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The Penelopiad (Part 2) Reading GuideNote: In ancient Greek dramas, the chorus was a group of actors who collectively commented on the action of the play. They would say their lines in unison, and sometimes they would wear masks. In the Penelopiad, the chorus is made up of the twelve slave girls (sometimes called “maids”) who were ultimately killed by Odysseus and Telemachus. These women provide an alternative point-of-view on the question of Odysseus’ heroism.After reading The Chorus Line: Dreamboats, a Ballad, choose two words that you think describe the tone of this poem/song, and give an example (quotation) for each one. (TONE)Look at The Chorus Line: Dreamboats, a Ballad. Find three examples of literary devices, and explain how they contribute to the message of the poem. (LITERARY DEVICES)Literary DeviceQuotationHow it Adds to the Poem/SongExplain why Odysseus killed the maids. (PLOT)The names “Melantho” and “Melanthius” both mean “black.” (Melantho and Melanthius were supposed to be brother and sister.) How might that meaning be significant? (THEME)Penelope calls the murdered maids, “My snow-white geese. My thrushes, my doves.” How might that comparison be significant? (METAPHOR and THEME)To what extent is Penelope responsible for the murders of the maids? (ETHICS)The section The Chorus Line: An Anthropology Lecture presents a criticism of the Odyssey. A criticism is an interpretation of a work of literature or art. What is the main message of this criticism? (THEME)Archeological research suggests that the earliest human civilizations thought of God as female. (Check out for some examples of this.) At some point, however, major world religions began to think of God as a father figure. Develop a theory about why you think this shift might have occurred. (HISTORY AND LITERATURE) What is the tone of the last paragraph in this selection? Justify your response with some quotations.Go to to learn about slavery that still exists in the world today.List three surprising facts about slavery. (You can explore the entire website.)How are gender and slavery connected? ................
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