Greek and Roman Literature in Translation

Midterm Review

Format:

The midterm consists of 2 parts: A multiple choice section (40%) and an essay (60%)

Multiple Choice: 20 questions.

• About 2/3 will be identifications of the terms and names listed on the assignments pages.
• About 1/3 will be identifications of significant speeches/quotes from the readings.

Essay: 

There are six essay questions below.  On the exam, I will give you a choice between two of them, and you will write an essay on ONE.

Essay Questions:

1. Intelligent Women in the Odyssey.  The Odyssey has a number of notable female characters (Penelope, Helen, Circe, Calypso, Nausicaa, Arete, and of course Athena ...).   Some of them are "intelligent" in some way.  Choose some of these female characters and discuss the ways in which they are (or aren't) intelligent.  Does female intelligence take substantially different forms in the characters you choose, or are there uniting characteristics?  What might account for any differences you see (status, situation, divine/human, virtuous/not virtuous, etc.).  What accounts for any similarities?

2. Athena and Heroes:  In the Iliad, Athena has a special relationship with Akhilleus, often serving as a guide and helper.  In the Odyssey, she has a special relationship with Odysseus.  Discuss the similarities and differences between her relationships with the two heroes, and what accounts for them -- the nature of the hero, the nature of the epic, the structure of the narrative, the personality and situation of the hero, etc.

3. Rage and Vengeance: Archilochos and Akhilleus:  Archilochos expresses many vengeful sentiments toward his enemies and especially those he feels have betrayed him.  In what ways does his anger and vengeance, and his sense of betrayal, compare to that shown by Akhilleus in the Iliad?  In what ways are their motivations for their anger and expressions of desire for vengeance (or satisfaction with vengeance) similar or different?  What accounts for the differences?  (Genre, myth vs. reality, first person vs. epic narrative, personality, situation, and status of the character/persona, etc.)?

4. Fate and Interactions with Gods:  How do Olympian gods and other divine beings act upon humans in mythic narrative (i.e. stories about heroes of the past)?  Compare the Iliad, the Odyssey, and Pindar's Olympian 1, observing things like the level of personal relationships with humans, conflicts between gods that affect humans, and ways in which gods are committed to humans, or manipulate, help, or persecute them for their own purposes.  To what extent does fate play a role in the gods' interactions with the humans they favor or dislike?  What might account for any differences you see in the Iliad, the Odyssey, and Pindar?

5. Love: We have spoken about philia, a kind of love that includes deep friendship as well as familial relationships.  Discuss this idea of philia in the personal expressions of the lyric works of Archilochos and Sappho, and in at least one of the relationships (familial or friendship) in the Iliad and/or Odyssey.  Do the mythic relationships of the epics share characteristics with the relationships that are portrayed in the lyric poetry?  Are there consistent differences? 

6. Fame and Shame: Kleos is a significant aspect of decisions and actions in the Iliad, in the actions of Akhilleus, Hektor, Helen and many other characters.  So is the drive to avoid shame and the bad reputation that would come with it.  Discuss the ideas of fame and shame in two or more of the warriors (and/or other characters) of the Iliad, then compare it to the ideas of fame, shame, and reputation expressed in one or more of the poets we have read.  Is fame equally valued by all?  How does the idea of shame emerge (or does it) in the works of the lyric/choral poets?