Homer

[songbird]

I would like for my dd (15) to read The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer. She started it and said she didn't understand, which I get. Have any of you had any success with these writings? If so, how? Thanks in advance.

[CircleSlide]

We are studying the Odyssey right now, we are using Classic Myths to Read Aloud, The great Stories of Greek and Roman Mythology by William F. Russell. It is an excellent way to read Greek mythology. We read a chapter/story a day aloud, we are so enjoying this book. Proceding each myth is a list of vocabulary words and definitions, with pronunciation of difficult words. It breaks the stories down into easy to understand chapters. It would definitely recommend this book!

[songbird]

On my way to check those out! Thanks so much.

[Lucy]

http://www.teachwithmovies.org/guides/odyssey.html

We always start with watching any related movies. Watching the movies gives them some points of reference and often times, an idea of where we are going.

Clash of the Titans
Jason and the Argonauts
We add to the drama: documentaries of Greek culture, ancient Greeks...
I try to incorporate the WHOLE picture of the life and times that produced these ideas.:thumb

[antsinmypants]

Ditto to Lucy, that's what my dad did. There used to be a game out there that came out around 1995-1998 that we used while I was in school that was about the different mythologies (Roman, Greek, Egyptian) and you had to role play a little, investigating the story and learning about the different gods/goddesses and their functions.

We did watch the movies mentioned above, and they can be a bit hokey (special-effect wise) but they serve their purpose. You find that a lot of Greek and Roman culture and faith are still influenced by the old beliefs, so it helps knowing/understanding the old beliefs and the functions of the now Greek and Roman Catholic churches.

I found studying the Roman empire and gods/goddesses assisted in understanding a lot of the Spanish culture in my area when we lived overseas in Spain, as there were still many holidays that had been glossed over and repainted for church functions (complete with a saint or mother Mary to oversee it).

Studying the Olympics and the opening ceremonies also would assist, as they are still so deeply rooted in Greek god/goddess worship.

I believe Discovery/TLC/History Channel had some good TV shows on both the Ilyiad and the Odessy, and the Greco-Roman wars. They helped LOTS!

Perhaps this school related link (http://www.rcs.k12.va.us/CSJH/mytholog.htm) may also assist?

[Lucy]

Yes, we have lots of those movies. There is a really good one on Rome: the Paths to Empire or something like that..5 part series. Try an inter-library loan...
Thanks Antsinmy pants!

[lisaann]

I have one called The Children's Homer. I'm pretty sure Rainbow Resource carries it. :hat

[CircleSlide]

I have one called The Children's Homer. I'm pretty sure Rainbow Resource carries it. :hat

just want to say I LOVE RAINBOW RESOURCES, there I am now done:heh

[millky]

Definitely do some pre-reading activities before you look at the actual text. Watching movies, researching the background to the story, Greek culture, etc. Then start small with the text, like start one short section at a time and keep linking it back to what she already knows. You can get bigger and more in depth as she gets more into the story.

You can play around with it too, like if she finds it difficult to just straight-out read it (which could be boring for someone her age) she might like to do stuff like make a comic strip version of the story or put some of it on as a play with her siblings or interview the characters or write a news article about the story or re write it from a modern perspective, make up tongue twisters from all the tricky language...endless possibilities just depends what she likes to do and how she learns.

[topekaclark]

just want to say I LOVE RAINBOW RESOURCES, there I am now done:heh

I agree< love the selections and prices .........:yeah