Active Reading and Writing Activities for the Odyssey
Passive: lacking in energy or will: LETHARGIC
Active: marked by vigorous activity: BUSY producing or involving action or movement
As we study the Odyssey, you are expected to read actively. There are many ways to become an
active reader and writer, and we are giving you a choice of activities to enhance your
understanding of this classic literary work. TO BE SUCCESSFUL YOU MUST READ THE
FOLLOWING RULES AND DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY!
RULES
1. One assignment will be due per week. The assignment must reflect current episodes read
during that week, but you can also refer to prior episodes.
2. You can choose which assignment to complete each week; however, by the end of the
unit, you should complete two assignments from Creative Thinking, one Check for
Understanding, and one Connection.
3. Incorporate direct quotes and details from a current episode of The Odyssey in every
assignment in order to support your main points.
4. Your work should be typed.
5. You may complete one activity for extra credit at any point in the unit.
ASSIGNMENT CHOICES
Check for Understanding
 Answer the “Responding to the Selection” questions in the textbook at the end of the
reading selection. Please copy the question down first, and then compose a thoughtful
answer. Your answers need to be written as complete sentences.
 React to the story. What were your thoughts while reading this episode? Which parts of
the episode (characters, conflicts, or events) were particularly exciting, suspenseful, or
meaningful to you? What questions did you have? Did the episode remind you of
something from your own life? For this option, you should write a response of at least ¾
page.
 Create a diagram to represent an important aspect of one episode. You may create a cause
and effect chart or flow chart to explore why events occurred. Similarly, you could use a
Venn diagram to compare and contrast characters or events or a timeline to chart
important points. . Regardless of the format, your diagram will include 6-8 pieces of
information from the episode. Remember that you need quotes and details.
 Answer one of these essential questions by relating it to the reading: How do our
personal journeys shape us? OR What is heroism or what is heroic behavior? Include an
introduction, body, and conclusion in your writing. Remember to use text support. For
this option, you may want to take a current episode and refer back to previous ones to
show how Odysseus changes through his experiences.
 Create a Report Card for Odysseus, evaluating his performance on a specific episode.
You’ll need to design your own categories for evaluation (for example, “leadership”
“bravery” “focus”) and then give him a grade for each one. Each grade should be
supported by a Comment with reference to the text.
Creative Thinking
 Write an installment of the Odyssey that starts where a particular episode leaves off. Use
the same character or characters and tell the story of what happens next. This should be
one to two pages.
 “Talk” to a character. Interview him or her or take the character to task. Tell him/her
what you think of their predicament, their actions, or tell them what they should do next.
You may write this in dialogue format, or as a letter to a character.
 Write a summary of our reading from the point of view of another character. (Here’s your
chance to “see through the Cyclop’s eye” or to “take the voice” of a Siren…) Get into the
character’s head and tell us things that the story does not. Explain what the experience of
Odysseus’s visit was like for him or her. For this option, DO NOT SIMPLY RETELL
WHAT IS ALREADY IN THE TEXT. We should get new insights into the character
through your writing.
 Drawing: Pick THREE examples of figurative language from an episode and illustrate
these visually. For example “Dawn with fingertips of rose” could be drawn as a goddess
who is part of the sunrise sky, with long pink fingertips extending outward. Each drawing
needs a caption with direct quotes from the text. Note: You need proficient skills in
drawing in order to earn full credit for this one. Rushed and messy drawings will earn
minimal or no credit..
Connect to the Reading:
 Connect Odysseus’ heroic qualities or adventures to another literary or artistic creation
such as a song, movie, television show, comic book, a fantasy novel, a video game, a
science fiction story, fairy tale, or other story. Make sure to make the connection obvious
by pulling quotes and/or specific examples from the Odyssey and the work you’re
comparing it to in order to make the connection clear. Then, in a few well-crafted
paragraphs, explain how the two are connected.
 Connect the reading to a real-world event or fact. Go online or browse through a
newspaper or magazine. Bring in a related article for the class to talk about. Then, in a
few well-crafted paragraphs, explain how your article about a real-world event connects
to the reading. Make the connection obvious by pulling quotes from both the article and
The Odyssey and explaining your choices. .
Name:________________________________
Homework Tracking Chart
Use this to record the category of your active reading homework. Please review the directions to
make sure you complete all category criteria!
Week One: “Sailing from Troy,” “The Lotus Eaters,” “The Cyclops”
Category ________________________
Due Date: Wednesday, November 27th
Week Two:
Category ________________________
Due Date: Double period, Dec 4th or 5th
Week Three:
Category ________________________
Due Date: Tuesday, December 10th
Week Four:
Category ________________________
Due Date: Tuesday, December 17th