Odyssey Project

Which issue or predicament faced by Odysseus has been the most difficult or most interesting?

Where did this take place/setting?

What were the conflicts?

Summarize the problem.

Discuss the solution and improve upon it if possible. If you can’t improve it, explain why it was the best solution.

Explain the lesson(s) learned by Odysseus.

My Atlanta Water Company Complaint Letter (Rough Draft)

Charles Edgar Hampton 123 Sesame St. Atlanta, GA 12345 March 28, 2009 Department of Watershed Management ATTN: Commissioner Robert Hunter 55 Trinity Ave. Atlanta, GA 30303 Greetings, My wife and I had a house built in Atlanta, GA during the Spring of 2008. Many times during the erecting of the building we visited, asked questions, took pictures, and were vigilant in the inspecting and learning about what a major and wonderful commitment we were making. The construction was finished in mid-May and we closed on the house on May 23, 2008. We were then informed by the builder and subdivision representatives, exactly what we needed to do to transfer all of the utilities to our names, which we did. We were instructed to fax or mail you all the settlement statement, which we did in June of 2008. This was the limit of our responsibility. Yet, for some unknown reason, as stated by Atlanta Watershed, the account was not setup. Since our account was not setup, we did not receive a bill, but that was not immediately alarming, because the mortgage lapses for a month. So, after setting up all the other utilities, we discovered that some are quarterly, like sanitation, therefore, since we had not yet received a water bill and had done what we were instructed and required to do, we continued to wait. You must understand that this was my first time living on my own and was also, as a result, my first house. Nevertheless, in November after the three month mark when a quarterly bill should have been received, I rushed up to the Watershed Management building after work to inquire to the apparent problem with our account. It was at this time that the account was finally setup properly, or so I thought. The meter reader upon inspecting my meter noted that it was broken, but I, the owner of the house/account, was not notified, nor was anyone sent to fix the meter. Through December the meter continued to be broken without my being informed. The water company then allegedly proceeded to send my house a bill, which I have yet to receive. Consider then my surprise, when I do finally receive a bill in the mail with the gargantuan and daunting heftiness of $486.31. I was appalled and upset, but not irate. I took the time to inspect the pipes for leaks, after reading the information on the Atlanta Watershed Management website; however, of course no leak was found. I cut the water off to the house at the main water valve in the home and listened for activity with the meter at the sidewalk, but none was observed or perceived. I did however note that there was dirt in the window of the meter, but I saw wires going into the thick mud also and figured that there was some new more advanced technical way of reading the meter, which replaced the antiquated and now obsolete manual meter. Moreover, much to my dismay and displeasure, this January bill, which was also supplemented by the undelivered, unreceived and therefore unpaid December bill, was purported to be the result of an actual reading. Yet, the account still lists the meter as broken since November and as of this day, March 28, 2009, unfixed. How is it possible that a broken meter, that hasn’t functioned for two weeks, going to suddenly start working correctly two months later? It is impossible. Regardless to this irrefutable fact, the bill went out, no one double checked the facts, and no one cared to assess the inspector, reader, or supervisor’s reports on this account. Recalling that recently the banking system has already nearly foundered and has debilitated this country to the haggard state of recession due to a lack of oversight, and apparently, the water system here in Atlanta, is faced with this same leeching crisis of lack of proper revision or supervision. Though my troubles are in no way over regarding my wretched experiences with this company, I do want to state clearly and emphatically that it is not my intention to cause anyone trouble or to lose their job, for surely there is enough economic trouble for honest and hard working citizens and/or residents of Atlanta. The purpose of this text is to simply request change; overhaul the policies. Returning to the issues, please recall that I now have an alleged accurate/actual bill with a broken meter. The reason I am told that my meter remained in such a state of disrepair, is because it was to be fitted with an AMR (automatic meter reader) device. Yet, why would this need to be done, considering the wires that I previously mentioned are in fact that device? This again, shows a complete negligence on behalf of this company in regards to accuracy, honesty, integrity, and customer service. Irregardless to all of these problems, which were at that point in time, January 2009, unknown to myself, I paid the behemoth bill on time. Assuming the bill was backdated, I accepted the large amount as plausible and probable for nearly eight months of water usage, but unfortunately, I was very incorrect. Next, February was upon my household and it was time for the next bill. When it arrived, much to my dismay and duress, another rather large bill was awaiting my trite budget. Its amount was $240.36 and was, with the grace of God, paid on