Union Grove High School

Honors 9th Grade Literature and Composition

2017-2018 Summer Reading Assignment

(Opportunity for Acceleration in Learning)

Instructor: Mrs. Sandra Hurtte

Scheduled Email Assistance Times: I will check my school email and respond to student questions or concerns regarding the summer reading assignment every Thursday from June 5 to July 21, 2017, between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. (except the week of July 8-16). Please do not hesitate to contact me (Mrs. Hurtte) should you need assistance.

ALL assignments MUST BE TYPED.

Be prepared to submit your notebook to your teacher on the first day of school.

Be prepared to be tested over this information at the end of the second week of school.

Keep an electronic copy of ALLwork created for this assignment (SAVED ON A FLASHDRIVE or GOOGLE DOCS)

ALL assignments will be uploaded to Turnitin.com to check for plagiarism the first week of school.

Because authors expect readers to recognize allusions that appear in literature, students are encouraged to purchase and readEdith Hamilton’sMythology as preparation for the study of the classical and contemporary literature students will encounter in not only ninth grade, but throughout high school and college. In an effort to organize and retain the information gathered about allusions, students are advised to create a notebook as a personal reference piece. Students should view this as a “personal” book of notes and feel free to organize it, include additional information, and utilize whatever type of notetaking format works best for the student. As we read Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, we will continue to add allusions to the original collection. The completed book of notes should be a resource that the studentwill continue to refer to for the next four years as a literary tool.

At the end of the second week of school, all ninth grade honors students will be assessed on knowledge of Greek mythology. If you have taken advantage of this opportunity for acceleration, you may use your notebook during this assessment. Students will NOT be graded on the summer work itself. However, the product created as a result of the summer reading assignment will allow you to easily and proudly demonstrate your vast knowledge on the test over the summer reading that will be given the second week of school.

Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroesby Edith Hamilton is the novel you will read this summer. This novel should serve as a reference or resource book. It is not necessary to “read” the novel from cover to cover. Instead, utilize the index at the back of the book to locate the information you need to complete the assignments listed below. You will also be asked to locate and use additional sources to complete these assignments. Complete ALL of the assignments listed below. All items noted in bold will be assessed at the end of the second week of school. Carefully read the instructions for each.

LINK TO THE NOVEL: Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroesby Edith Hamilton

  1. Identify the twelve principal gods (Greek and Roman names). Include the characteristics and realm of each as well as any symbols or animals associated with each. Create a chart like the one below as a visual representation of this information. An interesting addition is to include the relationships among the gods by creating a family tree or adding an additional column.

Greek Name / Roman Name / Characteristics / Realm of Power / Symbol or Animal
  1. For the lesser gods,gods of water, and gods of the underworld, identify two facts about each. Again, you may organize your information in note or chart form with consideration of your ease of using it. Remember to include enough detail to help you later.
  1. Lesser Gods
  2. God of Love (Eros)
  3. God of Youth (Hebe)
  4. Goddess of the Rainbow (Iris)
  5. The Graces
  6. The Muses
  1. Gods of the Waters
  2. Poseidon
  3. Ocean
  4. Pontus
  5. Nereus
  6. Triton
  7. Proteus
  8. Naiads
  9. Gods of the Underworld
  10. Hades
  11. Cerberus
  12. The Furies
  13. Sleep and Death
  1. In Edith Hamilton’s Mythology, Chapter two addresses the gods of the earth. Write a paragraph(s) explaining why these two gods were considered special to the Greeks. Include details about their abilities and struggles. Highlight and number the key facts about each in the paragraph(s).
  1. Identify the general plot details foreach of the following myths. You may organize this information in any format that works well for you (chart, paragraph, bullets, etc.).
  2. Cupid and Psyche
  3. Pyramus and Thisbe
  4. Pygmalion and Galatea
  5. Echo and Narcissus
  6. Daedalus and Icarus
  7. House of Atreus
  8. Oedipus and House of Thebes
  9. Midas
  1. Using an outside source, research and briefly summarize the story of the Golden Apple of Discord and its significance to the Trojan War. Include a source citation at the end of the story.
  1. Using the novel and/or an outside source, research the Trojan War. Create a timeline in which you clearly identify the significant events of the war and the proposed dates. Include the cause of the war and other significant events. List and identify the connection of each of the following characters to the Trojan War: Paris, Menelaus, Helen, Agamemnon, Achilles, Hector, Priam, and Odysseus.
  1. Complete a biography of Homer by listing the following pieces of information. Gather your information from a minimum of two valid sources and include a proper works cited pagethat includes both sources.
  2. Dates of Homer’s life/death
  3. Five facts (not opinions) about Homer’s life (other than what he wrote)
  4. The titles of two of his literary works (other than The Odyssey) and a brief summary of each
  5. Locate and print out two articles of at least one page in length that address Homer’s writing style (“Homeric Style”).
  6. Include a properly formatted works cited page that includes both articles from item “d” above.