In this assignment you will explore the connections between elegy in the ancient world, particularly in the hands of Roman elegists, and in the modern world.

Select a work by a modern (i.e. 20th or 21st century) artist that you feel has affinities with ancient love poetry. The work may be a poem, or a song, or something in a completely different medium.

Bring that work (or a good copy of it) to class, and be prepared to comment on the following:

-- Title, year, format of the work, as well as the artist;
-- How the work fits into the artist's career;
-- Why the work reminds you of ancient elegy;
-- Where the work departs from the elegiac tradition.

Be sure to select a work with plenty of affinities with ancient elegy, particularly as regards the notion of a "slender Muse."

The notion of fides (trustworthiness) is very much alive in Catullus' poetry, whether upheld and valued, or broken and devalued. If you could point to certain poems in which either scenario (or both) is at work, which ones would you single out, and why?

This assignment will not be collected, but will help generate today's discussion.

Re-read Pindar, Olympian 1, in Miller's anthology (pp. 126ff.) and prepare a 2-page summary / interpretation. You should touch upon the following issues:

-- How does the poem praise Heiron, the dedicatee?
-- Is this praise explicit or implicit?
-- What is the point of the Pelops interlude?
-- How does this poem compare to others by Pindar?

Cite examples from the text to support your assertions. If you consult secondary sources, indicate which ones you have used.

This assignment will be collected.

Re-read Bacchylides, Ode 5, in Miller's anthology (pp. 205ff.) and prepare a 2-page summary / interpretation. You should touch upon the following issues:

-- How does the poem praise Heiron, the dedicatee?
-- Is this praise explicit or implicit?
-- What is the point of the Meleager interlude?
-- How does this poem compare to others by B.?

Cite examples from the text to support your assertions. If you consult secondary sources, indicate which ones you have used.

This assignment will be collected.

Choose a poem by Alcaeus of substantial length in Miller's anthology and prepare a 2-page summary / interpretation. You should touch upon the following issues:

-- The point of the poem, what it seeks to do or to express
-- How it makes its point (imagery, emotions, and so on)
-- How the poem compares to others by Alcaeus

Cite examples from the text to support your assertions. If you consult secondary sources, indicate which ones you have used.

This assignment will be collected.

Choose a poem by Sappho of substantial length in Miller's anthology and prepare a 2-page summary / interpretation. You should touch upon the following issues:

-- The point of the poem, what it seeks to do or to express
-- How it makes its point (imagery, emotions, and so on)
-- How the poem compares to others by Sappho

Cite examples from the text to support your assertions. If you consult secondary sources, indicate which ones you have used.

This assignment will be collected.

Review the fragments of Solon in Miller's translation. Choose a recurrent theme, image, or poetic device, and track it as it appears throughout the fragments. Is Solon consistent in his use of the theme / image / device? If not, how does he vary, and why?

This assignment will not be collected, but will help generate today's discussion.

Review the fragments of Archilochus in Miller's translation. Choose a recurrent theme, image, or poetic device, and track it as it appears throughout the fragments. Is Archilochus consistent in his use of the theme / image / device? If not, how does he vary, and why?

This assignment will not be collected, but will help generate today's discussion.

Using the books in our course reserves, review the details of Archilochus' life. Then, in 1 - 2 typed pages, list and briefly describe the events or facts that you feel are most relevant to understanding the author and his works. If you feel that an event has no relevance whatsoever, omit it from your list.

This assignment will be collected.