Famous Men of Greece · Ch. XXVII · Unit 9: After Alexander and the fall of Greece
33. Aristotle, Zeno, Diogenes and Apelles
Goal: Your child can tell one story about each of the four men and explain the words stoic, epicure and cynic.
You'll need
- A notebook or paper and colored pencils
What's in the book
Aristotle, Alexander's tutor, opens a school in Athens and writes about almost everything; his writings are hidden underground and found again. Zeno teaches in a porch (the Stoics) and Epicurus founds a school. Diogenes lives in a tub, looks for "a man" with a lantern, and tells Alexander to get out of his sunshine. Apelles paints a horse that real horses neigh at.
The lesson, step by step
Warm up
Ask: Who was Alexander's teacher? (Aristotle, from last week.)
Read the chapter together
Read pages 237–244 aloud, or let your child read and help with the hard names. Four short stories in three parts.
Narration
Close the book. Ask your child to tell the story back in their own words, from the beginning. Don't correct as they go; just listen. If they get stuck, use a prompt:
- Why did Aristotle leave Athens?
- What happened to his writings after his death?
- What did Diogenes say when someone asked about his lantern?
- What did Diogenes ask Alexander to do?
- How did Apelles prove his horse was the best?
Words from philosophers
Write three words and talk about each:
Stoic (from Zeno's porch, the Stoa): someone who bears pain without complaining.
Epicure (from Epicurus): someone who loves fine food. The book says Epicurus really meant peace of mind.
Cynic (from the Greek word for dog): the book calls them "growlers."
Talk it over
Ask:
1. Why did Alexander say, "If I were not Alexander, I should wish to be Diogenes"?
2. What did Apelles mean by "Never a day without a line"? How could you use that motto?
Remember it
"Nothing, but get out of my sunshine," replied Diogenes.
"Never a day without a line."
Afterwards
Take up Apelles's motto for a week: one small drawing every day in a sketchbook, even just a line or two.
Answers to the book's problems
Narration hints: his enemies said he had no respect for the gods, and he left "to keep the Athenians from sinning against philosophy"; his writings were buried underground for about 200 years; "I am looking for a man"; "get out of my sunshine"; real horses neighed at his painted horse. Talk it over: 1. Diogenes wanted almost nothing; the book says he had the power to "conquer self." 2. Practice a little every single day.
Worked out for this site from the scan. If a number in your copy differs, trust the book.