MYTHOLOGY / CLASICS 360

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MARCHAND

 

WRITING ASSIGNMENT #1          DUE OCTOBER 2  at the beginning of class

 

Read the beginning of Hesiodıs Works and Days (pp. 37 ­ 40).  Using this text, the text of the Theogony, the text of Euripidesı Trojan Women, the passages of the Iliad in Classical Mythology, and notes from lecture, compare AND contrast Helen and Pandora (their backgrounds, origins, marriages, consequences of their actions, relationships with gods, etc).  Be creative, but try to avoid making moral judgments (and words such as good, bad, evil).  In the Works and Days, what do you think is the significance of hope being left in the jar?

 

For more material on Helen, you may also wish to consult and use as evidence the following short passages from Homer:

Iliad Book 3, lines 121 ­ 1777 (Helen weaving; Helen and Priam watch the fighting from the wall of Troy)

Iliad Book 3, lines 380 ­ 447 (Aphrodite rescues Paris from the fighting, sends Helen to his bed ­ parts of this scene are in Classical Mythology)

Iliad Book 24, lines 761 ­ 776 (Helenıs speech at Hektorıs funeral)

The text is available online at:

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu

(This address takes you to the home page; click the link to ³Classics² on the left side of the page under the heading Perseus Contents to go to the online texts.  Then simply scroll down until you find Homer the Iliad.) 

 

For this assignment, there are no right or wrong answers; however there are essays which display more or less creativity, which include more use and analysis of the primary sources, and which display a greater degree of familiarity with the course material and with the approach which is being encouraged in class.

 

A good paper will make good use of the primary sources.  All four primary sources should be used as evidence in the paper (Theogony, Works and Days, the Iliad, and Trojan Women).  Please reference all of your source material, and use the sources to support your arguments, but since this is a very short paper, avoid using long quotes which simply pad your paper.  The proper way to reference primary sources is by author, title, book number (if any), and line number.  However, given the way in which the sources are provided in your books, this is may be impossible. 

Therefore, please use the following method of citing your primary texts:

 

For the Theogony and Works and Days, give the author, title in italics, and page number in your translation: 

            Hesiod Theogony, p. 4            or                     Hesiod Works and Days, p. 39

 

For the Iliad, if using a separate text, give the title in italics, the book number, and the line numbers:               Iliad 3, lines 438 - 447

For sections of the Iliad quoted in Classical Mythology, the book and line numbers are indicated immediately above the quotation, with the book number first followed by a period, then followed by the line numbers (3. 438 - 447); please give the title, the book number, line numbers, and the page in Classical Mythology:

            Iliad 3, lines 438 ­ 447, CM p. 457.

For Euripidesı Trojan Women, give the author, title in italics, the block of lines represented on that page (these are given at the top of each page in brackets), and the page number in your translation:

            Euripides Trojan Women, lines 860 ­ 898, p. 194.

 

You do not need to include a bibliography unless you are using texts and translations other than those required for the course or mentioned here.

 

Guidelines:

All papers are to be typed, and to employ good English grammar, spelling, and style.  These are to be no less than 3 to 4 full pages in length, double-spaced, and in an easy to read font no larger than Arial 12 point.  All pages should be clearly numbered.  A separate cover sheet should be provided with your name and the title of your paper.  These are to be original work by the student for this class (please do not attempt to recycle work from past classes).  The papers will be graded primarily on evidence that the student has learned and engaged the material from the course, has done independent thinking, has used the primary texts, and has done all of the assigned reading; however, grammar and style will also be taken into account.

All papers will be marked down one full grade for each class meeting that they are late; all must be turned in by hand in hard copy at the beginning of the class meeting on which they are due (papers turned in at the end of class will be considered one class meeting late).  No papers will be accepted if they are more than two class meetings late, unless the student has a note from a doctor or has discussed the issue with the instructor prior to the date on which the papers are due. 

 

Style hints:

 

Do not use incomplete sentences or sentence fragments.  Never begin a sentence with ³and² or ³but.²

 

In written English, ³a lot² does not mean much or many; it can only mean a vacant lot or a lottery token.

 

Avoid colloquial phrases, and do not use the first person.

 

If you are not sure of a wordıs meaning and correct usage, rephrase your sentence.  It is better to use simple but correct sentences than to use awkward phrases.

 

Avoid wordy sentences: 

            ³He was in a subservient sort of social condition² = ³he was a servant²