World Literature
Book 12
Sirens and Sea Monsters
Warm up
Choose one of the following:
Option 1
1. Which choice should
Odysseus make? Should he
go towards Skylla the sea
monster, knowing that he will
surely lose 6 of his men or
should he go toward
Kharybdis and take the risk
that they may make it
through unscathed or that
they may all die?
2. Why is your choice the better
choice?
Option 2
1. Is Odysseus a good leader?
2. Explain your answer by
explaining decisions that
he has made in the past
and the results of his
choices.
Today’s activities
1. Warm-up
2. Finish reading Book 12
3. Update illustrations with new evidence from
the text
4. Complete book 12 questions and book 12
discussion questions
Book 12 Continued
As you read, consider the following:
• What challenges does he face and what do his
actions and choices show about him?
• What choices does he have to make? Does he
make the right choices?
• Are his actions heroic?
Odysseus faces the seirenes
• Listen and follow along
Book 12 (pages 214-217, lines 183-300)
• Answer the following questions:
1. How does Odysseus respond to the challenge of the
seirenes?
2. What does this show us about him?
3. How are the dangers of the Seirenes (sirens) like that of
the Lotus Eaters?
4. How are they different?
5. What do the Seirenes (Sirens) promise Odysseus in their
song?
6. What would they promise you?
Depictions of the Sirens in Art
Ancient Greek Pottery-480-460 BCE
Ancient Greek Sculpture-4th century BCE
John William Waterhouse, Ulysses and the Sirens, 1891
While many modern artists depict
the sirens as mermaids, Kirke
described them as “harpies,” birdlike creatures (Book 12, line 64)
Odysseus faces Skylla and Kharybdis
• Finish reading from pages 217-218 on your own (lines
300-339)
• Finish the illustration task you started last class. You
will only have 10 minutes for this.
1. After reading pages 216-218 (lines 259-338) add to your
image.
2. Label your image with specific lines written out and cited.
– Citation format (Book # followed by line number).
Example (Book 12, 94-96)
Turn in your revised drawings.
Book 12 (Pages 209-225) Questions
Discuss in assigned groups and answer on your paper.
Each person needs to write down the answers. Use complete
sentences and rephrase the question in the answer.
1. How are the dangers of the Seirenes (sirens) like that of the
Lotus Eaters? The dangers of the sirens and the Lotus Eaters
are similar in that they both . . .
2. How are they different?
3. What do the Seirenes (Sirens) promise Odysseus in their
song?
4. What would they promise you?
5. Why does Odysseus tell his men about the threat of the
seirenes but not about Skylla?
6. Is he right to keep his decision to sail toward Skylla a secret
from his men? Why or why not?
7. Does he demonstrate good leadership in this section or not?
How so or how not?
Groups
Period 4
Period 6
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
1. Michaela, Ryan, Tiana, Garret
2. Brandon, Cole, Haley,
Nissreen, Chris C.
3. Bryson, Jonah, Erica, Andrew
4. Kristi, Shana, Jaeger, Eric
5. James, Chris N., Liam, Carly
6. Jaden, Chad, Alex C., Christian
7. Kaitlin, Anna, Abdou, Alex H.
Mattie, Flo, Andy, Chris M.
Tiffany, Jonah, Alex J., Renae
Alexis, Noemi, Hayley, Gabby
Jack, Morgan, Kellen, Ciara
Rudy, Jennifer, Ross, Jason
Alanna, Emma, Noah, Harsha
Josh, Kasey, Alan, Chris L.
Jaimey, McKenna, Chris E.,
Sean
Review viewing
• Land of the Dead and the Sirens
• Skylla and Kharybdis
Book 12 Discussion Questions
• What does The Odyssey tell us about
temptation?
• How does it communicate this message? In
other words, what incidents in the text make
this message stand out?
• Is Odysseus a good leader? Why or why not?
• Are his actions heroic? Why or why not?