Here you will find a unit plan for the Odyssey. The links lead you to the handouts used for the particular lesson. This unit focuses on characterization, characteristics of an epic hero, irony, and symbolism.
| Day One – One day intro to the Greek Olympic God/desses:
Students use powerpoint and do a quick research of an assigned god/dess. Gods and Goddesses Mini Project Gods and Goddesses mini project key
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Day Two – Odyssey Introduction Presentation with Guided Notes:
Odyssey Introduction PowerPoint updated Odyssey Introduction PowerPoint Notes
Anticipation Guide for The Odyssey: Literature Circles Plan for The Odyssey: |
| Day Three – Class discussion to present the concept of the archetypal hero:
Website on literary archetypes HERO TRADING CARD INSTRUCTIONS 2009 heroes discussion– finish on blog Early Group Assignments for The Odyssey: |
Day Four – Odysseus as Epic Hero
Characteristics of Epic Heroes Odysseus as Epic Hero Character chart to help students identify character traits for Odysseus (I used this with “I am Laertes Son” and “Lotus Eaters”)’ |
| Day Five – Students complete an Irony Webquest
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Day Six – Irony and characterization (Tragic Hero flaw) Read: “Cyclops” (10 pp) |
| Day Seven – Reading questions for “Cyclops” excerpt: Cyclops worksheet | Day Eight – Brief discussion of Symbolism before reading “Circe, Sirens, Scylla, and Charybdis”: symbolism in the odyssey |
| Day Nine – Finish Monsters and symbolism.
Online Interactive Map of The Odyssey
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Day Ten – Theme – finding theme in The Odyssey
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| Day Eleven – Socratic Seminar
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Day Twelve – Odyssey Tiered Writing Assignment |
| Day Thirteen – Finish Writing Assignment
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Day Fourteen – Odyssey Review
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| Day 15 – Odyssey Test Unit Test
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Other Resources:Summarized animated youtube of The Odyssey Easier version Choose your own Odyssey Review Game |
Other Handouts/Activities:Practice identifying characterization: Characterization Activity The Lotus Eaters.Tennyson’s Poem
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Mrs. Livaudais,
I hope you don’t mind that I am using your structure and ideas for my graduate work. I will be citing you as a source so that I am not claiming credit for your hard work.
My compliments,
Rich
I am flattered to be a source and glad to be of help. Good luck on your grad work!
This has been so helpful. I am teaching the Odyssey for the first time and this lesson plan has been a life saver.
Hi. I am planning an Odyssey unit for the first time. My kids all bought the book, the Robert Fitzgerald translation……I love the day by day plan and the activities…..but I am trying to see a reading schedule. Did you have them read the whole thing or just some books ?? I can’t tell from you plan what was read when ??
Thank you so much. I am going to work from a LIT book next year and I think it has excerpts too. If I could suggest anything to add to the lesson plan above, I would suggest adding in the reading schedule by day also.
For example, even if you say, “Read excerpt from Book 1 in LIT book” and/or “Read excerpt from Book 9 in LIT book”.
It would just help the flow of activities with the readings.
But, it is very valuable the way it is and I love it. I just wanted to pass on a suggestion.
Thank you so much for sharing your ideas. I was wondering what movie you use to teach the Odyssey and if it is easy to obtain? Your site has been very helpful.
Mrs. Livaudais,
I am a first year teacher and I personally have never read The Odyssey. Thank you for providing a great launching pad for planning! I felt a bit lost, but am using your structure (with modifications) for my unit plan my first quarter. Thank you so much!
-Chris
I am so grateful to you for the resources you shared here. Last year was my first year for teaching the Odyssey, and it was a very bland, dry experience for me and my students. Your unit will definitely make it more engaging. Thank you!
Great resource. Do you have an answer key to The Odyssey Unit Test.
Hello. I am a new English 9 Honors teacher, and I’m very grateful to have found the resources you’ve provided!
I just have a question, however, regarding the 12 Olympian Gods listed on your PPT. Why isn’t Hades and Hestia listed/described, but Demeter and Dionysis were?
Thank you for your time!
You make a very good point. Hades definitely should be on the list of the 12 main gods. Hestia and Demeter were Tritons and siblings to Zeus, but not often considered part of the 12 main Olympian Gods – they are included in the bigger lists.
This is a great site…thank you for creating it! I plan to use several of your resources. I have one question…what film version did you use? In my brief search, I haven’t found an updated version. Thanks in advance!
Mrs. Livaudais,
I just wanted to let you know that I greatly appreciate your website and find it super helpful to me during student teaching! Thank you for being a wonderful teacher, and for creating this website!