Post by Christopher Martin on Oct 31, 2016 18:16:18 GMT
Notice: some questions from this study guide will NOT be on the exam, and some questions will appear on the exam which are NOT on this study guide.
As always, feel free to ask me questions.
GREAT BOOKS STUDY GUIDE: CLASS SECTION 1
VIRGIL
1. Why does Aeneas seem to favor staying in the city of Carthage? Why does Virgil write about Aeneas this way?
2. Discuss the treatment of the gods by Virgil's human characters. How does Aeneas, for example, view his relationship with his mother?
3. Discuss Virgil's potential motivations for writing The Aeneid. Give evidence from the book to support your conclusion.
4. Discuss the role of women in Virgil. For example, do they have agency?
5. Give a character analysis of Aeneas. What are his strengths? Weaknesses? In which ways is and isn't he admirable?
LIVY
6. Discuss Livy's motivations in writing, and give evidence to support your claims.
7. Briefly narrate the story of Horatius (Alba), and explain its potential significance.
8. Briefly narrate the story of Cincinattus, and explain its potential significance.
9. Briefly narrate the story of Rome and the Gauls, and explain its potential significance.
10. Briefly relate the story of the Decemvirs and of Virginia, and explain its potential significance.
11. Briefly relate the story of the capture of Falerii, and explain its potential significance.
12. Briefly relate the story of the Caudium Passes, and explain its potential significance.
PLINY
13. What does Pliny have to say about the gods? What might this suggest about religious beliefs among the general Roman populace?
14. In what ways are Pliny's assertions about creation useful and/or useless? Explain.
15. Discuss and explain Pliny's mode of argumentation.
THE ORATORS
16. In arguing in favor of the Oppian law, what did Cato fear?
17. Discuss and explain some of Cicero's rhetorical devices in his orations against Catiline.
18. How did Catiline argue his justification in his conspiracy? Explain, and be sure to include how this might relate to the state of Rome in the time of Catiline.
CICERO'S COMMONWEALTH
19. Name Scipio's most and least favorite forms of government, and briefly describe why he likes and/or dislikes them.
20. Explain how, for Cicero, power has a natural cycle.
21. Describe how Cicero's text might be used as a reference for rulers.
22. Describe how Cicero's text functions as philosophical insight for the common man.
BROAD QUESTIONS: THE AXIAL AGE
23. Using at least 3 texts from this tri-mester, trace how the role of the gods has developed over the course of Rome's history so far.
24. Using at least 3 texts from this tri-mester, trace how the role of the relationship of the rulers to the people has developed of the course of Rome's history so far.
As always, feel free to ask me questions.
GREAT BOOKS STUDY GUIDE: CLASS SECTION 1
VIRGIL
1. Why does Aeneas seem to favor staying in the city of Carthage? Why does Virgil write about Aeneas this way?
2. Discuss the treatment of the gods by Virgil's human characters. How does Aeneas, for example, view his relationship with his mother?
3. Discuss Virgil's potential motivations for writing The Aeneid. Give evidence from the book to support your conclusion.
4. Discuss the role of women in Virgil. For example, do they have agency?
5. Give a character analysis of Aeneas. What are his strengths? Weaknesses? In which ways is and isn't he admirable?
LIVY
6. Discuss Livy's motivations in writing, and give evidence to support your claims.
7. Briefly narrate the story of Horatius (Alba), and explain its potential significance.
8. Briefly narrate the story of Cincinattus, and explain its potential significance.
9. Briefly narrate the story of Rome and the Gauls, and explain its potential significance.
10. Briefly relate the story of the Decemvirs and of Virginia, and explain its potential significance.
11. Briefly relate the story of the capture of Falerii, and explain its potential significance.
12. Briefly relate the story of the Caudium Passes, and explain its potential significance.
PLINY
13. What does Pliny have to say about the gods? What might this suggest about religious beliefs among the general Roman populace?
14. In what ways are Pliny's assertions about creation useful and/or useless? Explain.
15. Discuss and explain Pliny's mode of argumentation.
THE ORATORS
16. In arguing in favor of the Oppian law, what did Cato fear?
17. Discuss and explain some of Cicero's rhetorical devices in his orations against Catiline.
18. How did Catiline argue his justification in his conspiracy? Explain, and be sure to include how this might relate to the state of Rome in the time of Catiline.
CICERO'S COMMONWEALTH
19. Name Scipio's most and least favorite forms of government, and briefly describe why he likes and/or dislikes them.
20. Explain how, for Cicero, power has a natural cycle.
21. Describe how Cicero's text might be used as a reference for rulers.
22. Describe how Cicero's text functions as philosophical insight for the common man.
BROAD QUESTIONS: THE AXIAL AGE
23. Using at least 3 texts from this tri-mester, trace how the role of the gods has developed over the course of Rome's history so far.
24. Using at least 3 texts from this tri-mester, trace how the role of the relationship of the rulers to the people has developed of the course of Rome's history so far.