Page 47 - FOCUS year 1

 Checking out background knowledge - Brainstorming
We sit all together in a circle, and dispense the following worksheet to the students,
which contains a simple matching exercise. Five minutes later, we discuss the correct
answers, which lead us to the ancient Greek poems of Odyssey and Iliad, the war of Troy
and the adventurous journey of Ulysses. At the same time, we present a map of the
Mediterranean Sea, which depicts the route Odysseus followed on his way to Ithaca.
Using the brainstorming technique, we familiarize the students with the topic.

PRETEST - WORKSHEET

Α Β
1. Homer wrote a) Troy
2. Iliad’s main hero was b) Zeus
3. The Greeks after ten years conquered c) epic tales

4. The Trojan horse was a conception of d) his homeland
5. The head God was e) Ulysses (Odysseus)
6. Ulysses, after the Trojan war, desired to
f) Achilles
return to
7. The God who disliked Ulysses was g) Laestrygonians and Cyclops
8. Ulysses’ partners suffered from the h) Ithaca
9. The destination of Ulysses’ journey was i) Poseidon

2 PHASE: We focus on the concept of ITHACA.
nd

 Discovering the poem
Occasioned by Odyssey’s journey, we present the main focus of our study, “Ithaca” by
C.P. Cavafy, a brief biography of the poet, as well as his background, such as the place
and the era he lived, his inspirations etc. Now we are ready to begin reading the poem,
as translated in English.

1. As you set out for Ithaca
2. hope that your journey is a long one,
3. full of adventure, full of discovery.
4. Laistrygonians and Cyclops,
5. angry Poseidon - do not be afraid of them:
6. you'll never find things like that on your way
7. as long as you keep your thoughts raised high,
8. as long as a rare sensation
9. touches your spirit and your body.
10. Laistrygonians and Cyclops,
11. wild Poseidon - you won't encounter them
12. unless you bring them along inside your soul,