time. Again, I must remind you that I have never paid utility bills before and was already battling with repetitive $280 dollar natural gas bills, so I devoted my energies to that first, figuring that again, these hearty water bills must the result of them lingering from the lack of an earlier bill. I didn’t know what was going on. I figured, I guess this is why many people that are just starting out get apartments first. But, I was uneasy and unsettled with my utilities. Patiently, I resolved the natural gas problem and March approaches, bearing gifts of papers demanding principals and other payments. Atlanta Watershed Management, $240.36, the same exact amount again defiantly and stubbornly stood in front of me. At this point I called to discuss this with someone and find out exactly what was happening with the liquid H20 of 123 Sesame St. in Atlanta, Georgia. I finally had the veil removed and my eyes were at last open; I was informed that all of my bills were estimated, because I had a broken meter. Trust me when I say that I was highly upset, but did not lash out, because that is not my nature, path, or style. I handled this financial debacle with class and professionalism, I requested to speak with a manager. I was resolute to discover, why a reasonable, logical, and/or reasonable person estimate a bill so astronomically high if it isn’t working? It isn’t like my wife and I have kids or a pool, for any cursory inspection would verify this, but such a rational step was not taken. Instead, someone allowed what I liberally and frankly call greed to push them into making a completely immoral and frivolous claim in regards to the immense amounts owed monthly to the Atlanta Watershed Management company, which is under your leadership. My wife and I find ourselves less $726.67, an intensely significant amount of money to a single income family, let alone at an economic time such as this, all due to preventable errors, which were allowed to remain and be perpetuated by many at your company. My wife is in law school, she studies all day and attends classes in the evenings, while I teach all day, and coach golf in the early evening, to help supplement our already halved income. $726.67 is in no way something I can just overlook and accept, especially when its origins are misfeasance, nonfeasance, disinformation, and misrepresentation. In short, the setup, inspection, and maintenance of my account, which should have taken place in June of 2008 by a credible, professional, well-run company, will now happen, over a year later. Why the substandard service? My simple request is that the following items be entered into the policies that your company abides by: - Someone needs to ensure that broken meters get fixed in a timely manner, - Someone needs to ensure that the information contained in account records is accurate, - Estimations should be practical and reflect the mean usage of the appropriate occupancy, - Over-payment of bills resulting from errors made by the company should be refunded immediately if requested by the customer and automatic if the amount is $300 or greater. - Managers/Supervisors should have some sort of executive powers/control so that in situations like mine, immediate action will be taken, - Customers absolutely must be fully informed of the best intelligence available within 5 business days if a problem is discovered with their meter. If these are already in existence in your organization, then they are not in the least bit being enforced, applied, enacted, etc, and this is not acceptable. Nearing the end of this correspondence, there is a corollary example I want to share with you. I also relayed this to the young lady I spoke with, who I spoke with on the phone, and by the way, all employees encountered were apologetic, professional, knowledgeable, and cordial, particularly, Ms Schavis and Ms. Salethia Graham. As the man of my household, it is unacceptable for me to note a problem, ignore it, allow it to fester and worsen, then punish my wife for it, making her pay for my neglect, and tell her that it will take four months for me to fix the problem. After this, I finally execute the appropriate measures while simultaneously holding onto her money while I can use it to purchase other things I want or need. This would make me a sorry man, yet this company is not a man, therefore, all I can say is that this is sorry customer service. The callous treatment of my time, money, and quality of life is irreprehensible and horrendous. This is unacceptable, but unfortunately, no deregulation has taken place. I cannot take my business elsewhere, as I can with Scana or MX Energy, when I have been wronged by Georgia Natural Gas. So, I utilize my only and hopefully most effective resource, which is the pen (well, word processor) and wield it as adeptly as I can to ask for the changes to the illogical and debasing policies of the Atlanta Watershed Management company. Finally, I request a refund of $500, and that the remaining $226.67 remain on the account as a credit, so that when everything finally clears and the sediment settles to the bottom, that neither party is lacking unduly. Please let me know what you think of my request and respond to me at your earliest convenience. I did not go to the media, because I believe that there are many ways to handle adverse situations and I believe that this is the appropriate first step in seeking resolution to my issues. I hope to hear from you soon and look forward to positive and progressive dialogue. Thank you for your time, Charles Edgar Hampton, M.Ed. Customer

