Notes on Achilles as the Greek Warrior Exemplar Essays

Now that I have finally had a chance to finish grading the essays on Achilles as the exemplar of Greek culture, I have a some general comments to share with you. First, these were an interesting mixed bag of writing that addressed a difficult prompt given the strict and rigid lens we initially used in interpreting Achilles actions in Homer's Iliad. Far more fascinating was the evolution of interpretation that began to take place when a new lens, ideas presented in Shay's Achilles in Vietnam, was used to examine the same material. This should give you all rich material with which to revise these papers in future.

One of the most significant challenges is the need to be consistent about your verb tense. However this is difficult in a paper of this kind, because when writing about literature you are to use present tense, but when writing about history you are to use past tense. The trick is to be consistent about your use within the correct context. The easiest way to do this is to group ideas in the two categories, literary and historical.

Many of you wrote pieces that lacked significant development of your ideas. Instead you chose to simply settle for stating claims but not backing them up with evidence, bit more importantly thorough commentary and analysis. Consequently, there are a number of papers where there were a lot of words but not much substantive really stated. The simplest way to remedy this is to follow a simple pattern for each body paragraph: state your claim directly and explicitly, support it with textual evidence, develop deep and thoughtful commentary and analysis that explains both the evidence and basis for your claims. This means that you need to focus on the how and why your ideas and claims are relevant to you thesis.

Other than that, here is alist of things to consider in your revisions:

• Use standard MLA format - read this resource
• Avoid contractions in formal papers
• Use 3rd person through your paper
• Avoid ending phrase, clauses, and sentences with prepositions
• Develop a thesis that has a clear point that directly addresses the prompt
• Review the uses of a comma

If you have any questions about your particular paper, please schedule an appointment with me. I will be happy to assit you as you consider your revision.

From The Iliad through Vietnam to Iraq:Charting Warrior Experience and Crisis

Having read The Iliad and the selections from Shay’s Achilles in Vietnam, it is clear that our understanding of the texts, warrior culture, and the warrior’s experience are being reshaped. We have gained new insights into the trauma’s that may be experienced by a warrior. As we draw connections from that ancient text into the present, we are introduced to the contemporary realities of that experience, especially the mental health profession’s diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

National Public Radio (NPR) investigation that began in late 2006 and carried into the spring of 2007 chronicled the mental health care of soldiers returning to Fort Carson, Colorado. To date there have been ten installments following this evolving story.

Please listen to the following radio reports by Wednesday, October 24:

1. Soldiers Face Obstacles to Mental Health Services
2. Soldiers Say Army Ignores, Punishes Mental Anguish
3. Do Soldiers Receive Adequate Mental Health Care?
4. Gaps in Mental Care Persist for Fort Carson Soldiers
5. Return to Fort Carson Raises More Questions

Achilles in Vietnam

Read chapter 5 "Beserk," from Achilles in Vietnam, and mark-up the text in preparation for discussion next class Monday, October 22.

Iliad Review

As you review I would consult these sites that have different kinds of summaries of the epic:

• Study Guide for Reading Homer's Iliad - more generalized plot notes in paragraph form
• Homer's Iliad: Summaries - specific events noted by line in the poem

Keep in mind the lens that we were using to view the poem involved the Greek cultural values (arete, honor, obligation of the suppliant, and gods vs. humans). It is essential that you understand these values and can explain what they are, how they work, and where the occur in the story. You will be assessed on your ability to clearly articulate your understanding of that material as part of the test.

Also, there are ten short answer questions that are designed to identify your overall understanding of the story and what it reveals about the ancient Greek understanding of their own cultural values. Some questions are plot related but most are are how and why kinds of questions that require you to thoughtfully respond, making connections and drawing conclusions about what you have read.