The Odyssey & O Brother, Where Art Thou? Fishbowl

Fishbowl Set-up How-to 1. Only people sitting in the inner circle may speak. Inner circle participants must have the text to refer to during discussion. Inner circle participants must have the text to refer to during discussion. 2. If someone from the outer circle has something to say, he or she sits in one of the two side desks. 3. Said participant may stay as long as he or she has something meaningful to share. 4. Outer circle participants must take notes.

Fish Bowl Rules 1. Only one person speaks at a time. 2. Participants must use cues such as body language and eye contact to determine when it is appropriate to speak. 3. If two people start to speak at the same time, one must yield. 4. All participants look at the person speaking. 5. Questions can be asked of other participants in the inner circle to motivate them to join in. 6. Disagree politely. 7. State your ideas and support them with evidence. 8. Respond to the comments of other participants by agreeing or disagreeing and offering additional evidence. 9. Record notes, quotations from the text(s), statistics, etc., that support your ideas and opinions. 10. The teacher or seminar leader does not participate in the discussion except to provide a new question or to terminate an irrelevant or inappropriate line of discussion.

Discussion Requirements State and identify issues to be discussed State and identify issues to be discussed Use foundational knowledge Use foundational knowledge Elaborate & explain Elaborate & explain Provide reasons, evidence, etc. Provide reasons, evidence, etc. Invite other people to contribute Invite other people to contribute Challenge the accuracy of your companions’ statements Challenge the accuracy of your companions’ statements

Question 1: Pride Odysseus’s primary flaw is pride. The hero can’t take an insult lying down and insists on flaunting his victories even after challenges or battles have passed. Mortals must always remember humility in the face of the gods. Odysseus’s primary flaw is pride. The hero can’t take an insult lying down and insists on flaunting his victories even after challenges or battles have passed. Mortals must always remember humility in the face of the gods. Is Odysseus justified in showing his pride because he has the goods – muscle, courage, and an honorable name – to back it up? Is Odysseus justified in showing his pride because he has the goods – muscle, courage, and an honorable name – to back it up? Is humility overrated, or do people ultimately suffer for excessive pride? Is humility overrated, or do people ultimately suffer for excessive pride?

Question 2: Suffering Does Penelope suffer more for her ignorance about her husband’s fate than if he had simply died in the Trojan war? Does Penelope suffer more for her ignorance about her husband’s fate than if he had simply died in the Trojan war? Odysseus suffers because he blinded Poseidon’s son. Does Odysseus deserve the suffering that resulted? Odysseus suffers because he blinded Poseidon’s son. Does Odysseus deserve the suffering that resulted? Are there any circumstances in real life where people deserve the suffering they receive? Remember to offer specific examples to explain your point. Are there any circumstances in real life where people deserve the suffering they receive? Remember to offer specific examples to explain your point.

Question 3: The Psyche Odysseus faces many challenges on his journey to Ithaca, his journey home. Not only does he embark on an external journey, he also embarks on an internal one. You can debate whether there are more than one shadow and anima in this tale. Think about how he changes and grows. Odysseus faces many challenges on his journey to Ithaca, his journey home. Not only does he embark on an external journey, he also embarks on an internal one. You can debate whether there are more than one shadow and anima in this tale. Think about how he changes and grows. Discuss Odysseus’s persona—the mask he shows the world—and the way he views his surroundings (his conscious moral fiber). Discuss Odysseus’s persona—the mask he shows the world—and the way he views his surroundings (his conscious moral fiber). Who is Odysseus’s shadow? What is the relationship between Odysseus’s persona and his shadow self? Who is Odysseus’s shadow? What is the relationship between Odysseus’s persona and his shadow self? Who is Odysseus’s anima and what is their relationship? Who is Odysseus’s anima and what is their relationship?

Question 4: Home Odysseus is exiled from Ithaca, his home. Home exists on two levels: the physical location and the internal one. Odysseus is exiled from Ithaca, his home. Home exists on two levels: the physical location and the internal one. Talk about what home means to Odysseys on a physical or tangible level. Talk about what home means to Odysseys on a physical or tangible level. What is the symbolic meaning of home for Odysseus? How does home represent his psyche? What is the symbolic meaning of home for Odysseus? How does home represent his psyche? What is home for you symbolically? What is home for you symbolically?

Wrap-up For homework, reflect on the discoveries we made in class on the readings about the various issues raised from our class discussion about The Odyssey. For homework, reflect on the discoveries we made in class on the readings about the various issues raised from our class discussion about The Odyssey. Write approximately 250 words Write approximately 250 words Place in Writer’s Notebook Place in Writer’s Notebook