Wacky Wordsmith

Name: Kevin Ting________________________ Text: The

Odyssey_____________________Date: September 2,
2010__________________
Books: 15-19_________________________

Wacky Wordsmith: As the author of the two most famous epics in ancient
Greek literature, Homer helped define the Western World's vocabulary
landscape. Your task is to look for at least TEN WONDER WORDS, important
words or phrases in the text which you deem crucial to the text. If you find
words that are puzzling or unfamiliar, list them down in the second table,
“NEW TO MY VOCABULARY”. Record the meaning that you came up with
and indicate its significance. Include words that you consider significant or
crucial to the text. When your circle meets, discuss the words, the reason(s)
why you think they are Wonder Words, and how you came up with their
meaning. Ask them to suggest additional Wonder Words to your list.

“WONDER WORDS” Book # Definition and

Significance
Vagrom 17
The word is put in
the context of an
insult to beggars
showing the
discrimination of
the suitors
towards beggars

Lout 17 an uncouth or
aggressive man
or boy
Gaffer Stranger 18 This phrase shows
how the suitors
treated odysseus
Eternal Lacrimation 18 this phrase is used
is a sorry by both odysseus
occupation and penelope
showing their
similarities
Comeliness 18 Pleasant, attractive.
This is how Penelope
was described
vagrants 18 a person
without a
settled home or
regular work
who wanders
from place to
place and lives
by begging. This
was how
Odysseus was
insulted by the
suitors as the
old beggar.
serfs 18 an agricultural
laborer bound
under the
feudal system
to work on his
lord's estate

“NEW TO MY Book # Definition and

VOCABULARY” Significance
impudence 19 not showing due
 respect to another
person
18 (of a sheep,
Bleating goat, or calf)
make a
characteristic
wavering cry