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Response Paper #1

CLAS 131: Classical Mythology

Fall 2013

Due: Monday, September 9th (in class)

Choose ONE of the following topics and write a 2-3 page response paper. This paper need not includeany outside research or reading; instead it should present your own interpretation of the topic, supported

by references to the primary sources (course readings and/or images). Your paper should make a claim

about the topic (a thesis) and argue for this claim on the basis of specific examples. Please avoidsweeping generalizations (from the dawn of time) and instead formulate a clear and precise

argument.

1) Zeus is, in many ways, the main character of Hesiods Theogony: the poem narrates a progressiontowards a cosmic order that culminates in Zeus leadership. On the other hand, Demeter is the clear

focus of her eponymous hymn, yet Zeus also has a role to play in that poem. Consider the portrayal

of Zeus in these two works. Is he "the same" god in both myths? Does theHymn to Demeteralter oradd anything to the character of Zeus as described in the Theogony? You may wish to consider both

larger questions of plot and characterization and smaller details of language (epithets, descriptions,

etc.).

2) Throughout this semester we will be looking at myths depicted on vases (intended for personal use,usually at dinner parties) and on buildings (mostly temples and other monumental architecture). Whydo you think the function and the original setting of the piece are important for our analysis? You

may choose to consider the following: audience (Who is the intended viewer? How often do they see

the object?), setting (Public? Private? Sacred?), artistic concerns (limitations of the medium?), cost

and size of the object etc Should these factors influence our interpretations of the mythological

scenes depicted in Greek art?

INSTRUCTIONS:

Format:

Your paper should be between 2 and 3 pages, or 600-900 words in length. Please DO NOTEXCEED 1,000 words.

Please use Times New Roman 12-point font. Your document should be double-spaced with 1-inch margins. Please include

o your name and PID on the first pageo a title on the first pageo page numbers on every pageo a word count on the final page.

(over)

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Citations:

Primary sources: Cite your primary sources in parentheses whenever appropriate and do so in thefollowing format: author, title, book number (if relevant), line or section number. Do not use

page numbers for primary sources. For example:

(Homer, Odyssey, 2.135-37).(Hesiod, Theogony, 915).

Secondary sources: You are not expected to do outside research or extra reading for the responsepapers, but you may want to refer to the readings assigned to you in class (such as Carpenter).

Cite your secondary sources in parentheses whenever appropriate and do so in the followingformat: author, page number. For example: (Carpenter, p. 25). You do not have to include a

bibliography for the readings assigned to you or posted on Sakai.

Images: If you want to refer to a work of art in your paper, please do one of the following:o If the image is in Carpenter, you may refer to his figures. For example: A red figure

krater depicts Medea in an elaborate dragon chariot (Carpenter, fig. 283).

o If it is an image from a Power Point we posted on Sakai, make sure you include enoughinformation to clarify what you are referring to. The information you need is usually on

the same slide. For example: On a Late Geometric vase depicting the abduction ofHelen, or The Amazon from thepediment of the Temple of Aphaia at Aegina

o If it is an image from an outside source, include the image with a figure number and acaption at the end of the paper.