Just when you think Book 9 is over… Discussion Prompts AP Credit: Compare/contrast Euryalus and Telemakhos. What do you think the nature of the relationship between Nisus and Euryalus is? Why? Why do you think Juno chooses Iris as her messenger in this book? AP Credit: Compare/contrast Turnus and Achilles. What role does hubris playContinue reading “Roman Epics XVIII: Virgil’s Aeneid Book 9, or Two Books for the Price of One!”
Category Archives: The Romans
Roman Tragedy VII: Seneca’s Hercules Furens, or the Only Man Who Can Beat Hercules
Juno has plans for Hercules, and they aren’t good. But then, are they ever? Discussion Prompts How does immortality affect the relationship between Juno and Jupiter? How does it affect Juno’s reactions to Jupiter’s, shall we say, indiscretions? Would Amphitryon and Theseus have been able to stop Hercules from killing himself? Why or why not?Continue reading “Roman Tragedy VII: Seneca’s Hercules Furens, or the Only Man Who Can Beat Hercules”
Roman Epics XVII: Virgil’s Aeneid Book 8, or Aeneas Finds Rome
Aeneas finds some allies and some armor in today’s episode. Discussion Prompts AP Credit: Cacus + Hercules = Civilization. Discuss. Why do you think Evander is so happy to ally with Aeneas? Is The Aeneid propaganda? Why or why not? Foreshadowing: What do you think is going to happen next? Who will survive the war?Continue reading “Roman Epics XVII: Virgil’s Aeneid Book 8, or Aeneas Finds Rome”
Roman Tragedy VI: Seneca’s Troades, or Not Euripides’s Trojan Women
Seneca merges two of Euripides’s plays about the end of the Trojan War with mixed results. Discussion Prompts Helen states that she finds herself “compelled to hurt the Trojans.” What do you think this means about how she originally came to Troy? Did she come willingly? Or not? What do you think of the portrayalContinue reading “Roman Tragedy VI: Seneca’s Troades, or Not Euripides’s Trojan Women”
Roman Epics XVI: Virgil’s Aeneid Book 7, or Allecto Runs Free
Juno is furious, and she knows just who to ask for help. Discussion Prompts How much free will does Lavinia have? Explain. Tell this story from Lavinia’s point of view. Why doesn’t Turnus jump at the chance to fight Aeneas? Juno or Allecto? Why? What does this book have to say about fate versus freeContinue reading “Roman Epics XVI: Virgil’s Aeneid Book 7, or Allecto Runs Free”
Roman Tragedy V: Seneca’s Medea, or Every Day a Little Death
Seneca gives us his take on Medea in today’s episode. Discussion Prompts AP Credit: How does this play teach us about stoicism? Which Medea do you prefer? That of Euripides or that of Seneca? What about Jason? What does the end of this play have to say about the gods? How would you stage thisContinue reading “Roman Tragedy V: Seneca’s Medea, or Every Day a Little Death”
Roman Epics XV: Virgil’s Aeneid Book 6, or Virgil Throws Some Shade(s)
Aeneas visits the Underworld and learns some things… Or does he? The Vatican keeps pretty tight reigns over photography within the Sistine Chapel, so I haven’t been able to find any copyright-free images to share. This site, however, has some excellent close-ups of the prophets and sibyls that Michelangelo includes as part of that massiveContinue reading “Roman Epics XV: Virgil’s Aeneid Book 6, or Virgil Throws Some Shade(s)”
Roman Tragedy IV: Seneca’s Oedipus, or Another Odd Complex
Beth tries really hard not to sing that excellent Tom Lehrer song as she once again talks about that boy who loved his mother. Discussion Prompts How would you describe Oedipus’s character in this telling? Which version of the plot do you prefer? Sophocles or Seneca? Why? What does Seneca have to say about fate?Continue reading “Roman Tragedy IV: Seneca’s Oedipus, or Another Odd Complex”
Roman Epics XIV: Virgil’s Aeneid Book 5, or the Trojan Cup
You get a funeral game! And you get a funeral game! And you get a funeral game! Discussion Prompts Retell this book from the perspective of the women. Which funeral game is your favorite? Why? What purpose do the consolation prizes serve? Discuss the role of fate as we see it in this book. WhyContinue reading “Roman Epics XIV: Virgil’s Aeneid Book 5, or the Trojan Cup”
Roman Tragedy III: Seneca’s Phaedra, or Passions
Passions overwhelm Phaedra in Seneca’s version of her story. Discussion Prompts How old do you think the characters are? Why? How, if at all, might this change how we view Phaedra’s feelings towards Hippolytus? Do you think this play was meant to be performed? Why or why not? Directing questions: How would you stage this?Continue reading “Roman Tragedy III: Seneca’s Phaedra, or Passions”
Triumvir Clio's School of Classical Civilization 