First period had the Explore test. Information is available here about the test.

Testing went a little longer than anticipated, so we didn’t have second period today.

Because I didn’t want sixth period to get ahead, we did some writing exercises and had a quick binder check.

Fourth period began the Odyssey, reading Fitzgerald’s 1961 translation. (A comparison of other translations is available here.) We used the opening lines to practice reading poetry:

Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story
of that man skilled in all ways of contending,
the wanderer, harried for years on end,
after he plundered the stronghold
on the proud height of Troy.
He saw the townlands
and learned the minds of many distant men,
and weathered many bitter nights and days
in his deep heart at sea, while he fought only
to save his life, to bring his shipmates home.
But not by will nor valor could he save them,
for their own recklessness destroyed them all —
children and fools, they killed and feasted on
the cattle of Lord Hêlios, the Sun,
and he who moves all day through the heaven
took from their eyes the dawn of their return. . . .

We worked on choral reading and pair reading.

Homework

• First, second, and sixth periods: none.
• Fourth period: read the Calypso section (1038-42).