COACHES CLINIC INDIANA ACADEMIC SUPER BOWL 2015 ENGLISH ROUND Virgil s Aeneid: Books I VI Why only the first six books of this epic? Reading the entire poem could have led to this reading alone for the competition. Many teachers shared that students find the first six books more interesting than the final six. The parallels to the Odyssey are clearest in these books. What is an epic poem? Epics are long poems written in a grand style. They encompass sweeping settings and themes. The poet makes ample use of epic similes in addition to more familiar poetic devices. Virgil s Aeneid is a prime example of the epic form. Do students need to know anything about epic poetry in general? The traditional epic form possesses six observable characteristics, all of which can be found in Virgil s Aeneid. The protagonist is a figure of heroic stature, of national or international importance, and of great historical or legendary significance. The setting is vast in scope, covering great nations, the world, or even the universe. The action consists of deeds requiring great valor or superhuman strength. Supernatural forces gods, angels, and demons take interest in the action and intervene in it. The style is of sustained elevation and grand simplicity (in content, not necessarily in form or diction). The epic poet recounts the deeds of the hero objectively. The epic conventions, devices that are incorporated into the style and the story in almost every epic since Homer's, include the following. The poet opens by invoking the Muse in Greek and Roman epics it is usually Calliope (though she may not be called by name) to inspire and instruct him. In the invocation he states the theme. The narrative opens in medias res "in the middle of things" giving the necessary exposition Cataloguing long, detailed lists of events, descriptions, persons, conditions, and so forth is employed. The main character makes extended, formal speeches.
The epithet a stock word or phrase almost inseparably associated with a character, circumstance, condition, or idea is used frequently. The plot always includes a descent into the underworld. Do students have to know anything about Virgil? Students needs not know the biography of Virgil, but it may be helpful to read the single page of biography at the front of the paperback edition. No questions will be asked about that biography. Do students need to know anything about the language of poetry? Devices of sound Blank verse: unrhymed iambic pentameter Free verse: unrhymed lines without regular rhythm End rhyme: rhyme occurring at the ends of verse lines; most common rhyme form Internal rhyme: rhyme contained within a line of verse Assonance: repetition of two or more vowel sounds within a line Consonance: repetition of two or more consonant sounds within a line Alliteration: the repetition of one or more initial sounds, usually consonants, in words within a line Onomatopoeia: the use of a word whose sound suggests its meaning Euphony: the use of compatible, harmonious sounds to produce a pleasing, melodious effect Cacophony: the use of inharmonious sounds in close conjunction for effect; opposite of euphony Devices of sense Metaphor: a direct comparison of two unlike objects by identification or substitution Simile: a direct comparison of two unlike objects, using like or as Conceit: an extended metaphor comparing two unlike objects with powerful effect (It owes its roots to elaborate analogies in Petrarch.) Personification: a figure of speech in which objects and animals have human qualities Apostrophe: an address to a person or personified object not present Metonymy: the substitution of a word which relates to the object or person to be named, in place of the name itself Synecdoche: a figure of speech in which a part represents the whole object or idea Hyperbole: gross exaggeration for effect: overstatement Irony: the contrast between actual meaning and the suggestion of another meaning Verbal: meaning one thing and saying another
Dramatic: two levels of meaning - what the speaker says and what he/she means, and what the speaker says and the author means Situational: when the reality of a situation differs from the anticipated or intended effect; when something unexpected occurs Symbolism: the use of one object to suggest another, hidden object or idea Imagery: the use of words to represent things, actions, or ideas by sensory description Paradox: a statement which appears self-contradictory, but underlines a basis of truth Oxymoron: contradictory terms brought together to express a paradox for strong effect Understatement: diction in which the literal sense of what is said falls detectably short of (or under ) the magnitude of what is being talked about. Allusion: a reference to an outside fact, event, or other source Aspects of Poetry Tone: the author's attitude toward his/her audience and subject (You must interpret form, rhyme, connotation, figurative language, and the like since you cannot hear vocal inflection.) Theme: the author's major idea or meaning (What is the dominant purpose behind writing the poem? How does the poet achieve this purpose?) Dramatic situation: the circumstances of the speaker (Who is the speaker? To whom is he speaking? What are the circumstances? Does this situation contribute to the total meaning and impact of the poem?) Do students need to know characters? Students should have a command of the characteristics and contributions of the major players. Aeneas Anchises (Iulus) Ascanius Creusa Sinon Dido Palinurus Students should have a command of the characteristics and contributions of the gods and goddesses. Juno Jupiter Venus Cupid Neptune Mercury Vulcan Minerva
Apollo Students should have a command of the roles played by the Greek characters who appear in the Trojan War scenes and in the Underworld. Ulysses Achilles Hector Andromache Helen Priam Pyrrhus Finally, it is worth noting that the Mandelbaum Aeneid has a full and easy to reference glossary of characters at the end of the book that includes a pronunciation guide. Do students need to know the plot? Understanding the plot means understanding the interactions of characters, motivations, and sequence of events. No questions will be asked that require a student to identify the book of the epic in which a plot event occurs. Though students definitely need to read the first six books of the epic, as a coaching strategy reviewing the plot and characters on a site such as Spark Notes is not an altogether bad idea. Will there be quotations on the questions? Quotation do appear in many of the questions. They require students to identify or interpret elements of epic form, poetic devices, tone, and the like.
