Additional Instructions for the Required Essay: For this part, you will write a fully-developed essay of at least 5 paragraphs (i.e., an introduction with clear thesis, 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion). Develop a clear thesis and support your statements with relevant examples and quotes from the poem. Explain what this evidence shows. Answer all parts of the question specifically.
Question for the Required Essay: Basing your analysis on Books 1 and 5 only of The Odyssey, identify three main aspects of Odysseus’ character and give your overall assessment of this hero. Support your discussion with examples and quotes that illustrate this epic hero’s admirable and/or problematic traits based on his actions, his words and thoughts, the way he behaves, and the way others see him.
Base your essays on your reading and interpretation of the relevant texts. The purpose is to demonstrate your understanding of the texts and your ability to develop an argument.
Use examples and quotes from the relevant literary texts to back up your analysis; explain how the evidence supports your points.
Do NOT use any secondary sources other than the ones I have provided in the course.
Do NOT use websites such as Wikipedia, SparkNotes, Shmoop, Cliffnotes, Lilcharts, Gradesaver, Book Rags, Enotes, and the like. You will get no credit for work using such sources.
Note that failure to cite sources, whether paraphrased or quoted, constitutes plagiarism, as does improper paraphrasing. Your work will be checked by Turnitin.
Question for the Required Essay: Basing your analysis on Books 1 and 5 only of The Odyssey, identify three main aspects of Odysseus’ character and give your overall assessment of this hero. Support your discussion with examples and quotes that illustrate this epic hero’s admirable and/or problematic traits based on his actions, his words and thoughts, the way he behaves, and the way others see him.
Important Notes for Essay Question:
(1) Limit yourself to a discussion of Books 1 and 5 only; do not discuss what happens in the rest of The Odyssey. Your focus should be on your close reading of these sections only, so you should re-read these two sections.
(2) If you are using the online translation of The Odyssey, remember that Odysseus is called Ulysses in that version.
