Journalists

Journalists
__Task 1, Books I-IV__ As the gossip columnists for the //Ithaca Gazette//, you are assigned to report on the latest details of the town’s celebrities. This week, your editor asks you to profile of Telemachos, future King of Ithaca and, therefore, the town’s most eligible bachelor. Create his profile, including "show me" examples to prove his attractive qualities.

__Task 2, Books V, VI, and IX__ Recently, the //Ithaca Gazette // published a news story, recounting the events/details of Books V-IX. As the “Etiquette Editor” charged with commenting on citizens’ behavior and providing advice for a proper civilization, you have been receiving many letters, asking for your evaluation of Odysseus’ behavior and that of his various hosts. Considering proper customs and culture of the time, what advice/commentary would you give to your readers? Consider a creative format for your response.

__ Dear Abby __ Ask About Odysseus Week! Dear Abby, Why do you think Odysseus had his men explore the Land of the Lotus? Do you think this was a wise decision? What do you think of his putting the men into cages and taking them away again on the ship against their will?

Sincerely, Leave No Man Behind

Dear //Leave No Man Behind//, Odysseus probably just wanted to see what was inhabiting the island. It wasn’t his fault that they ate the plant, but what I do know is that it had terrible consequences. In the end he did the right thing by forcing his intoxicated men back aboard the ship, even if it was quite hard for them to leave the savory-sweet taste of the lotus behind. That was surely the best decision since it was not their desire, but merely their addiction that kept them there.

Dear Abby, I was just wondering why Odysseus never tried to escape from Calypso. Was he too scared or did he really love her? I could tell you that if it were me I would have escaped even if I had to swim the entire way. Sincerely, Run Forest Run

Dear Run Forest Run, I completely agree with you. I would have definitely tried to escape from Calypso. However, I do not think that it would have been possible. Calypso kept a very close eye on Odysseus. I don’t believe that he was in love with her. I truly believe that he loves his wife. Besides the fact that it would have been almost impossible to swim to another island since they were so spread out, and if you remember, Poseidon was angered at Odysseus. The spiteful sea-god would have created ruthless storms that he never could have weathered.

Dear Abby, Do you think that there is anything that Odysseus could do to try to make amends with Poseidon? I think that he definitely should before things get worse between them. Sincerely, Worried

Dear Worried, Form the beginning, it was a grave mistake to have blinded Poseidon's son and then boasted of it. I don’t think that there is anything that Odysseus could do to make Poseidon not hate him anymore, but I do think that there are some things that he could do to better the already battered relationship. For example, I think that he should sacrifice something for Poseidon. Gods seem to look at sacrificing as a way of honoring them. It is also a way of repenting when you have wronged a god.

Dear Abby, I was wondering what you thought of Odysseus’s taunting of the Cyclops Polyphemos after he escaped his clutches. Was it really wise of Odysseus to tell Polyphemos his name? Sincerely, Bragging Gets You Nowhere

Dear Bragging Gets You Nowhere, Odysseus acted very poorly in this situation. His bad judgment led to much more trouble for him down the road. Since he told Polyphemos his name, Odysseus has been plagued by Poseidon everywhere he goes, preventing him from returning home safely. What Odysseus should have done is silently leave on his boat with his crew. He even had a chance to escape after he taunted Polyphemos once, but proudly told the Cyclops his name, allowing Poseidon to haunt him for the rest of his journey. Instead he repeatedly taunted his captor and now is suffering the consequences.

Dear Abby, Rumor has it, Odysseus and his crew took shelter in a complete stranger’s home when the stranger was gone. They helped themselves to a hearty meal and wine. When the stranger returned, they find that they are in the home of Polyphemos, leader of the Cyclopians. Is this how he should have acted? Sincerely, Home Invader

Dear Home Invader, Odysseus definitely should have been more respectful. After all, we are the Greeks, and we find importance in respecting each other’s business. Would you be happy if some stranger walked into your house and helped himself to the sheep you worked hard at raising? I don’t think so. Afterwards, Odysseus seemed to find the Cyclops’s actions absurd, acting as if he has done no wrong. While, yes, perhaps Odysseus should not be killed, nor should his men, but he at least deserves some form of punishment. He did not even apologize. A true Greek is someone who can take responsibility for his actions. Odysseus should have manned-up and said he was sorry, for that is what pleases the gods. When Odysseus can do this, he can call himself the better man.

__Task 3, Books X-XII__ The Associated Press releases a report that a man similar to Odysseus has been spotted crossing over to the Underworld – looking very much alive! Upon hearing the news, your boss, the editor of //Ithaca Weekly//, dispatches you to the scene for the scoop. The public wants to know if Odysseus is in fact dead, and if he’s not, what he’s doing in the Underworld. Write an article, including eyewitness accounts and quotations from participants. Make sure to take your photographer with you! Your editor limits your article to 550-750 words due to space constraints, as Apollo has been raining down plague again, and this event has taken front page. media type="scribd" key="48421398" ARG0="key-b24i7padg242ijjnezm" width="463" height="508"

__Task 4, Books XVI-XXIV__ You are an editor for a magazine (congrats, you’ve been promoted!) and are developing a special edition devoted to the 60th year anniversary of the publication of Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero with a Thousand Faces.” You want the issue to make connections between the Heroic Cycle and Homer’s work, and maybe even to the modern idea of a hero. You have a staff of writers and photographers working for you. Delegate work to your staff based on the content that you want to see in the issue of the magazine – consider the topics/articles that you want written, the issues you want covered, and the additional illustrations/charts/graphs that you want to include in the issue. As the editor, your job is to write a “letter from the editor” introduction to the issue (look to real examples for what a “letter from the editor” should look and sound like!) and include a table of contents of what articles //would// appear in the magazine. You DO NOT have to write the articles. Rather, you are organizing the ideas and issues and delegating them to your staff.

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