Ovid s Metamorphoses: Books I VI Why are only selected myths covered? Note that this work is also an epic poem. Refer to all the information covered under Virgil s Aeneid. Do students need to know anything about Ovid? Ovid was born in 43 BC and died in 18 AD. Metamorphoses was popular among most of the upper class though Augustus officially banned it. Do students need to know the characters? As with the Aeneid, students need to know the characteristics and the contributions to the story of the principal characters in each story Book I Lycaon Deucalion Pyrrha Apollo Daphne Peneus Jove (Jupiter) Io Juno Mercury Argus Pan Syrinx Book II Phaëthon Phoebus (Apollo) Clymene The Heliades Book V Calliope
Ceres Proserpina Dis Cyane Stellio Arethusa Ascalaphus Book VI Tereus Procne Philomela Itys Book X Orpheus Eurydice Book XV Julius Caesar In an epic such as Metamorphoses, it is also extremely important to know the characteristics and contributions to the story of the gods and goddesses. Like Mandelbaum s translation of Virgil s Aeneid, Charles Martin s translation of Ovid s Metamorphoses includes a very helpful glossary of characters in the back. Do students need to know the plot? Understanding the plot means understanding the interactions of characters, motivations, and sequence of events. Though students definitely need to read the assigned stories, as a coaching strategy reviewing the plot and characters on a site such as Spark Notes is not an altogether bad idea. Will there be quotations on the questions? Quotation do appear in many of the questions. They require students to identify or interpret elements of epic form, poetic devices, tone, and the like.
Etymology Students need to be aware of all unfamiliar vocabulary they encounter in the assigned reading. Keep a running notebook or electronic document of unfamiliar words as they are encountered. Note the page and line of each recorded word for easy reference. At the end of a scene, story, or book, consult a dictionary to learn the definition(s), pronunciation(s), and usage (if given) of the word. Note the etymology and check the affix and root/base charts to see if the word is a derivative. Create a derivative list for each root/base in the included chart. Students can begin by generating a list of words they believe fit the base and the meaning(s) given for it. Caution students to check their lists against the etymology provided in the dictionary. Practice word analysis by applying this process: Write the word. Directly below the word, write the prefix (if one exists) + the base + the suffix (if one exists) as shown below. Directly below that line, write the meaning of the prefix (if you used one) + the meaning of the base + the meaning of the suffix (if you used one) as shown below. Directly below that line write an etymological meaning that uses the meanings (from line 3) of the various word parts (from line 2). You may have to supply words or change the part of speech of the meanings to make a comprehensible etymological meaning. Write the etymological definition on fourth line as show below. Have a student look up the word in the dictionary to retrieve a current meaning. Write that on the fifth line as shown below. Compare the etymological and current meanings and discuss the connections in meaning and thinking between the two. EXAMPLE Selected Word Word Parts Meanings of Parts Etymological Definition Current Definition inscription in + script + ion in, into, against + to write + act of, state of, result of result of writing in (a book) a short signed message in a book Words used in questions for the competition will come from Virgil s Aeneid, Ovid s Metamorphoses, and other sources.