Assignment for Wednesday, 09.11.19

Dear Mythologists,

For Wednesday, September 11, 2019, please do the following:

(1) Read carefully Hesiod's Theogony in the packet I handed out during the previous class. DON'T read the Appendix with the Works and Days — that's for another class. DO consult the copious footnotes as needed and take your own notes along the way (see below). Although the poem is fairly brief, especially in proportion to the footnotes, please DON'T save it all for Tuesday night or (worse yet) Wednesday morning.

(2) Consider these questions as you read; they will inform your notes and our discussion in class:

• Which parts of the Theogony stand out for you the most? The least? Why?
• What are some chief characteristics or qualities of the Hesiodic cosmos?
• How would you describe Hesiod as a poet and a person?

(3) Review the cosmogony in our D'Aulaires reading from this summer (pp. 10–20 and p. 30), and consider these questions along the way:

• How does the D'Aulaires' account differ from that of Hesiod?
• What do you think accounts for these differences?

Looking forward to a lively discussion in class. Please let me know if you have any questions.

DC