Humanities 110

Paper Topics | Fall 2002 | Paper 2

Due Date: Saturday, October 12, 2002, 5 p.m. in the Faculty mailboxes in Eliot.
Length: 6 - 7 pages

Write on one of the following questions.

1. Analyze the representation of justice in Solon's "Poem #2 (Fr.4)" (Miller 65) and Hesiod's "Works and Days" (247-344).

2. Alcaeus's "Poem #4 (Fr.42)" (Miller 40), "Poem #10 (Fr.283)" (Miller 45), and Sappho's "Poem #4 (Fr.16)" (Miller 54) rework the Homeric representations of Helen in books 3&6 of the Iliad. Comparing one or two of these lyrics to the Iliad's representations of Helen, analyze the different uses to which the texts put her story.

3. At 7:152, Herodotus says: "My business is to record what people say, but I am by no means bound to believe it-- and that may be taken to apply to this book as a whole." Select an incident in The Histories and determine what constitutes proof for Herodotus. Possible incidents are the story of Helen (2:113-120), the madness of Cleomenes (6:75-84), and the "hand of God" at Salamis (8:90-94).

4. At Herodotus 1:90, Croesus asks Cyrus "to send these chains to the god of the Greeks, whom I most honored, and ask if he is accustomed to cheat his benefactors." Is Apollo ungrateful toward Croesus?

5. Homer exerted a great influence on later Greek writers, especially Greek poets. Discuss the relationship between the Homeric epics and the poetry of either Sappho, Stesichorus, Ibycus, Anacreon, Archilochus, Semonides, Alcaeus, Solon, Theognis, or Xenophanes.

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.