her moral strength and character. Typically, one of these trials involves a descent into the underworld where the hero may experience a wound that cannot be healed. Step 8: Achievement of Goals • Upon successful completion of the trials, the hero achieves the ultimate goal of the journey. The goal may be an object, such as the Holy Grail; a conceptual task, such as the destruction of the Empire and Death Star; or knowledge or a state of being as in the story of Buddha.

18. Brain storming and Warming Up Step 9: Resurrection and/or Reconciliation with Home or Father Figure • Another test where the hero faces death – he has to use everything he's learned. • If a division or conflict with the hero's father or father-figure is part of the hero's journey, reconciliation or healing with the father occurs as part of the hero's journey. Step 10: Return Home • The hero, sometimes willingly and sometimes unwillingly, again crosses the threshold and returns home. He or she brings new wisdom and important cultural values back to the community upon return.

19. Writing your own Hero Myth Are you ready to write your myth? Then let's begin! • Pretend you have an audience of the king's court before you. Or think of yourself as a griot in an African village who is about to explain to your people the story of one of the greatest heroes of time in order to provide inspiration and motivation to your people. Using your brainstorming observations and ideas, write a story that tells the story of a hero’s journey. You can pick almost any time period and person big or small, have fun and be creative.

20. Greek Root Words--Review

21. Greek Root Words--Review

22. Greek Roots (Phob-Topo) • Turn to page ix in your Vocabulary Workbook. • For each Greek Root, you must write down the meaning or meanings of the root. • Next you must find an example of a word with the Greek Root within. • After that you must write down the definition of the word containing the Greek Root. • You must complete the back side (Phob-Topo) for next BLOCKDAY.

23. Friday, January 27, 2012 Due Today: Mythology Review • Walk-In: Turn in your Mythology Review. • Learning Objective: • Students will demonstrate their comprehension of Mythology on a Reading Comprehension Test. • You will revise your writing for ideas (specific descriptive details) organization (introduction/beginning, new body paragraph for movement of time, setting or main idea, resolution/message), voice (fits the tone of the words), sentence fluency (flow and pace of sentences fit tone and purpose) word choice (sensory details) and conventions (use punctuation to build tone or suspense by manipulating the pacing). • Agenda: • Mythology Test • Create Your Own Myth Revision Homework: Polished Draft of Myth.

24. Myth Revision • Ideas: • Specific showing words • The more specific the less words you need  • Organization: • Beginning (hero’s life, beginning before natural phenomenon) • New Time, New Setting, New Idea = New Paragraph • Resolution/Message of Myth • Voice: • Fits tone of myth—may shift • Sentence Fluency: • Use sentence lengths to enhance pacing to fits tone and purpose • Word Choice: • Sensory Details • Conventions: • Use variety of punctuation appropriately to build tone suspense through pacing

25. Myth Introduction • Before you present your myth to the class you need a short introduction to your myth or a precis • A precis is a short summary of essential points or facts • For your precis include: • Your purpose or goal of your myth • Why this myth would be important to an individual or a society • And what you feel makes this an interesting story For your presentation you have 2 ½ - 4 minutes.