February 7th, 2013

Dear Mythology Kids,

STUDY FOR YOUR EXAM! Kamala has typed the take-home essay portion for you below. I suggest reviewing the questions, and then making your selection based upon the two that you feel you can justify with the greatest support.

Instructions:

1. Please select two essays; one from the odd numbers (1,3,5,7) and the other from the even numbers (2,4,6,8) for the take-home portion of your exam. 
2. Each question requires textual support. You will need to use your handout and/or your Mythology text. Those of you that have your own copy of The Iliad may use it!
3. Please structure your response using MLA formant.
4. I am not requiring a five paragraph essay, but repose must be a well-organized and structured paragraph. You must have TWO concrete details in each paragraph, and commentary to support those details. Prove to me, through writing, that you can fully explain and justify your chosen questions.

                                                                                                                                                                    

1.  What is the role of women in The Iliad? Does the poem contain any strong female characters, or do the acts and deeds of men dominate the work? Support your points with textual support.
2. If one had to identify the moral of The Iliad, what would if be and why? Please explain using specific examples of characters and lessons they went through and learned.
3. Explain the origins (notice origins is plural) of Achilles' anger? Support your points with textual support.
4. Discuss the significance of hubris within The Iliad. Pride is the source of many conflicts within the epic. Support your points with textual support.
5. "The gods' constant interference in the lives of the mortals seems to cast them in the role of malicious puppeteers, while reducing Homer's heroes to mere pawns." Discuss the above quote in relationship to the role the gods play in the epic poem. Include examples to support your points.
6. Dramatic Irony acts as an important literary tool within The Iliad. Identify TWO aspects associated with irony, and then discuss how irony adds to the epics plot-line.
7. How is respect and disrespect represented as crucial to characters in The Iliad? Support your points with textual support.
8. Is it fair to describe The Iliad as an anti-war work? Support your response with specific examples.