Unit 1: Self vs.

State
Moral Courage & the Necessity of Change

Introduction to Unit One

Primary Themes:
individualism
moral courage
leadership
loyalty
human rights

Moral Courage
Moral Courage: the courage to do what is
right, even when the risks are extreme
1. Brainstorm a list of people, living or dead,
who have displayed moral courage in the past.

Cubing Courage
1. Describe courage.
2. Predict how a courageous person would respond if they saw a child being
beaten. Predict how a courageous person would respond if a friend made fun
of someone for the way they dressed.
3. Do you consider yourself a courageous person? Why or why not?
4. Contrast physical courage and moral courage.
5. Argue whether or not courage is the same thing as the absence of fear.
6. Draw a cartoon of someone being courageous and explain whether their
courage is moral or physical.

Three People and a Train

Read this:
http://mccoyhvj.weebly.com/three-people-and
-a-train---heinlein-anecdote.html

Three People and a Train: Questions

1. Why did the husband act as he did? Was this physical courage, moral
courage, or both?
2. Why did the stranger act as he did? Was this physical courage, moral
courage, or both?
3. What would you have done if you were:
The husband?
The wife?
The stranger?
4. Do you agree or disagree with Heinlein when he says: And the only
conclusion I have ever been able to reach is this: This is how a man lives.
And this is how a man dies.

Now that we know what it means . . .

We are going to read a story and practice

creating a reading log. These reading logs will
become the core of your notebook, a journal
of words, facts, details, and your reactions to
the things we read.

Reading Logs
For this first reading log, I have created a
template for you. From now on, you will be
responsible for creating your own reading log
for the stories and poems we read.
If you follow the template, then reading logs
will become second nature. In most cases,
they will be turned in for a grade.

Two Friends : Whole Class

First, you are going to follow along as I read
Two Friends without stopping. The story is
on page of your textbook.
While listening to this story, you MAY NOT have
any electronics present on your desk, in your
ears, or in your lap. Put them away now.

Two Friends : Individual

After I read the story, go back through and
read it again. Use your reading log to
annotate:
ALWAYS WRITE DOWN THE PAGE NUMBER
Record unfamiliar words in the Vocabulary column.
Record key plot points and major details in the Major
Details column.
Record any literary devices you find (simile, metaphor,
imagery) in the Diction category.

Two Friends : Small Group

In a small group, review the literary
elements that are important for this story.
Define any words you did not know.
Share your major details and see if any of
you recorded the same ones.
Share your literary devices and see if any of
you recorded the same one.
Complete the story chart and questions.

Two Friends : Individual

Informal Writing Prompt: 45 minutes
Two Friends is a story of moral courage, self-sacrifice,
and loyalty. Would the story have as much impact without
the shocking ending? Why or why not? How is this story a
good example of both moral courage and loyalty? In your
essay, cite examples of both moral courage and loyalty
from the story, as well as any other major details you find
necessary.

Antigone: Background of Greek Drama

Drama was born in Ancient
Greece.
First, festivals were held to
celebrate Dionysus with songs
and dances.
Eventually, those songs and
dances became plays.
Greek Drama was an essential
component of worshipping
Dionysus.

Who was Dionysus?

Dionysus was the god of wine,
grapes, and drunken revelry.
He was also the god of
madness.
He was followed by a group of
women called Maenads who
would get drunk and rip men
apart with their bare hands.
He died every winter and was
reborn every spring.

Thespis: 534 b.c.

Referred to as the first actor,
but was also a playwright and
musician.
Defined theater as acting a
part in a play or delivering a
dramatic monologue.
The term thespian, meaning
actor, comes from his name.

Greek Theaters
Large amphitheaters
cut into the side of
mountains
Excellent acoustics
Held tens of thousands
of people
Actors used masks to
portray different
characters

Greek Theaters

Greek Theaters

Greek Masks

Greek Masks

Greek Masks
Actors played
multiple roles.
Masks helped
identify their
character.
Masks acted as
microphones so
everyone could hear.

Greek Tragedies
Based on well-known myths,
legends, or stories.
The characters struggle
against fate and opposing
forces usually ends in death.
Never more than three actors
on stage.
All violence happens offstage.

Did you know?

The word tragedy
comes from the Greek
word meaning goat
song, because goats
were an integral part
of Dionysian rituals.

Antigones Dark Secret

Antigones story begins with
her father Oedipus.
When Oedipus was born, the
Oracle at Delphi predicted
he would kill his father and
marry his mother.
Naturally, his parents
objected, so they pierced
his ankles with a spike and
left him to die.

Antigones Dark Secret

After his ankles were
pierced, Oedipus was
given to a shepherd.
They told the shepherd to
leave the baby on a
mountain to die.
The shepherd spared the
baby, though, and gave it
to a childless couple to
raise: Polybus and
Merope.

Antigones Dark Secret

Oedipus grew up thinking
his real parents were
Merope and Polybus.
He found out about the
prophecy and decided to
leave home to spare his
parents that horrible fate.
On the road to Thebes, he
encountered a rude man,
so naturally he killed that
man.

Antigones Dark Secret

What Oedipus did not
know was that he had just
killed his dad, thus
fulfilling the prophecy.
Oedipus did some
awesome stuff and
became famous.
Oedipus eventually
married the Queen of
Thebes-- Jocasta-- also
known as HIS MOM.

Antigones Dark Secret

Thats right. Thinking he was
the real son of Polybus and
Merope, Oedipus murdered his
real father and married his
real mother.
They were very happy, too,
and had four children
together.
Their children were Antigone,
Ismene, Polyneices, and
Eteocles

Antigones Dark Secret

Eventually, Thebes had a
plague as a punishment for
the unknown incest of
Oedipus and Jocasta.
The prophets found out the
truth about Oedipus and his
mom.
Jocasta hanged herself.
Oedipus stabbed out his own
eyes with his moms dress
pins.

Antigones Dark Secret

Oedipus went into exile.
Jocastas brother Creon
became king.
Eteocles fought for Creon.
Polyneices tried to take the
throne.
They simul-killed each other
in battle.
And here we are.

Moral of Oedipuss Story

You cannot defy
fate.
The gods always
win.
Sometimes the gods
will blame you for
things that are not
even your fault
because it is your
fate to ruin
everything.

Why Tragedy?
Catharsis:
When a character experiences a release
of negative emotion leading to great
personal change.
When the audience experiences a
characters downfall and learns from it
Any cleansing through emotional
suffering.
Kind of like wallowing in sad music
after a break-up.