8th Grade
Religious Text
970L
The Story of David and Goliath
The Book of Samuel
1611
Passage Summary:
In this passage, the translation taken from the New King James Version Bible, the young and small shepherd David takes up the giant enemy warrior Goliath’s challenge for battle in a true underdog fashion.
When and How to Pair: Have students read “The Story of David and Goliath” after reading The Odyssey, Book 9, where Odysseus escapes the Cyclops, in order to make connections between character and theme. Compare and contrast Goliath and Polyphemus and David and Odysseus. What evidence is there that David was confident but not arrogant? On the contrary, what evidence is there that Odysseus was both confident and arrogant? David defeated his enemy without any Israelite bloodshed, but Odysseus lost more men before the day was done. To what extent is Odysseus’ greater loss due to his pride? Despite the differences between Odysseus and David are the portrayals of the characteristics of a hero the same?