Out of the kindness of Ms. Ventrella’s heart–because, as you know, I have no heart–I’ve decided that we should discuss annotated bibliographies. In fact, I will actually provide you with one of the sources you may use for your assignment.
The structure for an entry in an annotated bibliography is as follows:
- Begin with a bibliographic entry (author, title, publisher, year, etc)
- Write one sentence explaining the kind of source you have consulted. Is it an article? Is it a textbook? Is it a menu? (Okay…that would be strange)
- Write 2-3 detailed sentences explain the specific the information from the source that you will use in your demonstration.
Once we have finished, we will look at two key texts of Ancient Greece: Iliad and the Odyssey
On the surface, the Iliad and the Odyssey are epic poems that retell the events of the Trojan War and its aftermath. In truth, however, these two works are much more than poems:
- Because they were not written down until long after the Heroic Age, these poems were a form of oral history shared by all Greeks
- The poems recount both historical and mythological events. Thus, they provide key insights into the religion and beliefs of the period
- Because the poems describe the actions of great warriors, they served as a how-to manual for all Greek fighters
- The poems describe key components of Greek life, like traditions regarding the treatment of guests
- The Iliad and the Odyssey provide key insights into the Greek world view, including what Greek men thought of women
So…What Are You Reacting?
- Today and tomorrow, you will work on your scripts. You will perform your skits tomorrow.
- Because of our timeline, I really need you to be efficient. We don’t have time for lavish Hollywood production.
If you have a better scenario, let me know:
- A sports show (perhaps during intermission?) interview of Achilles. Achilles will have some time to explain his choices on the battlefield, including his whining and crying; he should also explain his treatment of Hector’s body.
- A gossip tell-all show (TMZ, perhaps?) outlining the complex role of Helen and Briseis in the stories.
- Academy award-like coverage of the beauty contest that sets off the entire conflict. Perhaps even Greece’s Next Top Goddess? Looking up Paris and the Golden Apple should help you.
- A CSI inspired investigation of the Trojan horse. How did the Greeks really get in the city?
- An eye-witness news report of the death of Achilles
- A Dr. Phil-inspired show about the family of gods behind the struggle. Why can’t these divine family members get along? (This needs to be a bigger group)
- A comedy skit in which two warriors, Diomedes and Glaucus, exchange insults before battle, only to realize through some zany mix-up that their grandfathers were friends.
Props I have a Roman helm, a trident, and, inexplicably, a wooden horse of sorts. The rest is up to you.
- Make sure your group identifies 5 key points that are important about the stories you examined. At least one point should focus on the cultural/historical significance of the story.