Term Papers for Classical Mythology

Write a 5-8 page term paper on one of the following topics. You are not being asked to do research, but to think about and comment upon the material being presented in the course. You are not required to use any sources other than the ones we are reading in class, but if you do use other sources, you must cite them with foot- or endnotes and a bibliography. When quoting directly from our texts, cite the line or page number in the body of the text. Papers are due by 5:00 p.m. on the last lecture day. No late papers will be accepted.

1. How and why do the gods intervene in human affairs? What are their motives? Do different gods have different motives for such interference? Do the interactions of humans and gods usually fall into regular patterns (e.g., god takes human lover; god punishes offending human, etc.) Give some examples of these patterns.

2. Examine the myths of Perseus, Heracles, Jason, and at least two other heroes of your choice. DO NOT simply retell the myths in your paper, but discuss any recurring patterns you find in the myths, as well as any important differences among the heroes. How do you think the ancient Greeks would have defined the word “hero” (would it be different from our modern idea of what a hero is?) and the concept of “the heroic age”?

3. Choose five heroines (e.g. Medea, Antigone, Deianira, Clytemnestra, etc) and discuss how their myths reflect and subvert cultural expectations about women in ancient Greece. In what ways do these women take on traditional roles and in what ways do they act “more like men”? Do you see any recurrent patterns in the stories of heroines?

4. Describe power relations among the gods. When and how do gods come into conflict with each other? Are there any recurring patterns to these conflicts? How are they resolved, given that all the players are immortal? Give specific examples to support your arguments.

If you have an idea for a different topic, you may propose it. However, papers must deal directly with material presented in the course. Do not turn in a paper written for another course.

Academic honesty: if I find that all or part of any paper turned in to me has been plagiarized from books or internet sources, the student in question will receive an F for the course. Plagiarism includes any papers downloaded from the web. It also includes ideas and/or words copied from sources without proper attribution. Be sure to use footnotes or endnotes EVERY TIME you take information directly from a written source rather than thinking it up yourself. When in doubt, add a footnote or ask me about it.