Category Archives: Roman Epics

Ovid goes meta by telling stories about people telling stories. Discussion Prompts What’s the deal with the house of Cadmus and the very specific form of madness resulting in people thinking other people are animals and killing them with their bare hands? Why that specific curse? What do you think of Cadmus and Harmonia beingContinue reading “Roman Epics XXV: Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Book 4, or Bedtime Stories”

Any number of individuals get in trouble for speaking rashly in Book 2 of Metamorphoses. Discussion Prompts Why is Juno so upset about Jupiter’s creation of Ursa Major and Ursa Minor? What would you do if you were the Raven? What does the story of Phaethon have to say about generations? Parenting? Hubris? What doContinue reading “Roman Epics XXIII: Ovid’s Metamorphoses Book 2, or Hold Your Tongue!”

It’s a new epic! And a new poet! Ovid is going to change. Or at least write about changes. Something like that. Another plug for the Galleria Borghese in Rome: This is where you can see Bernini’s beautiful, heartbreaking Apollo and Daphne. How that man managed to turn marble into flesh and bark and leaves,Continue reading “Roman Epics XXII: Ovid’s Metamorphoses Book 1, or Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes”

Wait. That’s the end?!? And as long promised, here is my favorite episode of Wishbone: Discussion Prompts Having watched the above, will you ever be able to read The Aeneid the same way again? What do you think of Aeneas’s actions at the end of Book 12? Juturna and Turnus. Discuss. Is this epic optimisticContinue reading “Roman Epics XXI: Virgil’s Aeneid Book 12, or I Wonder If That’s How Virgil Wanted It To End”

It’s truce time! At least for a bit. Until it’s not. And once it’s not? It’s really not truce time anymore. Discussion Prompts AP Credit: Compare/contrast the funerals described in this book with those described in the Iliad. What do you think happens on Olympus after Apollo helps Arruns kill Diana’s beloved Camilla? Why isContinue reading “Roman Epics XX: Virgil’s Aeneid Book 11, or It’s Funeral Time!”

My professor described this book as “a study in violence,” so… fair warning? Discussion Prompts AP Credit: Discuss the deaths in this book as sacrifices for the founding of Rome. AP Credit: Compare/contrast the events of this book with The Iliad. Why do you think Fate is more powerful than the gods? Does Aeneas haveContinue reading “212. Roman Epics XIX: Virgil’s Aeneid Book 10, or A Study in Scarlet”

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!”

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”

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”

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)”