Odessey Preparation

After viewing excerpts of the film Troy and answering the following questions:

1. What does Achilles' initial reaction to Boagrias tell us about his skills and his attitude?
2. Paris steals another man’s wife. What kind of man steals another man’s wife?
3. What is the conflict between Hector and King Priam and his advisors? What does this have to do with old school versus new school?
4. Why does Patrocles fight like Achilles?
5. Why does Achilles fall in love?
6. What is another example of old school versus new school conflict?
7. What do you think about the end of the movie?

We then began to read the Odyssey, searchable online version found here.
1st period is on Book 12.

Interesting art website concerning the Odyssey.

Greek god Quiz

1. If you were on fire, *AAAGH!!!!!!*, who would you call for help?
2. If you were about to be hit by an oceanic tidal wave, who would call for help?
3. If you were having trouble with money, then who would you call for help?
4. If you were falling out of the sky, then who would you call for help?
5. If you were starving to death in the forest, who would you call for help?
6. If you were bad all your life and heading to the underworld, who would you ask to not let you in?
7. If you were in need of a really killer sword for a gigantic battle, who would you call for help?
8. If you were not prepared for this quiz and needed to have wisdom, then who would you ask to help you become wiser?
9. If you were having trouble with your farm and could not grow any plants, who would you call for help?
10. Finally, if you are being chased by a green ghost that is sliming everything and everybody, “Who you gonna call?”

Greek god Family Tree and Talents

We have discussed and reviewed the following information.
Greek Family Tree
Explanation of Greek gods Abilities and Responsibilities
Explanation of the Seasons, Demeter, Persephone, and Hades

Tragic Hero

What does it take to be a tragic hero?

1. V. Clay- Courageous, doest htings that others normally wouldn't do. Intellingence and cunning, must be clever to decipher the plans and schemes of the villain and be smart enough to know how to stop him or her. Disciplined, able to show sympathy and yet, stern.


2. U. Ewo- Caring, loving, emotionally prepared, brave/bold, uplifting, strong. Whatever emotional drama gets thrown the hero's way then he or she needs to be prepared to handle it.


3. E. Thomas- Able to handle situations, not over-react, nice, kind-hearted.


4. J. Rogers- Gotta be willing to lay it all on the line and never second guess yourself.


5. J. Nelson- Patient, because it may take a while to solve the problem and you can never give up. You must have a "fly" costume. Physically and mentally fit, must be able to handle the drama in both ways.


6. S. Thompson- strength and endurance, determination, dedication. Someone that survives cancer like Lance Armstrong. Supercedes expectations! Unafraid of a challenge, Warrior Spirit.


7. P. Cokely- Responsibility, Leadership, Focus, Confident.


8. B. Hines- Energy, time, and devotion, so that they can put themselves aside to help someone in a crisis, and expects the unexpected.


9. M. Fritz- Determination, Willingness to help and devotion,
   
10. M. Quist- A Hero is someone who has been through some bad times and has bounced back from a terrible situation.


11. G. Rankins- Looked at as honorable and heroic, but that is only the result of experiencing something horrible or tragic.


12. A. Long- Respect of leadership and be ready to serve the people, so that they can look up to him.


13. B. Fullwood- A hero Must believe in his or herself, but not putting too much pressure on yourself.

Who is ALWAYS a person.
That is ALWAYS an object or thing.

Potential Examples:

1. Ewo: Taxpayers, who pay for welfare and education. Foster care parents who take in orphans. Oprah, she does nice things for Africans. Jesus, because He died for us.
   Kelley: Doctors who help people who are ill. Police Officers and Firefighters. Parents. The Autobots from the Transformers.


2. M. Fritz- Jet Jackson, A spy who helps people by investigating mysteries. Hancock, because he helps people who are in distress. Mr. Incredible, because he saved the city and eventually the world.


3. M. Terry- Avatar, he saves the world from the bad guys. Blade kills the vampires.


4. V. Clay- Naruto, he saves people all the time and puts his life in danger/at risk. Moses, because he parted the Red Sea, saving the Israelites.


5. J. Nelson- Martin Luther King Jr., because he paved the way for Black people, and made Obama possible; anti-segregation. Madea, is always taking in down-trodden or suffering people by taking em into her home. Charmed, because the good witches save people. Buffy the Vampire Slayer.


6. G. Rankins- "Tennessee"'s Dad, who saved his son by running from the car that was being carjacked and being a sacrifice. Civil Rights marchers, because they were brutalized and sometimes killed by angry mobs. Doctor Octopus that saved New York, by taking the Sun-like object with him to his death, by drowning in the river/lake. Kenny from South Park, he's always doing good things for people, but he always dies every episode.


7. R. Johnson- Roshach, because he saved most of the people in the city, and solved the mystery of who killed his friend. Dr. Strange, Because he saved the world from a villian, Braniac.


8. K. Kelley- Blart, from Mall Cop, who saved the people who were being kidnapped/held hostage. Will Smith takes a bullet for Carlton in the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.


