Cassandra
Here is a link to a very short video giving some great context and background information about the novel. It also is very good at helping the reader along in character development.
Cassandra and The Return of the Prince of Troy - The Trojan War Saga Ep.4 - Greek Mythology - YouTube Summary--The god Apollo takes an interest in Cassandra and gives her the gift of foreseeing the future. In return, Apollo requested that she sleep with him. After she said refused he cursed her so that no one would ever believe her prophecies. She then returns to her family and begins to tell many hardships that will occur to them and the people around them. For example, she foretold the prophecy of the Trojan Horse and no one listened until it happened. Soon Troy falls with the help of the Trojan Horse and still no one listens to her. Agamemnon seals his fate by rejecting her foretelling of his death by his wife Clytemnestra. Discussion questions 1.Why does Cassandra not take the "out" ending her pain and suffering when she had the chance? 2.Why are Cassandra's prophecies not believed even though she is proven right? 3.Does she regret her life choices, or, is she content with what she has done? |
Here is a quick YouTube video describing some of the characters and their background as described in the summary.
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House of NAmes Pg.3-69 (Clytemnestra)
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Author Bio- Colm Tóibín was born in 1955, in Wexford Ireland. Early on he had trouble learning to read and he was not always the best student. He studied at the University College Dublin to get a BA in History and English. Over the next couple of decade Tóibín writes many book and win numerous awards. Recently he wrote his ninth novel in 2017 titled "House of Names". Currently, he teaches in Department of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University and is also the Chancellor of Liverpool University. For a more in depth analysis of Tóibín's life go here.
Summary- House of names starts when Agamemnon invites his wife, Clytemnestra, and his son, Orestes, to their daughter, Iphigenia's, wedding. Agamemnon's true intentions are revealed when he sacrifices his daughter and imprisons his wife all to appease the gods. Trapped in the prisons with no food and water and only her thoughts Clytemnestra decides that she must exact revenge for her daughter by killing her husband. She reunites with Electra back in Mycenae and eventually Clytemnestra enlist the help of Electra's soon to be lover, Aegisthus. With his help they begin their plan to kill Agamemnon and Cassandra.
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Discussion Questions
1.Was it wise for Clytemnestra to trust Aegisthus? Would you have trusted him?
2.What is believed to be the reason that Clytemnestra doesn't believe in the Gods?
3.What is the root of Clytemnestra's "small pang of desire" that she feels while leading Agamemnon to his death in the bath?
1.Was it wise for Clytemnestra to trust Aegisthus? Would you have trusted him?
2.What is believed to be the reason that Clytemnestra doesn't believe in the Gods?
3.What is the root of Clytemnestra's "small pang of desire" that she feels while leading Agamemnon to his death in the bath?
Greek Mythology: Story of Clytemnestra - YouTube
Here is a quick video going further into the details of Clytemnestra's life since she is such a central character.
Here is a quick video going further into the details of Clytemnestra's life since she is such a central character.
Lost Books of the odyssey by zachary mason
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Author Bio- Zachary Mason is a computer scientist and novelist. Born in 1974 he famously wrote Lost Books of The Odyssey starting in 2007 and revised in 2010. Growing up in Silicon Valley, he went to Bard College at Simon’s Rock and later he finished his doctoral studies at Brandeis University. Since 2007 he has written many books including Void Star.
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Summary- Our story begins with our hero and protagonist, Odysseus, is being held captive on the island of Ogygia. The novel then moves to the gods assisting Odysseus in breaking free from captivity with the help of Hermes. After many trials and tribulations Alcinous calls on his citizens to round up a ship and crew to take Odysseus home to Ithaca. Later in the novel our protagonist has reached the Land of the Dead where he has many quarries and encounters with the god Poseidon. The story leaves off with Odysseus competing in a contest involving the firing of his special bow.
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Discussion Questions
1.What kind of hero is Odysseus?
2.What qualities make him a true hero?
3.What does not make him a true hero?
1.What kind of hero is Odysseus?
2.What qualities make him a true hero?
3.What does not make him a true hero?
Circe By Madeline Miller
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Author Bio- Splitting her childhood between growing up in New York and Philadelphia. Madeline Miller received her BA and MA in Classics at the prestigious Ivy league school, Brown University. She further studied at other well known schools including the University of Chicago and Yale. She wrote her first novel "The Song of Achilles" in 2012 which later became a New York Times Bestseller. Later in her career Miller continued to write many other novels, many becoming widely loved. She currently resides outside of Philadelphia.
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Summary- Circe written by Madeline Miller tells the tale of an exiled witch who has a soft side for mortals. The author develops a clear and coherent theme early. One of Miller's beginning focal points include establishing the topic of gender early on in the novel. Circe herself, being the daughter of a nymph and also a Titan, is a let down to the people around her. Due to her being discovered as a witch she is exiled by the gods. Throughout her journey she breaks things off with Odysseus due to his unsympathetic views about nymphs. Her journey finally takes her to a pivotal point where she must decide between the world of the gods or the world of the mortals.
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Discussion Questions
1.How does Miller address gender from the beginning of the text?
2.What type of voice does Miller present to the reader?
3.What is a common theme that we so the author develop throughout the book?
1.How does Miller address gender from the beginning of the text?
2.What type of voice does Miller present to the reader?
3.What is a common theme that we so the author develop throughout the book?
The Penelopiad by Margaret atwood
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Author Bio
Born 18 November, 1939, in Ontario Canada; Margaret Atwood grew up splitting time between northern Ontario, Quebec, and Toronto. She went on to get her undergraduate degree at the University of Victoria at Toronto as well as a masters degree from Radcliffe College. She is known for her many accomplishments, whether it is her award winning books, thoughtful poetry, or her captivating dramas. Atwood has worked for countless universities such as, New York University and the University of Alabama. She currently resides in Toronto, Canada. |
Summary
Margaret Atwood tells the story of Penelope from the point of view of her and her 12 hung maids being spirits in the underworld. At the young age of 15 Penelope marries Odysseus and travels to Ithica with him. There she will later give birth to her son Telemachus. Odysseus will then go off to war for almost 10 years and so, in turn, around 100 suitors go to Ithica to try to persuade Penelope to marry them. Despite the temptation, she stays faithful to Odysseus by telling the suitors that she can not marry one of them until she finishes the quilt she is working on. Unbeknownst to them she will never finish the quilt. Eventually, Odysseus returns in disguise and kills the suitors. But then in a turn of events he order Telemachus to hang the 12 maids. As the novel closes Odysseus reveals himself to Penelope and then leaves for another long journey again. |
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Discussion Questions
- Why would Penelope not stop Odysseus from killing the maids in the original Odyssey?
- Why does Penelope not want Odysseus to know that she is a clever person?
- What role do the maids play in the narration of this novel?
