English 10A

“The Journey of the Hero”

Semester 1 Enduring Understandings:

· The hero’s journey is a reflection of the journey we all take in life.

· Storytelling carries vital information about our cultures, histories and heritages.

Autobiography

1. Reflecting upon our actions makes us stronger and gives us greater insight.

2. In life, our experiences shape who we are and who we become.

3. A greater understanding of ourselves leads to a greater understanding of the world around us and how we perceive it.

Mythology

1. Mythology provides a necessary foundation for understanding literature.

2. Myths provide a means for us to understand ourselves.

3. Myths contain and promote the values, customs and beliefs of a culture or civilization.

4. Myths help us understand what it means to be a member of a society, and teach us how to live in our world.

Essential Questions:

• Why are myths, tales, and legends important?
• What is unique about myths?  Legends?  Tales?
• Why did storytellers feel the need to write down their experiences?
• Why are details and figurative language important to good writing?
• What elements are important in creating a good story?
• What are these people (Identify the culture the story is from) trying to explain about themselves, their culture, or the human condition?

The Odyssey

1. The Odyssey is a perfect example of the hero’s journey.

2. We all share a common core of meanings in our lives and in our stories that help us understand what it means to live life well.

3. Odysseus represents and reflects all of us.

Essential Questions:

• Why must we leave home?
• What does life “owe” us, if anything?
• Why read the Odyssey?
• When does a story about one person become a story about all of us?
• What or who does Odysseus represent?
• What can Odysseus and his journey teach us, now?
• What is more important– fulfilling the quest or making the journey?
• When can our strengths also become our weaknesses?

Tolerance/Acceptance/Inclusion

1. Human beings have always found it necessary to subjugate others.

2. We can ensure the success of our future by confronting and studying the mistakes of our past.

3. The same stories unite all of us in a global culture.

Vocabulary

1. Learning and understanding word stems gives you the ability to recognize and understand new words.

2. A larger vocabulary and the ability to understand new words make you a better reader.

3. Your writing improves when you have access to a rich, complex vocabulary.