9. S. Thompson- Harry Potter, even though Voldemort killer his parents, he doesn't get caught up in this and still takes the time to save others. Malcolm X, because he believed in education, and argued that people deserve equality and should attain/do certain things, "by any means necessary". Lion King, Simba. Superman, potential modern day Jesus.


10. B. Fullwood- Batman because he fights crime since his parents were murdered in front of his face. Rosa Parks, because she essentially sparked of the desegregation movement. Noah, because he saved all the animals and his family during the "Great Flood".


11. M. Quist- Will Smith in "I am Legend", because he sacrificed his life to save all the people from the disease.

What does it take to be a tragic hero?

1. A. Scott- A tragic hero will sacrifice his or her life for you (a potential victim). God.


2. S. D. Brooks- A person who comes to your aid, during a type of tragedy. A person who dies under tragic circumstances or during a tragic event. A person who grows up overcoming adversity or during the roughest times, but is able to become a role model later on.


3. J. Roper- A hero who does something unrecognized by the general public and only a few understand what he or she has done for the masses.


4. T. Brooks- A person who tries to save people from tragedy.


5. C. McNair- Anyone who can help a person.


6. O. Allen- A heroic person that comes to another person's aid who is in danger.


7. A. Dunmeyer- It takes a person to do good without reward to be a hero, but it takes a person to die doing good to be a tragic hero.


8. B. Palmer- A person that is willing to risk their life for someone whom they love.


9. L. Blackshear- A person who becomes a hero first and they always do things that are tragic to their health.


10. L. Bryant- A person who does not survive a battle.


11. W. Boozer- A person that makes a sacrifice during a tragedy and therefore becomes a hero.


12. C. Brown- Somebody who is willing to save someone else during a tragic event.


13. K. Mitchell- A bad person that is trying to do the right thing, but ends up dying on that path and also, might lose someone that they love.


14. C. Shaw- An average person.

Who is always a person.
That is always an object.

POTENTIAL EXAMPLES:

1. J. Roper- Wolverine killing Jean Grey/The Phoenix to save everyone, because that is what she wanted, and he was the only one who could do it, but he loved her; and no one wants to kill the one whom they love.


2. S.D. Brooks- Obama, Oprah, Batman. They grew up with very tough lives and past, and became inspirations for others.


3. A. Scott- Police Officers/ 5-0. They lock up criminals and bad citizens, who try to cause tragedies in society.


4. W. Boozer- Denzel Washington's character dying in the movie Dejavu to save the girl who he loves.


5. J. Tucker- Harry, the Son of the Green Goblin, who risked his life to save Spiderman, Peter Parker and ended up dying in the process.


6. L. Bryant- The victims of 9-11, particularly the firefighters and policemen, the soldiers in the army, navy, air force, etc. Superman and all the heroes.
   
7. C. McNair-Optimus Prime in the Transformers.


8. C. Shaw- A kid experiencing a house fire, growing up to be a firefighter.


9. A. Dunmeyer- Doomsday/Superman. Leonardo DiCaprio's character in Titanic.
King Kong. Goku being killed by Piccolo when fighting Raditz.

Some common traits characteristic of a tragic protagonist/hero:

• * The hero discovers his fate by his own actions, not by things happening to him.


• * The hero sees and understands his doom.
  
• * This likely causes self-pity and imputes fear into the hero(ine).


• * A tragic hero is often of noble birth, or rises to noble standing.


• * The hero learns something from his/her mistake.


• * The hero is faced with a serious decision.


• * The suffering of the hero is meaningful.


• * There may sometimes be supernatural involvement (in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Caesar is warned of his death via Calpurnia's vision and Brutus is warned of his impending death by his evil spirit).


• * The hero is physically or spiritually wounded by his experiences, often resulting in his death.


• * The Shakespearean tragic hero dies at some point in the story, for example Macbeth. Shakespeare's characters illustrate that tragic heroes are neither fully good nor fully evil. Through the development of the plot a hero's mistakes, rather than his quintessential goodness or evil, lead to his tragic downfall.


• * The hero of classical tragedies is almost universally male. Later tragedies (like Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra) introduced the female tragic hero. Portrayals of female tragic heroes are notable because they are rare.[2]

HOMEWORK
Realizing the true definition of a tragic hero, please take the time to identify and explain one example of a tragic hero.

Types of Poetry Review/Recap

Today we broke up into groups of five students.
The groups picked a type of poetry to discuss, explain, exemplify,
Developed a presentation or description of the selected poetic form,
Created examples of those poetic forms,
Then Presented that information to the class.

Shakespearean Sonnet Information
Types of Poetry Sheet