S12-Take-home option for Exam 2

Gorgon's head on a silver coin of Naples
permission to use image granted

S12: CLA215, Mythology:
Take-home Option for Exam 2

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

Due at the beginning of class,
(in both paper and electronic form)

Directions:

Electronic copy (to victor.leuci@westminster-mo.edu): the subject header can be whatever, but the name of your attached file should be:

S12-215-E2-Last Name, First Name (e.g. S12-215-E2-Doe, John)

Paper copy: bring to class or to my office

Length: see below

citing reminders:

you must cite your sources of information (facts, theories, etc).

for Leonard & McClure, one must include specific page numbers, e.g. (Leonard & McClure, 147)

for Powell's textbook: give the name of the text, the line number(s), the page number, e.g. (Homeric Hymn to Demeter, 1-5, 221)

bibliography reminders:

at end of paper not on a separate sheet (if possible)

only include entries for what you used in your paper, i.e. if you use Powell's book

make sure the bibliography is in the same font as your main text

make sure that you use hanging indents for the bibliography

Option 1: Write two 600-1000ish word essays, using the two topics given below:

A key aim for a Greek male aristocrat was the pursuit of success, fame, and glory. In many ways the Greek myths which we have studied in this unit can be looked upon as defining the ways an individual can pursue such success, fame, and glory. Does this also hold true for the non-Greek myths we have studied in this unit? After examining how this is true in Homeric Hymn to Hermes, discuss for any one of the following:

Scholars of Homer's works have noted that three pairs of opposites describes well how the Olympians deities relate to humans--the deities sometimes emphasize their nearness to humans and sometimes emphasize how great a gulf separates humans from the deities; the deities are sometimes kind and sometimes cruel to humans; the deities sometimes act according to justice and sometimes according to selfish "whims." Use these three pairs of opposites to examine the following:

Demeter in Powell's Chapter 10
Krishna in Leonard & McClure's chapter 4 or Pe-le in "The Fire Goddess" in Leonard & McClure's chapter 3 (if you didn't write on "The Fire Goddess" for paper 2)

In your conclusion discuss the significance of the similarities/differences between the two cultures' myths.

Option 2: Write one 1200-1800 word essay on one of the two topics below:

A key aim for a Greek male aristocrat was the pursuit of success, fame, and glory. In many ways the Greek myths which we have studied in this unit can be looked upon as defining the ways an individual can pursue such success, fame, and glory. Does this also hold true for the non-Greek myths we have studied in this unit? After examining how this is true in Homeric Hymn to Hermes, discuss for any two of the following:

Scholars of Homer's works have noted that three pairs of opposites describes well how the Olympians deities relate to humans--the deities sometimes emphasize their nearness to humans and sometimes emphasize how great a gulf separates humans from the deities; the deities are sometimes kind and sometimes cruel to humans; the deities sometimes act according to justice and sometimes according to selfish "whims." Use these three pairs of opposites to examine three of the following:

Aphrodite in the Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite in Powell's chapter 9
Demeter in the Homeric Hymn to Demeter in Powell's chapter 10
Krishna in Leonard & McClure's chapter 4
Pe-le in "The Fire Goddess" in Leonard & McClure's chapter 3 (if you didn't write on "The Fire Goddess" in paper 2)

In your conclusion discuss the significance of the similarities/differences between the three cultures' myths.