That necklace gets around… Discussion Prompts Alcmaeon punishes his mother before he returns later to murder her. What do you think that first punishment is? Retell this story from Arsinoe’s perspective. Retell this story as though you are Euripides. Retell this story as though you are Callirrhoe. Retell this story as though you are Wagner.Continue reading “Greek Myth XLVIII: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book III, Chapter VII – Epigoni, or The Ring Cycle”
Category Archives: Background
Roman Epics XXIV: Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Book 3, or Those Ancient Gods Are Vindictive
Listen to Tiresias, if you know what’s good for you. Discussion Prompts Does anyone deserve their fate? Who? Why or why not? What would you do if you were Tiresias? What does this book have to say about the role of the gods in the lives of mortals? What does this book say to usContinue reading “Roman Epics XXIV: Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Book 3, or Those Ancient Gods Are Vindictive”
Greek Myth XLVII: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book III, Chapter VI – Seven Against Thebes, or Including the Parts Aeschylus Left Out!
I think Aeschylus skipped some of these parts. Discussion Prompts Is it really necessary for Amphiaraus to join the war? Why or why not? Was there ever really a possibility that sharing the throne of Thebes would work out? Why or why not? Tell this story from the point of view of Eriphyle. What doesContinue reading “Greek Myth XLVII: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book III, Chapter VI – Seven Against Thebes, or Including the Parts Aeschylus Left Out!”
Roman Tragedy X: Seneca’s Hercules on Oeta, or The Long Kiss Goodnight
Hercules goes on and on and on and on and on… Discussion Prompts Do you think Seneca wrote this play? Explain. What does this play say about love? Who is the best stoic in this play? What does Alcmena show us about grief? Faith? The usual directing questions: How would you stage this? Dream cast?Continue reading “Roman Tragedy X: Seneca’s Hercules on Oeta, or The Long Kiss Goodnight”
Greek Myth XLIV: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book III, Chapter III – Glaucus, or Who Knew Honey Was So Dangerous?!?
Glaucus dies. But don’t be nervous. It will all be all right in the end. Discussion Prompts Why do you think the color-changing cow is important? Why do you think that is the test for identifying the person who will save Glaucus? Spit-swapping. Discuss. Are there other myths or legends that involve drowning in honey?Continue reading “Greek Myth XLIV: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book III, Chapter III – Glaucus, or Who Knew Honey Was So Dangerous?!?”
Greek Tragedy XXXI: Euripides’s Phoenician Women, or Not Your Grandpa’s Oedipus Assuming Your Grandpa is Sophocles or Aeschylus
Forget everything you thought you knew about Oedipus. Euripides has a whole new version in The Phoenician Women. Discussion Prompts We have seen three different visions of the Oedipus myth, one from each of our tragedians. Which one do you prefer? Why? If you were directing this play, when and where would you set it? Why? WhyContinue reading “Greek Tragedy XXXI: Euripides’s Phoenician Women, or Not Your Grandpa’s Oedipus Assuming Your Grandpa is Sophocles or Aeschylus”
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 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 Tragedy XXI: Euripides’s Andromache, or If Euripides and Clare Boothe Luce Wrote a Play Together
If Euripides had helped Clare Boothe Luce to write The Women, Andromache might have been the result, only with more witty ripostes. Discussion Prompts AP Credit: Discuss how xenophobia is presented in this play. If you were staging this play today, where and when would you set it? Why? Which character do you like better:Continue reading “Greek Tragedy XXI: Euripides’s Andromache, or If Euripides and Clare Boothe Luce Wrote a Play Together”
Roman Comedy III: Plautus’s Stichus, or Meet the Parasite
Henry Thomas Riley describes the plot of today’s play as “extremely meagre”. I think you’ll see why. Discussion Prompts Why do you think this play is named after Stichus? What do you think of the Parasite? What are some more modern versions of this stock character? If you were directing this play today, how wouldContinue reading “Roman Comedy III: Plautus’s Stichus, or Meet the Parasite”
Triumvir Clio's School of Classical Civilization 