Triumvir Clio

Greek Epics XXXIII: Odyssey Book 8, or I Have a Song to Sing-O!

The Phaiakians play some games and sing some songs and still don’t know Odysseus’s name. Discussion Prompts AP Credit: Compare and contrast Athena’s actions as they relate to Telemakhos and Odysseus. What do you think happens in the rest of the first song, the one about the fight between Achilles and Odysseus? AP Credit: DiscussContinue reading “Greek Epics XXXIII: Odyssey Book 8, or I Have a Song to Sing-O!”

Greek Tragedy XXIII: Euripides’s The Suppliants, or How the Other Half Mourns

In today’s play, we learn what happens to the rest of the seven men who make up the famous Seven Against Thebes. Discussion Prompts Why would the suppliants be assembled at a temple of Demeter instead of some other god? If you were directing this today, how would you cast your chorus? How many mothersContinue reading “Greek Tragedy XXIII: Euripides’s The Suppliants, or How the Other Half Mourns”

Greek Myth XV: Hymn to Herakles the Lion-Hearted, or A Hymn to the OG GOAT

Today’s episode looks at Homeric Hymn #15, about the original greatest of all time. Discussion Prompts What does Herakles’s ultimate marriage to Hebe say about youthfulness, death, and the afterlife? Why do you think this poem glosses over so many of the details of Herakles’s life? What other thoughts do you have about this poem?

Greek Epics XXXII: Odyssey Book 7, or Meet the Phaiakians

Odysseus meets the Phaiakians. He’s getting closer to home, but we still have a long way to go before he gets there. Discussion Prompts What do you think about the utopia that Phaiakia is supposed to represent? Do you think Athena’s actions are necessary? Why or why not? Who is really in charge: Alkinoös orContinue reading “Greek Epics XXXII: Odyssey Book 7, or Meet the Phaiakians”

Roman Comedy V: Plautus’s Bacchides, or Parent Trap

This is Bacchis. And this is her sister Bacchis. Confused yet? Here are some clips from Bacchides that give you a sense of what it might have looked like when performed in Rome and how it can be made slightly more accessible when translated into English. Discussion Prompts What do you think happens in theContinue reading “Roman Comedy V: Plautus’s Bacchides, or Parent Trap”

Greek Epics XXXI: Odyssey Book 6, or The Princess and the Frog

Meet the Phaiakhians. And their princess Nausikaa. And watch Nausikaa meet Odysseus. Discussion Prompts The poet describes Nausikaa as being like Artemis. Then Odysseus calls her Artemis. Is Odysseus being sincere? What do you like to do to celebrate laundry day? What would be wrong with Nausikaa bringing Odysseus home? Why does Nausikaa tell OdysseusContinue reading “Greek Epics XXXI: Odyssey Book 6, or The Princess and the Frog”

Greek Tragedy XXII: Euripides’s Hekabe, or Queen Lear

Hekabe loses power and her children in this play about what happens after the fall of Troy. Discussion Prompts If you were directing this, who would you cast as Hekabe? What about Polyxena?Where and when would you set it? Why? AP Credit: Compare and contrast the various human sacrifices surrounding the Trojan War. Why doContinue reading “Greek Tragedy XXII: Euripides’s Hekabe, or Queen Lear”

Greek Myth XIV: Hymn to Mother of the Gods, or Your Guess Is As Good As Mine

In this episode, we review #14 of the Homeric Hymns: Hymn to the Mother of the Gods. Discussion Prompts AP Credit: Which goddess is this hymn dedicated to? Why? What does the Mother of the Gods’s association with nature and wild animals say about the role of women and mortal mothers?

Greek Epics XXX: Odyssey Book 5, or It Turns Out the Odyssey Really IS About Odysseus

We finally join Odysseus as he tries to get home from Troy. Discussion Prompts How consensual do you think the relationship between Kalypso and Odysseus is? Why? Why is death in battle preferable to death at sea? AP Credit: Liminality. Discuss. How legitimate is Kalypso’s complaint about the double-standard when it comes to immortals sleepingContinue reading “Greek Epics XXX: Odyssey Book 5, or It Turns Out the Odyssey Really IS About Odysseus”

Roman Comedy IV: Plautus’s Pseudolus, or Is “Comedy Tonight” Stuck In Your Head, Too?

We’ll talk about tragedy tomorrow and comedy tonight. Okay, we’ll really talk about tragedy next week and comedy today. Yes, this is the source for Sondheim’s Pseudolus, and if you already know A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, this play should have a familiar feel to you. I also found thisContinue reading “Roman Comedy IV: Plautus’s Pseudolus, or Is “Comedy Tonight” Stuck In Your Head, Too?”