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Vote for the myth you feel is best. Use the collowing criteria. Plot: the storyline itself — what the characters do and say, and the themes that shape their words and actions. Your verdict should reflect how compelling you feel the plot is, how well it holds your interest, and its relative logic. ("Relative logic" means the storytelling logic of the myth in and of itself, not any kind of absolute or "real world" sensibility.) Structure: the arrangement of the plot, or the overall flow. Your verdict should reflect the coherence of the story as the sum of its parts. If you feel that the author said exactly what he or she needed to say, and in the best order possible, then reward the author accordingly. If the author needed to say more in a particular part, or could have told the story in a more coherent order, penalize accordingly. Classicism: the most arbitary category. Classicism includes the author's use of Greco-Roman characters, situations themes, situations, and motifs. Your score will reflect how well the author understands both the world of Greek and Roman myth, but also the methods and styles of conveying that world. Note that quantity in this category is not equal to quality. A myth that features five Greco-Roman characters and two ekphrases is not necessarily better than a story with only three characters and no ekphrasis. "Use" is a matter of application and judgment. Remember, too, that "tweaking" the classical tradition is in itself a classical tradition. Performance: how well the author presented his or her story. There are a number of factors to consider here — diction, enunciation, self-confidence, as well as characterization. Who is the best storyteller? |
