12/11: Tour our Virgil art gallery today in an effort to more fully explore Virgil’s poetic prowess and to look at the art created by your classmates. On the front of the notecard, list the expressions of poetic power that you read in the curator notes and see in the art (these will serve as reminders of Virgil’s strength as a poet). On the back: write about at least two pieces that challenged you, that gave you an inspired vision of Virgil’s underworld, that took your breath away, etc. Explore how and why these pieces did that. Fill the back of the card. We also looked at Roman art.
12/4: On the front of the notecard: list insights you had about Book IV, questions, confusions, ideas you want to talk about.On the back of the notecard: Write about Aeneas' character as you see it - his strengths, his weaknesses, his refection of Roman values etc. HOMEWORK: Read the rest of The Aeneid packet (make sure to read the italics - they will help you).
DUE DATES FOR CRITIQUE: Initial notes (2 pages) Wed 12/10. Complete first draft Tuesday 12/15. No coupons, no late. Final draft Monday 12/21 (coupon extends to Wed 12/23).
12/2: Please get together in the groups you worked in yesterday. One person in each group take notes (these notes should reflect your findings for all of Book 3). Continue the discussion of The Aeneid, focusing on your group’s topic. Pull out specific evidence and explain how the evidence supports your ideas in your group notes. Hand these in at the end of the period. If you finish early, get started on Book 4. Please make sure you read this for Friday. As you do – pay attention to Aeneas’ character as it develops, Dido’s character, the relation of man to the gods and vice versa, the portrait of Rome, etc.
12/1: We wrapped up work on Ovid and moved on to The Aeneid. We are paying particular attention to Aeneas' character, his role as a leader. the gods and the role of religion, family values, and the image of Rome. Finish reading Book 3 tonight.
11/23: We worked with Metamorphoses today, exploring the portrayal of the gods, the portrayal of sexual relationships, changing, Roman values and Ovid's skill as a poet (examining poetic language and tone). Keep all of this in mind as you read "Phaeton's Ride" from Metamorphoses tonight (it's in your packet, labeled "Book II.")
11/20: Watching How Art Made the World to give us Roman context: The episode you are watching is called “The Art of Persuasion.” (start at the beginning and watch through the part about Bush's campaign, then fast-forward to 25:55 and watch through the end). Nigel begins with a look at the Republican National Convention in 2004. Pay close attention to the stagecraft involved in shaping Bush’s appeal. We’ll skip a good portion of this: Nigel traces the use of images in early empires – from the Egyptian-like “one size fits all” characterizations of kings - to Alexander the Great’s creation of an image that is unique to him (looks like a specific person rather than a type) before he ever fought a battle (think of it as early political propaganda). We’ll pick up the story here, as Nigel traces how the image was used to shape Alexander’s image throughout his kingdom. On the front of the notecard take notes about Nigel’s exploration of the connections between the depiction of the human face and power. You should be most interested in the discussion about Augustus and how he used art to shape his image. On the back of the notecard: react to the episode (especially as it applies to Rome) and make connections between it and what you read in the overview of Rome from the textbook. Fill the back of the notecard. Read the excerpt from Metamorphoses tonight.
11/17: Homework: Read the textbook excerpt about Roman culture (from The Search for Personal Freedom).
Our purpose here is essentially the same as it was with the Greek packet: 1) to understand Roman thought and culture 2) to put them in historical contextAdditionally, we want to be able to contrast Greek culture with Roman culture. Mark up the text as you read, keeping the purposes in mind.When you’re finished, pull together a list of the 7-10 most important ideas (keeping in mind our purpose) from the reading. This is due on Wednesday – it will count as a process grade. Make sure you have your course packets with you on Wednesday.
11/16: We read and discussed the founding myth about Romulus and Remus today.