Directions:

• electronic copy: e-mail me at victor.leuci@westminster-mo.edu; the name of your attached file should be:
  • S13-361-MT-Last Name, First Name (e.g. S13-361-MT-Leuci, Victor)
• paper copy: bring to class
• length: 1200-1800ish
• Make sure you have your name, course number, etc at the top
• Copy and paste the topic you use at the beginning of your paper as a copy of this will be going to the assessment committee
• In-text Citations
  • make sure you cite specific examples from all the plays in a topic and that you use the line numbers from the plays rather than the page numbers when citing.
  • You may abbreviate the names of the plays when citing, e.g. Ag. for The Agamemnon, Alc. for Alcestis.
• Works Cited "Page" reminders:
  • all the information you need for your entries is on the syllabus
  • in the same font, font size, etc. as your main text
  • use hanging indents
  • use MLA 7th edition or APA 6th edition or Chicago Manual of Style

Write on one of the following topics:

• Justice—Familial vs Civic: (Aeschylus' Oresteia: The Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers & The Eumenides): One way to look at the three plays that make up the Oresteia is that they attempt to provide a synthesis of an older system (family justice (i.e.vengence), the Furies) with a newer system (community justice (i.e. trial by jury), Apollo). In your essay give examples of the systems from the plays and from society(ies) today and the synthesis. In your conclusion address whether Aeschylus' synthesis is still a valid approach today.


• The Civic leader: (Sophocles' Antigone, Oedipus the King & Oedipus at Colonus) Several years ago New York Times' columnist, Nicholas D. Kristof, argued for the applicability of Greek literature to modern values and politics. In particular he argued that President George W. Bush is like the character Creon in Sophocles' Antigone. In your essay argue which leader (Creon, Theseus, or Oedipus) in these three plays President Obama is most like and which two he is least like, focusing on the leader's abilities as leader/prophet--his fate may be important as well. Make sure you give examples from all three plays.


• "Love:" (Euripides' Medea, Hippolytus & Alcestis) We saw how Euripides examined and commented on the nature of "love" and its effects on individuals, both in a negative light and in a positive light. Do you agree or disagree with him? Make sure you have concrete examples from the plays as well as from today.