Triumvir Clio

Greek Epics XLI: Odyssey Book 16, or When Two Epics Become One

Odysseus finally sees his son in Book 16 of The Odyssey. Discussion Prompts What does this book have to say about dissembling and disguise? What do you think would have happened if Eumaeus reached Penelope first? Would the suitors still have learned that Telemakhos has returned? Why or why not? If you were Athena, how wouldContinue reading “Greek Epics XLI: Odyssey Book 16, or When Two Epics Become One”

Greek Tragedy XXVII: Euripides’s Iphigenia in Tauris, or She’s Only Mostly Dead

I told you that Euripides just keeps getting darker and darker the farther we get into his career. Well, I lied. Iphigenia in Tauris is a surprisingly light play, at least compared to the rest of the tragedies of Euripides. Discussion Prompts: Is Iphigenia really alive? Why or why not? Why does Athena appear at the end? WhyContinue reading “Greek Tragedy XXVII: Euripides’s Iphigenia in Tauris, or She’s Only Mostly Dead”

Greek Myth XIX: Hymn to Hephaistos, or Don’t Blow Your Top

We get a glimpse of Hephaistos in this Homeric Hymn #20. Discussion Prompts AP Credit: Compare/contrast Hephaistos and Athena. The gifts of Hephaistos and Athena allow mankind to live in houses year-round. Do you think there was a time mankind only lived in houses part of the year? If so, why were they living inContinue reading “Greek Myth XIX: Hymn to Hephaistos, or Don’t Blow Your Top”

Greek Epics XL: Odyssey Book 15, or Remember Telemakhos?

The Telemakhy and the Odyssey finally meet up in Book 15 of The Odyssey. Discussion Prompts: AP Credit: Compare/contrast the two slave stories that come out in Eumaeus’s history. How much agency do you think the young female slave has when she plots with the Phoenicians to kidnap Eumaeus and liberate herself? Why do youContinue reading “Greek Epics XL: Odyssey Book 15, or Remember Telemakhos?”

Roman Comedy IX: Plautus’s Truculentus, or Don’t Let the Riley Translation Confuse You

The Riley translation gets in the way of Plautus’s Truculentus. I confess to getting horribly confused by the Riley translation. As I was trying to clear up the character names, I stumbled across this delightful “blog” featuring posts from the primary characters of Diniarchus, Phronesium, and Stratophanes. Discussion Prompts Who, if anyone, is honorable inContinue reading “Roman Comedy IX: Plautus’s Truculentus, or Don’t Let the Riley Translation Confuse You”

Greek Epics XXXIX: Odyssey Book 14, or This Little Piggy Went Close to Home

Odysseus visits his old swineherd in Book 14 of The Odyssey. Discussion Prompts How much of the story that Odysseus tells Eumaeus is true? Why? How does the story Odysseus tells Eumaeus color what you think about the story that he told the Phaiakians? Why? What do you think of Odysseus now? Why? Why doContinue reading “Greek Epics XXXIX: Odyssey Book 14, or This Little Piggy Went Close to Home”

Greek Tragedy XXVI: Euripides’s Trojan Women, or It’s Always Darkest Before It Goes Pitch Black

I told you that Euripides just keeps getting darker and darker the farther we get into his career. The Trojan Women is pretty grim. A content warning: This play contains a rather grisly infanticide. Discussion Prompts AP Credit: Putting this play in the context of the time in which it was written (during the PeloponnesianContinue reading “Greek Tragedy XXVI: Euripides’s Trojan Women, or It’s Always Darkest Before It Goes Pitch Black”

Greek Myth XVIII: Hymn to Pan, or Little Big Goat-Man

Things get a little wild and wooly in the Homeric Hymn to Pan. Discussion Prompts Pan: Hot or Not? Why? (Or, you know, cute or not?) What do you picture when you think of Pan? Is Dryope’s response to seeing Pan the first time justified? Why or why not?

Greek Epics XXXVIII: Odyssey Book 13, or Home Again, Home Again, Sailing Is Done

Odysseus is finally home! Sort of. We’re only half-way through. There’s a lot that still needs to be resolved. Discussion Prompts AP Credit: Liminality and sleep. Discuss. There’s a lot that happens when Odysseus is asleep (the bag of winds, the cattle of the Sun, the Phaiakians drop him off at Ithaka). Why do youContinue reading “Greek Epics XXXVIII: Odyssey Book 13, or Home Again, Home Again, Sailing Is Done”

Roman Comedy VIII: Plautus’s Trinimmus, or The Money Pit

Despite the title, there are more than three pieces of money in this play. Discussion Prompts In the episode, I briefly compare this play to the biblical story of the prodigal son. What other stories does this play remind you of? Why? AP Credit: Compare/contrast the two families in this play. There are no womenContinue reading “Roman Comedy VIII: Plautus’s Trinimmus, or The Money Pit”