Topics
for Papers
Paper #1
topic
Directions:
- post a copy
in "submit papers to this
folder"
in the Greek Civilization discussion folder
- bring a
paper copy to class on the
date listed
above
- length:
600-900
- for more
information about the format
and
about the writing intensive requirements, click
here
Write on
one of the topics
below:
1) Many scholars of ancient Greek
history like to use the Iliad
and the Odyssey as source
material for determining what late dark age society was like. In your
essay, examine the position of the "top basileus" Agamemnon in the Iliad and of Telemachus in the Odyssey (Books 1-2) in relation to
their "equals," i.e. the other basilees. In your conclusion hypothesize
about the "top basileus" of dark age communities based on your findings
about Agamemnon and Telemachus.
2) Many scholars of ancient Greek
history like to use the Iliad
and the Odyssey as source
material for determining what late dark age society was like. In
your essay examine the place, roles, etc of the upper class Trojan
women in the Iliad and of
Penelope in the Odyssey. In
your conclusion, hypothesize about upper class women in other dark age
communities based on your findings about upper class Trojan women and
Penelope.
Paper
#2 topic
Directions:
post
a copy in "submit papers to this
folder"
in the Greek Civilization discussion folder
bring a
paper copy to class on the
date listed
above
length:
600-900
for more
information about the format
and
about the writing intensive requirements, click
here
Write on
one of the topics
below:
1) In our discussions we have seen
the ways that Penelope "broke the glass ceiling" in her actions in the
Odyssey. In many ways Sappho did the same, but in very different ways
from Penelope. Discuss. In your discussion make sure you give good
examples/citations from the primary evidence as well as judicious use
of secondary evidence (where appropriate).
2) Many scholars note that the
funeral games in the Iliad,
book 23, are, in many ways, the prototype for the later Olympic Games
(and the other major national Games). Discuss. In your discussion make
sure you give good examples/citations from the primary evidence as well
as judicious use of secondary evidence.
Paper
#3 topic
Directions:
- post a copy
in "submit papers to this
folder"
in the Greek Civilization discussion folder
- bring a
paper copy to class on the
date listed
above
- length:
600-900
- for more
information about the format
and
about the writing intensive requirements, click
here
Write on
one of the topics
below:
1) We
saw with some of the early Greek philosophers were interested in
determining the causes of things--apart from the gods, e.g. Thales'
hypothesis that water was the origin of all things, not the gods. Based
solely on all the selections of Herodotus' Histories assigned for
class, examine in what ways Herodotus takes the same approach, i.e.
events are determined by human (and natural) causes instead of divine
causes.
2) We saw with some of the early
Greek philosophers were interested in "cleaning up" the myths about the
gods, so that the gods act morally, e.g. Xenophanes' statements about
Homer and about the nature of the divine. Based solely on all the
selections of Herodotus' Histories assigned for class, examine in what
ways Herodotus takes the same approach.
Paper
#4 topic
Directions:
- post a copy
in "submit papers to this
folder"
in the Greek Civilization discussion folder
- bring a
paper copy to class on the
date listed
above
- length:
600-900
- for more
information about the format
and
about the writing intensive requirements, click
here
Write on
the following topic:
1)
Historians are interested in the ways that literature reflects the
social norms of the times. Keeping this in mind, examine what the
differences in the characters and fates of Sophocles' Antigone and
Homer's Penelope tell about the social norms regarding women in
Classical Athens.
2) Historians are interested in the
ways that literature reflects the social norms of the times. Keeping
this in mind, examine what the differences in the characters and fates
of Aristophanes' Lysistrata and Homer's Penelope tell about the social
norms regarding women in Classical Athens.
- Things
to note:
- make sure you look over
both plays in their
entirety and use examples from various parts of both plays to
demonstrate that you have done so (i.e. don't just use, say, ten lines
from each play
to draw your examples from)
- for the purposes of citing,
- use page numbers unless
the text provides line
numbers, e.g. the web version of Ant. provides line numbers
- abbreviate, if you wish,
the play Antigone
as Ant.
- abbreviate, if you wish,
the play Lysistrata
as Lys.
- italicize the names of the
plays (but not the
names of the persons!)
- you may use a different
translation for the Antigone,
e.g. there is a modern translation available on the web (click
here).
- citing from the web
version: same as listed
above, but add a biblio for it
- biblio for web version:
Sophocles' Antigone,
transl. by Wm. Blake Tyrrell and Larry J. Bennett, 1996. Revised:
October
08, 1997. http://www.uky.edu/ArtsSciences/Classics/ant/tyrbenant.html).
