Euripides II--Andromache

Please read Euripides' Andromache for Tuesday's class.

Once again, I'd like you to imagine you have just seen the first Athenian producation of the play. Write a "thumbs up, thumbs down" style review of the play as you imagine it.

Euripides I--Alcestis

Suppose you have just seen the first Athenian production of Euripides' Alcestis. Write a Siskel and Ebert style (thumbs up/thumbs down) review of the production as you imagine it.
Include in your review responses to earlier reviewers if you like.

Philoctetes

Many think that Oedipus Rex is Sophocles' finest play--perhaps the finest tragedy ever written. Others think the lesser-known Philoctetes an even greater play. Did you like Philoctetes better than Oedipus Rex? Not as much? Why? What do you think Sophocles does particularly well in Philoctetes--or, perhaps, not so well?

Oedipus the King

For Thursday's class, please read Sophocles' Oedipus Rex (either online or in Levi Lind's Ten Greek Plays in Contemporary Translation).

Suppose that you have been chosen to play one of the characters in Oedipus Rex. Choose a "special" line for your character (see previous blog instructions for Agamemnon) and explain how you would either build up to that line or build off that line in your performance.

Aeschylus II--Agamemnon

Please read Aeschylus' Agamemnon (pp. 37-76 of Levi Lind's Ten Greek Plays in Contemporary Translation).

Directors sometimes encourage their actors to choose one special line and to center their whole performance on building to and building off that line. Assume you are asked to play one of the characters in Agamemnon or to be a member of the chorus. What line would you choose for your "special" line? How would you build up to or build off that line? Why would you choose that particular line?

By the way, the first part of next class will be devoted to a discussion of the major themes in Prometheus Bound. If you have not read that play already, please do. Since that assignment immediately followed the MT exam, I will accept late blog entries for that assignment so long as they are done before Tuesday's class.

Prometheus Bound

Please read Prometheus Bound (pp. 6-32 in Levi Lind's Ten Greek Plays in Contemporary Translation or online here or here).

Suppose you were writing a commercial promoting a production of Prometheus Bound as a "must see" kind of show. Choose some "sound bites" from the play itself to use in your commercial. Be prepared to work with other students in class to create a full version of your commercial.

Riddle of the midterm exam....

What runs on coffee in the morning, Dr. Pepper in the afternoon, and hot chocolate at night? Well, that one's way too easy--but some of the questions connected with this class are not. If you're confused about any of the potential essays or ID's (or if you just want to share ideas) here's a place for your comments and questions. I'll check in several times a day between now and Tuesday morning and attempt to answer your questions.

Herodotus--Discussion III

Among his many works, Plutarch wrote an essay "On the Malignity (Malice) of Herodotus," a work in which he criticizes the father of history as a slanderer and a blasphemer, a man who dwells on the negative and omits the noble and the good. He admits that Herodotus is a great artist, but (he says) that only makes things worse.

Please read as much as you can of Books 8 and 9 of Herodotus' history. Be sure to read Book 9, Sections 90-122 (pp. 590-603 in the new Penguin edition). Cite one story from this section *and* one story *from some other part* of Herodotus' Histories that either supports Plutarch's criticisms or shows that Herodotus includes more than just negatives.

(Walter Blanco translation of The Malice of Herodotus.)

Herodotus II

Please skim Books 3 and 7 of Herodotus' Histories. You might find particularly helpful Book III, Section 80 and Book VII, Sections 10-20, 28, 35, 51, 61, 135 and 140.

We've agreed that a good history should be interesting--and, occassionally, funny as well. From these sections, pick out a Herodotus story that seems to you to be particuarly interesting or particularly amusing. Explain why you like this particular story.

By the way, there will be two additional ID's for the midterm: HERODOTUS STORY I, and HERODOTUS STORY II. You will be able to use any Herodotus story you choose for these ID's.