Greek Myth XXVII: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book I, Chapter I – Theogony: Birth of Zeus, or I Just Can’t Wait to Be King

Apollodorus didn’t write the Bibliotheca, but we don’t know who did, so we’ll keep using his name. Sort of.

Discussion Prompts
  1. Why do you think we see ultimogeniture in Greek mythology?
  2. AP Credit: Compare/contrast Pseudo-Apollodorus with Hesiod.
  3. What do you think of Earth’s actions? Rhea’s? Which path would you take if your partner imprisoned and/or swallowed your children? Why?

Roman Epics II: De Rerum Natura Book 2, or If You Wanna Be Happy for the Rest of Your Life

We learn about happiness and atoms in Book 2 of De Rerum Natura.

This is not what Lucretius thinks we need to be happy for the rest of our lives. But it sure is catchy!
Discussion Prompts
  1. Is Lucretius a monotheist? Why or why not?
  2. What would your ancient Roman self-help book be about?
  3. When you think of “epicurean,” what do you think of?
  4. AP Credit: Discuss Lucretius’s accuracies and inaccuracies in his description of atoms.

Roman Comedy XVII: Plautus’s Mercator, or The Merchant of Athens

Merchants buy and sell and get in a pickle in Plautus’s Mercator.

A scene in Latin
And English
And another in English
And since I talked about the matrona character, here’s a more stereotypical version of her.
Discussion Prompts
  1. If you were directing this today, what would be your vision? Setting? Dream cast? Etc.? Why?
  2. AP Credit: Discuss the two families seen and the parallels between Charinus and Eutychus.
  3. What do you think of the matrona character type as presented in this play?
  4. Which merchant is the “mercator” of the title? Why?
  5. AP Credit: Discuss the role of Pasicompsa as a non-free character.

Roman Epics I: De Rerum Natura Book 1, or Lucretius Isn’t Wrong

Welcome to Roman Epics! We start with Lucretius’s De Rerum Natura, or On the Nature of Things.

Discussion Prompts
  1. If you were to write an epic based on philosophy, what philosophy would you write about?
  2. How do you think Lucretius (and Epicurus) managed to philosophize physics as well as they did?
  3. What does this book teach about religion?

Greek Tragedy XXXIV: Euripides’s Iphigenia at Aulis, or the Mystery of Iphi Drood

Just as Charles Dickens died before he finished writing The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Euripides died before he finished Iphigenia at Aulis. But unlike Dickens, Euripides had a descendant to finish the writing for him.

Discussion Prompts
  1. What does this play have to say about family loyalty?
  2. Where do you think this play should end? Why?
  3. Do you think this play would have won first prize if it hadn’t been produced alongside The Bacchae? Why or why not?
  4. What do you think of the characterization of Iphigenia? Clytaemestra? Agamemnon? Menelaos? Achilles?
  5. Describe your vision if you were directing this play today. Defend your choices.
  6. How well does this play fit with the rest of the plays we’ve seen that are part of this myth? (As a reminder: Aeschylus’s Oresteia trilogy, Sophocles’s Electra, Euripides’s Electra, Orestes, Iphigenia Among the Taurians…)
  7. Having read multiple versions of this myth, how do you choose to tell the story?

Greek Myth XXVI: Hymn to Guest Friends, or Not a Hymn

We conclude the Homeric Hymns with Hymn 34, which isn’t really a hymn after all.

Discussion Prompts
  1. What is the difference between a friend and a guest friend?
  2. What do you think is the reason, if any, that this poem is directed at a specific community?
  3. We’ve now read all 34 Homeric Hymns. Which is your favorite? Why?

Greek Epics LIV: Humanism in Greek Epics

Today we wrap up the Greek Epics course.

We covered a lot of themes over the course of the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Argonautica. They include, but aren’t limited to, honor and glory, life and death, family, coming of age, war and peace, fate, and the gods. I have one question for you today.

Discussion Prompt
  • What do the three surviving Greek epics teach us about what it means to be human?

Roman Comedy XVI: Plautus’s Menaechmi, or Shakespeare’s Favorite Source Material

If one Menaechmus is good, then two must be better!

Discussion Prompts
  1. AP Credit: Discuss the concept of alienation as seen the the twin Menaechmi brothers.
  2. How would you cast this play? Would you riff on Shakespeare’s double set of twins by casting the same actor as both Peniculus (Diddley – the parasite) and Messenio (Smug – the slave)? Why or why not?
  3. AP Credit: Discuss the concept of madness/insanity as presented in this play.
  4. Which is your favorite Shakespeare play that uses the trope originated in this play? Why?
  5. What are the pros and cons of comparing Menaechmi to Comedy of Errors?
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