Paper
#5 topic
Directions:
- post a copy
in "submit papers to this
folder"
in the Greek Civilization discussion folder
- bring a
paper copy to class on the
date listed
above
- length:
600-900
- for more
information about the format
and
about the writing intensive requirements, click
here
Write on
one of the following
topics:
1) Lysistrata is an example (to
the extreme) of what one person can accomplish with 'personal' power as
opposed to 'official' power (official power is power that is legally or
officially yours). To what extent do all the women in 2-3 of the
following stories exhibit such 'personal' power? In your conclusion
comment on what the conclusions you have drawn in your essay
amplify/modify the typical depiction of Athenian women in the fifth and
fourth centuries B. C.
2) The magistrate and
Cinesias are examples of what can happen when one has 'official' power
but not 'personal' power. Discuss with regard to all the men in 2-3 of
the following stories.
The stories:
Eratosthenes--An Adulterer's Luck
Runs Out (c. 400 B.C.), pp. 202-208
A Casual Act
of Violence--Conon the Thug and His Sons (c. 340 B.C.), pp. 208-212
In-Law
Problems--A Poisonous Stepmother? (c. 420), pp. 212-214
Diogeiton--A
Grandfather Turns Embezzler (c. 400), pp. 214-217
Phormio--The
Con-Artist (c. 360), pp. 217-221
Paper
#6 topic
Directions:
- post a copy
in "submit papers to this
folder"
in the Greek Civilization discussion folder
- bring a
paper copy to class on the
date listed
above
- length:
600-900
- for more
information about the format
and
about the writing intensive requirements, click
here
Topic:Kebric, in Chapter 8, points out a number of ways
in which the science of the Hellenistic Age pointed towards inventions
and ideas that are current today. Discuss for three of these
ideas/inventions.
Paper
#7 topic
Due
Wednesday, Dec. 10; 5 p.m. (TR 9:25 class)
Due
Friday, Dec. 12; 10:30 a.m. (TR 2:00 class)
Directions:
- post a copy
in "submit papers to this
folder"
in the Greek Civilization discussion folder
- bring a
paper copy to my office at
the times
listed above
- length:
- option 1:
600-900 (counts 30 pts)
- option 2:
1200-1800 (counts 60
pts--but one must
state option 2 in the header to the paper and the paper must
be at least 1200 words in length)
- for more
information about the format
and
about the writing intensive requirements, click
here
Write on
one of the following
two topics:
1)
Socrates was a defendent in court much like the people we saw in
Chapter 7 of Kebric's book. How is his case similar to and different
from 1-2 of those in Chapter 7? [Option 2: same except 3-5 of those in
Chapter 7]
2) We have seen that Socrates' trial
was a public case and subject to the rules of such. If it had been a
private case, then Socrates' accusers would have been allowed a short
amount of time to reply to his defense. Using The Apology, pp. 19-36
(Socrates' initial speech), determine what the accusers' would probably
have said in reply to Socrates' defense. [Option 2: use the entire
Apology as source material for your reply]
Paper
#8 topic
Due
Wednesday, Dec. 10; 5 p.m. (TR 9:25 class)
Due
Friday, Dec. 12; 10:30 a.m. (TR 2:00 class)
Directions:
- post a copy
in "submit papers to this
folder"
in the Greek Civilization discussion folder
- bring a
paper copy to my office at
the times
listed above
- length:
- option 1:
600-900 (counts 30 pts)
- option 2:
1200-1800 (counts 60
pts--but one must
state option 2 in the header to the paper and the paper must
be at least 1200 words in length)
- for more
information about the format
and
about the writing intensive requirements, click
here
Write on
one of the following
two topics:
1) We
have seen that one way the Greeks explained the misfortune or ruin of
individuals was with the koros--hubris--ate pattern. Examine either "A
Casual Act of Violence ..." (208-212) or "Phormio--The Con-Artist" (pp
217-221) and determine whether this pattern fits (or does not fit) 2-3
of the characters in the story. [Option 2: examine both stories]
2) In paper 5 we looked at the
concepts of 'official' power and 'personal' power with regard to the
women (or men) in several of the stories in Kebric, Chapter 7. With
regard to 'personal' power and 'official' power, compare and contrast
the women in Theocritus' Idyll 15 with those in 2 of the stories in
Kebric, Chapter 7. [Option 2: the same but include in your discussion
all 3 stories in Kebric, Chapter 7, and the marriage contract on page
456 in Pomeroy]