Pericles’ Funeral Oration Pericles’ Funeral Oration at the time of the at the time of the

Peloponnesian WarPeloponnesian Warc.431 B.C.c.431 B.C.

Pericles’ Funeral Oration Pericles’ Funeral Oration at the time of the at the time of the

Peloponnesian WarPeloponnesian Warc.431 B.C.c.431 B.C.

As recorded by Thucydides in As recorded by Thucydides in his his

History of the Peloponnesian History of the Peloponnesian WarWar

What should have been the title of the speech?• Athenians “Yield to None”• How to Form a Unique Civilization• Individual Liberty is the Mainspring

of Human Progress• Democracy in Purity

There are three main components to what

characterizes the Athenians:• “Independence of spirit”• “Many-sidedness of attainment”• “Self-reliance in limbs and brain”

Some notable quotes under “independence of spirit”

• “our laws secure equal justice for all”

• “we are an example to them rather than they to us”

• “our constitution is named a democracy”

Some notable quotes under “many-sidedness of attainment”

• “free play to all in our public life”• “not for any sectional reason”• “in the hands not of the few but of

the many”

Some notable quotes under “self-reliance in limbs and brain”

• “on the grounds of excellence alone”

• “same spirit into our daily relations with one another”

• “public opinion welcomes and honors talent in every branch of achievement”

The exegesis of a text means that we look

closely:• At every term;• At every term’s meaning in the

context of its use;• At the unifying characteristics of

the passage as a whole so that we don’t miss the author’s intent.