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for the Erasmus+ project "Cultures on a Palette", "Teacher for a day" activity

Transcript

3rd Learning, Teaching, Training Activities meeting, Nantes, France

Teacher for a DayGreece

"Ithaka"ofConstantine Cavafy

Who was Constantine Cavafy?

C.P. Cavafy is widely considered the most distinguished Greek poet of the 20th century. He was born in Alexandria, Egypt, where his Greek parents had settled in the mid-1850s. He was a Greek poet, journalist and civil servant from Alexandria. Cavafy wrote 155 poems, while dozens more remained incomplete or in sketch form. During his lifetime, he consistently refused to formally publish his work and preferred to share it through local newspapers and magazines, or even print it out himself and give it away to anyone interested. His most important poems were written after his fortieth birthday, and officially published two years after his death

‘Ithaka’ by C. P. Cavafy describes the journey of Odysseus to his home island, Ithaka, and how it can be prolonged for increasing knowledge, wisdom, and wealth. In this poem, the speaker guides the epic hero Odysseus while he sets out for his homeland. Ithaca, being his destination, will always be there. But, the journey that he takes to return there, is a lifetime event.

“ITHAKA” What is the poem about?

Through this journey to Ithaca, Odysseus comes across several difficulties as well as he encounters numerous learning opportunities. Not only that, on the way, he can discover unknown regions and cultivate his knowledge. Last but not least, he can buy unique items from the regions he discovers on the way to Ithaca. If he takes his time and does not think much about returning to his homeland anyhow, he can become more capable, wise, and spiritually awakened as a person at the end of this arduous voyage.

“ITHAKA” What is the poem about?

Structure of the poem

There is not a specific rhyme scheme. It is a free verse poem that does not resemble conventional diction. Though there is not any rhythmic pattern, it does not sound monotonous. Cavafy uses internal rhyming for maintaining the flow of this piece.

Detailed analysis of the poem

Lines 1-5

As you set out for Ithaka hope your road is a long one,full of adventure, full of discovery. Laistrygonians, Cyclops, angry Poseidon —don’t be afraid of them

Lines 6-13

you’ll never find things like that on your way as long as you keep your thoughts raised high, as long as a rare excitement stirs your spirit and your body. Laistrygonians, Cyclops, wild Poseidon— you won’t encounter them unless you bring them along inside your soul, unless your soul sets them up in front of you.

2nd stanza

Hope your road is a long one. May there be many summer mornings when, with what pleasure, what joy, you enter harbors you’re seeing for the first time; may you stop at Phoenician trading stations to buy fine things, mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony, sensual perfume of every kind— as many sensual perfumes as you can; and may you visit many Egyptian cities to learn and go on learning from their scholars.

3rd stanza

Keep Ithaka always in your mind. Arriving there is what you’re destined for. But don’t hurry the journey at all. Better if it lasts for years, so you’re old by the time you reach the island, wealthy with all you’ve gained on the way, not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.

4th stanza

Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey. Without her you wouldn't have set out. She has nothing left to give you now.

5th stanza

And if you find her poor, Ithaka won’t have fooled you.Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,you’ll have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.

The moral of the poem

We should enjoy the trip, learn the most we can, gain experiences and not care about the destination. This is a motto we should adopt for our lives.

Assignement

Create a design or painting representing what you learnt from this lesson. Your feelings can guide you because poetry creates feelings and pictures. I would like you to depict these images on the paper. Upload your homework in the twinspace or give them to your teachers to do so.

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The disclaimer: European Union, [2018] The information and views set out in this presentation are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Union. Neither the European Union institutions and bodies nor any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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