1. Greek Mythology and Helen on Eighty-Sixth Street Page 126 2007 COS – 2010 COS – RL.9-10.4; RL.9-10.9 RL.9-10.10; W.9-10.3; W.9-10.4; W.9-10.10; SL.9-10.1; L.9-10.1; L.9-10.2; L.9-10.3; L.9-10.4; L.9-10.6 AHSGE – R.III.2; R.IV.2 Reading Skills – Understanding allusions Literary skills – Determine character traits from what characters say about themselves

2. Literary Terms Character Traits – personalities, values, likes, and dislikes Allusion – reference to a past well-known event or story

3. Helen of Troy The god Zeus fell in love with Leda, a mortal woman and visited her in the form of a swan. Their daughter Helen grew up to be the most beautiful woman on earth.

4. Helen of Troy Helen married Menelaus, king of Sparta, but Paris fell in love with her and ran away with her to Troy.

5. Helen of Troy Helen’s husband, Menelaus, and other Greek kings and warriors under the leadership of his brother, Agamemnon sailed to Troy in a thousand ships to bring Helen home.

6. Helen of Troy For ten years the Greeks camped outside the walls of Troy, but they were unable to break down the walls. Finally the Greeks built a huge wooden horse with a hollow belly and hid some soldiers inside it.

7. Helen of Troy The Trojans thought the horse was a gift and wheeled it into the city. That night the Greeks crept out of the horse, opened the city gates to let in the other soldiers, and slaughtered the Trojans.

8. Other Greek Images in the Story Odysseus – Fought in the Trojan war. The wooden horse was his idea. He is most famous for his ten year journey to return from the war (the Odyssey) Lotus-eaters – In the Odyssey, people who eat fruit of the lotus tree, a sort of drug, which causes them to forget forever their homes and families. Argus – Odysseus’s dog in the Odyssey. When Odysseus returns home after twenty years, the dog is the only one who recognizes him.

9. Other Greek Images in the Story Parthenon – a temple of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare.

10. Vocabulary – p. 126 Embodies – v.: conveys the impression of; represents Odyssey – n.: extended journey marked by wandering, adventure, and changes of fortune Litany – n.: repetitive prayer or recitation Incantation – n: chant of words or phrases that is meant to produce a magical result Stifled – v. used as adj.: smothered

11. Vocabulary – p. 126 Scourge – n.: cause of serious trouble or great suffering Polytheism – n.: belief in more than one god. Ramparts – n.: broad embankments surrounding a castle, fort, or city for defense against attack Supplication – n.: humble plea or request Enunciate – v.: pronounce; articulate

12. Vocabulary Activity Match the vocabulary word to the definition or the word that is similar in meaning 1.Cantor, chant 2.Journey, quest 3.Theology 4.Bodily, bodiless 5.Announce 6.Psalm 7.Suppliant 8.Afflict, chastise 9.Fort, embankment 10.Muffled, suffocated A.Embodies B.Enunciate C.Incantation D.Litany E.Odyssey F.Polytheism G.Ramparts H.Scourge I.Stifled J.Supplication

13. Vocabulary Activity Match the vocabulary word to the definition or the word that is similar in meaning 1.Cantor, chant C Incantation 2.Journey, quest E Odyssey 3.Theology F Polytheism 4.Bodily, bodiless A Embodies 5.Announce B Enunciate 6.Psalm D Litany 7.Suppliant J Supplication 8.Afflict, chastise H Scourge 9.Fort, embankment G Ramparts 10.Muffled, suffocated I Stifled

14. Quickwrite We all have hopes and dreams. Some come true, and some don’t. Jot down ten of your hopes and dreams. Indicate which, if any, have came true.

15. While Reading Keep a list of the allusions the author uses in the story. Identify the following about each: –Identify the allusion from the story citing page number. –Identify the original source of the reference –Explain the meaning of the reference as it relates to the story. –Example: The name Helen (title) Refers to Helen of Troy from Greek mythology Helen is the name of the character Vita wants to portray in her school play. Vita dreams of having the same characteristics and power as Helen of Troy. **You should find 9 allusions

16. Activity P. 136 Questions 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9,10 Writing p. 136 Impossible Dream? Min. ½ page p. 137 Grammar Link – Coordinating Conjunctions Make sure to use all of the conjunctions