F06-Topics for Myth Papers

Gorgon's head on a silver coin
used with permission

Classics 215: Mythology

Fall 2006

Topics for Papers

The god Apollo on a gold coin of Syracuse
image courtesy of Edgar L. Owen, #3803

Paper #1 topic

Directions:

e-mail a copy to me (leuciv@westminster-mo.edu)

bring a paper copy to class

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. For the Hebrew and Mayan creation stories, as given in Leonard & McClure, discussion points of similarity or difference that seem significant and, in your conclusion, detail what this may tell us about their cultures and/or humanity in general.
2. For the Iroquois and Sumerian/Mesopotamian/Hittite creation stories, as given in Leonard & McClure and in Powell, Ch. 4, discuss meaningful points of similarity or difference and detail what this may tell us about their cultures and/or humanity in general.

Paper #2 topic

Directions:

e-mail a copy to me (leuciv@westminster-mo.edu)

bring a paper copy to class

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. Using the myth of Demeter (Homeric Hymn to Demeter, Powell, Ch. 9, pp. 222-234), what pictures emerges with regard to conflicts and their resolutions within Greek society? Make sure you support your main points with pertinent examples from all of the evidence and cite the examples correctly (see below).

2. Many of the myths about the female Olympians in Powell, Ch. 8 detail how these deities relate to mortals. From a careful examination of the actual myths (i.e. the indented material) of Aphrodite, Artemis, and Athena as given in Powell, Ch 8, what picture emerges of how female deities relate to mortals? Make sure you support your main points with pertinent examples from all of the evidence and cite the examples correctly (see below).

Citing instructions: When citing make sure you also give the line numbers (on the side of the pages) and the primary sources the evidence is from, e.g. "over the shadowy hills and wind-blown peaks of the mountains" (Homeric Hymn to Artemis, l. 5, p 210) and don't forget to use italics for the titles of the works.

Paper#3 topic Directions:

e-mail a copy to me (leuciv@westminster-mo.edu)
bring a paper copy to class
length: 600-900
for more information about the format and about the writing intensive requirements, click here

Write on one of the following:

1. For one of the longer myths (i.e. "The Fire Goddess" or "A Taste of Earth") or two of the shorter myths in Leonard's chapter 3 "The Femaler Divine", apply and evaluate Malinowski's Charter Theory.

2. For one of the longer myths (i.e. "The Fire Goddess" or "A Taste of Earth") or two of the shorter myths in Leonard's chapter 3 "The Femaler Divine", apply and evaluate two of the Greek theories.

Paper #4 topic

Directions:

e-mail a copy to me (leuciv@westminster-mo.edu)
bring a paper copy to class
length: 600-900 (excluding name, date, topic, ...)
instead of a title, copy & paste the topic you are writing on (new)
for more information about the format & writing intensive click here
writing intensive--don't forget to turn in the draft copy with my or the Writing Lab's comments on it for it to count towards your revised paper total

Write on one of the following:

1. Powell, in his chapter on Jason, gives selections from Euripides' play The Medea. Discuss some of the ways that Euripides uses language to heighten the mood(s) he is trying to create (it was meant to be performed) [For citing, give the line numbers that Powell provides for the play in addition to the page numbers in Powell].

2. Several years ago, the defense team of Martha Stewart decided not to put her on the stand to testify. News reports theorized that they chose this approach because they feared, based on her character, that she might say something that would damage their case [it was also theorized that the testimony of the defendants in the Enron case did hurt their case by testifying]. If you were part of the defense team and Jason were put on trial for abandoning Medea, would you choose to put him on the stand based on the primary evidence on his character in Powell from Apollonius of Rhodes and Euripides [For citing, make sure you give the author or work and the line numbers in addition to the page numbers in Powell].

3. Powell, in his chapter on Theseus, gives to poems that show different views on Theseus' nature. Paying close attention to the language both poets use, discuss how both use the language to heighten the moods they are trying to create and win over the readers to certain points of view. Be very specific with regard to the language both use when discussing. [For citing, give line numbers and authors]

Paper #5 topic Directions:

e-mail a copy to me (leuciv@westminster-mo.edu)
bring a paper copy to class
length: 600-900 (excluding name, date, topic, ...)
instead of a title, copy & paste the topic you are writing on (new)
for more information about the format and about the writing intensive requirements, click here
writing intensive--don't forget to turn in the draft copy with my or the Writing Lab's comments on it for it to count towards your revised paper total
citing directions: give the book and line numbers that Powell provides for the Iliad (or line numbers where applicable) in addition to the page numbers in Powell, e.g. Powell, 527: 3.218 or Powell, 517: 78-82

Write on one of the following: 1. In our discussion the other day, Helen's successful approach with Menelaus when he was going to kill her came up. Her sister Clytemnestra also tried this approach with Orestes--unsuccessfully. Argue whether or not the success/failure relates to their character as evidenced in the following passages in Powell (Powell, pp 517-519, 527-529, 550-552, 560-563, 4th edit.). [For citing, see directions above]

2. In our discussion the other day the role of "fate" in the ancient Greek conception of life came up. Looking closely only at the primary texts from Homer in chapters 19 and 20, determine what role the individuals (and Homer) in the Iliad attribute to"fate" or "the god's will" as opposed to "free will". [For citing, see directions above]

3. In the recent trial of Martha Stewart, the defense team decided not to put her on the stand to testify. News reports theorized that they chose this approach because they feared that she might say something that would damage their case based on her character. If Achilles were charged with a crime and you were part of the defense team for Achilles, would you choose to put Achilles on the stand in a trial, based on the evidence about his character in the primary material in Powell's chapters 19? [For citing, see directions above]

Paper #6 topic

Directions:

e-mail a copy to me (leuciv@westminster-mo.edu)
bring a paper copy to class
length: 600-900 words (excluding name, date, topic, ...)
instead of a title, copy & paste the topic you are writing on
for more information about the format and about the writing intensive requirements, click here
writing intensive--don't forget to turn in the draft copy with my or the Writing Lab's comments on it for it to count towards your revised paper total
citing directions: give the title, the book and line numbers that Powell provides for the Iliad and the Odyssey in addition to the page numbers in Powell, e.g. Powell, 527: Il. 3.218; Powell, 571: Od. 9.165.

Write on one of the following:

1 Based on the primary evidence given in Powell's chapters 19 and 21 from the Iliad and the Odyssey for both Achilles and Odysseus, argue which would be more "heroic" by today's standards or by Greek standards. Make sure you give sufficient examples from a sufficient amount of the evidence to illustrate the points you wish to make. [citing directions: see above]

2. Based on a close reading of the selection in Powell's chapter 21 from the Odyssey dealing with Polyphemus, how does this passage illustrate the concept of "dual-motivation", i.e. that one's actions are both the result of "free will" and "fate"? [citing directions: see above]

3. Based on Odysseus' speeches in Powell's chapter 21 [i.e. all the speeches], argue whether Odysseus would make an effective trial lawyer. (FYI: for our purposes a "speech" is anything that he actually says whether he is talking to one person or many). [citing directions: see above]