Humanities 110

Paper Topics | Spring 2002 | Paper 2

Due Date: Saturday, March 30, 2002, 5 p.m. in the Faculty mailboxes in Eliot.
Length: 1500 words.

1. What is the relation between Lucretius's physics and his ethics?

2. In the Book of Genesis, why is Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac?

3. In what ways does Tacitus think that the private lives of the women of the imperial family are a matter of public importance? Use at least three examples from the Annals in your answer.

4. Often in Ovid’s stories, desire functions as a catalyst of transformation (e.g., in the stories of Phatheon, Io, and Procne). To what extent do you find there is an "ethics of desire" in the Metamorphoses?

5. Focussing your discussion on two "heroes" from Tacitus's Annals (e.g., Germanicus or Corbulo), discuss whether and in what ways these characters exhibit Stoic virtues.

6. In consultation with your conference leader, you may write on a topic of your own devising.

In addition to consulting with your conference leader, you can get help with all stages of the writing process from peer tutors at the Writing Center. You can find links to the Writing Center hours on the Drop-in Tutoring Schedule website. Extra tutoring help will be available in the week leading up to paper due dates.