For your final blog post, we will return to the character of Achates and write from his perspective one last time. Your assignment is to either
(A) Give Achates' perspective of the war and have him react to Aeneas' harsh final action.
(B) Write Book 13 of the Aeneid. What happens next?
I have enjoyed reading all of your posts and am intrigued to read your final entries!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 22, 2012
The Silent Force
For your 11th blog post, I'd like you to consider a character who plays a large part in advancing the story of the Aeneid but who never takes an action or speaks a single line: Lavinia. Writing from her perspective, reveal her thoughts on the war, the war conference that occurs among her people in book 11, her coming marriage to either Turnus or Aeneas (does she have a preference?), etc. Who IS Lavinia? Introduce us to her.
Have a thesis and be thorough in expression.
Looking forward to reading it.
Have a thesis and be thorough in expression.
Looking forward to reading it.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
In Verse
In 8 books, our classmate Krystal has inspired us with her moving and poetic blog posts. For book 10, we shall be inspired by her style: Write a poem to express the content of book 10 in a new form.
Does it have to rhyme? No, but it can.
Does it have to be in a meter? No, but it can be.
Does it have to follow a specific format? No, but it can.
Challenge yourself to think and write in verse!
Looking forward to reading your posts.
Does it have to rhyme? No, but it can.
Does it have to be in a meter? No, but it can be.
Does it have to follow a specific format? No, but it can.
Challenge yourself to think and write in verse!
Looking forward to reading your posts.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Extra! Extra! Read all about Book 9!
Your challenge for book 9 is to report on the story--- as a reporter. Write about the events of book 9 as if you were a journalist sending back word of the events.
Be sure to fully include all 3 parts of the story in sufficient detail while still keeping it brief! Feel free to include direct quotes from men and women on the site!
Be sure to fully include all 3 parts of the story in sufficient detail while still keeping it brief! Feel free to include direct quotes from men and women on the site!
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Book 8: Famous first line
For book 8, we're going to try an off-the-wall challenge. Many famous works start with lines that become immortal in and of themselves. For example:
It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. (1984)
Call me Ishmael. (Moby Dick)
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... etc. (A Tale of Two Cities)
Your challenge for this blog post is to choose a famous first line from a novel and use it as both the theme of your blog and as the first sentence of your blog. Here's the top 100 list from American Book Review for ideas, but feel free to branch out to books you love!
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/article_a125216a-649f-5414-88b5-76a688ea3b6a.html
Excited to see how these come out. :)
It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. (1984)
Call me Ishmael. (Moby Dick)
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... etc. (A Tale of Two Cities)
Your challenge for this blog post is to choose a famous first line from a novel and use it as both the theme of your blog and as the first sentence of your blog. Here's the top 100 list from American Book Review for ideas, but feel free to branch out to books you love!
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/article_a125216a-649f-5414-88b5-76a688ea3b6a.html
Excited to see how these come out. :)
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Quoted: on war
For books 7-12, I'm going to open up the themes to you on a gradual basis. For book 7, there are two rules:
1. You have to write from the perspective of Achates.
2. You have to choose a theme that relates to the beginning of war.
3. You have to HAVE a theme!
Beyond that, your essay is up to you---make sure that it has a clear narrative AND a clear purpose, as clear as if I had assigned it.
Bonam Fortunam!
1. You have to write from the perspective of Achates.
2. You have to choose a theme that relates to the beginning of war.
3. You have to HAVE a theme!
Beyond that, your essay is up to you---make sure that it has a clear narrative AND a clear purpose, as clear as if I had assigned it.
Bonam Fortunam!
Monday, February 27, 2012
Quoted: Truman Capote
"A conversation is a dialogue, not a monologue. That's why there are so few good conversations: due to scarcity, two intelligent talkers seldom meet."
In your sixth blog entry, we're going to mix it up. Aeneas had conversations with several people in the underworld. For TWO of them (either as two blogs or as one blog with a big line down the middle), report the conversation from the other side---what was the impression of the OTHER character of the conversation? Were they satisfied or unsatisfied? The two parts need not relate to each other.
If necessary, use the suggestions of those who have commented on your previous blogs (ESPECIALLY ME!) to improve the quality of your essay. This is a different assignment, so the advice may not work perfectly.
Looking forward to reading your entries!
In your sixth blog entry, we're going to mix it up. Aeneas had conversations with several people in the underworld. For TWO of them (either as two blogs or as one blog with a big line down the middle), report the conversation from the other side---what was the impression of the OTHER character of the conversation? Were they satisfied or unsatisfied? The two parts need not relate to each other.
If necessary, use the suggestions of those who have commented on your previous blogs (ESPECIALLY ME!) to improve the quality of your essay. This is a different assignment, so the advice may not work perfectly.
Looking forward to reading your entries!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Quoted: George Orwell
"Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence. In other words, it is war minus the shooting."
(1) Re-tell the games of book 5 with Achates pondering the question of fair vs. unfair conduct and rewards in the games. How does Achates feel about Aeneas' arbitration and refereeing? Is it sometimes more important to be kind than to be fair?
(2) Be sure to incorporate the suggestions of concerning your last blog post.
Bonam Fortunam!
(1) Re-tell the games of book 5 with Achates pondering the question of fair vs. unfair conduct and rewards in the games. How does Achates feel about Aeneas' arbitration and refereeing? Is it sometimes more important to be kind than to be fair?
(2) Be sure to incorporate the suggestions of concerning your last blog post.
Bonam Fortunam!
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Quoted: Oscar Wilde
"Those who are faithless know the pleasures of love; it is the faithful who know love's tragedies."
In your fourth blog entry, you should
(1) Express book 4 of the Aeneid from the perspective of Achates.
(2) Have Achates discuss his feelings about how Aeneas treated Dido. Maybe he has an inside perspective on the eternal question of book 4: Did Aeneas actually love Dido, or was he just using her?
(3) Use the suggestions of those who have commented on your previous blogs (ESPECIALLY ME!) to improve the quality of your essay.
In your fourth blog entry, you should
(1) Express book 4 of the Aeneid from the perspective of Achates.
(2) Have Achates discuss his feelings about how Aeneas treated Dido. Maybe he has an inside perspective on the eternal question of book 4: Did Aeneas actually love Dido, or was he just using her?
(3) Use the suggestions of those who have commented on your previous blogs (ESPECIALLY ME!) to improve the quality of your essay.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Quoted: Harry S. Truman
"Actions are the seed of fate; deeds grow into destiny."
In the third book of the Aeneid, Vergil describes the gradual unveiling of the destiny of Aeneas and his men. In your third blog, you should:
(1) Re-tell the story of the third book of the Aeneid from the perspective of Aeneas' friend Achates.
(2) As you are telling the story, discuss the role of destiny in determining the travels of the Trojans. How does Achates react to the various setbacks they face? Is he grateful that they have a larger destiny, or is he jealous of those whose desired ends have been reached?
In the third book of the Aeneid, Vergil describes the gradual unveiling of the destiny of Aeneas and his men. In your third blog, you should:
(1) Re-tell the story of the third book of the Aeneid from the perspective of Aeneas' friend Achates.
(2) As you are telling the story, discuss the role of destiny in determining the travels of the Trojans. How does Achates react to the various setbacks they face? Is he grateful that they have a larger destiny, or is he jealous of those whose desired ends have been reached?
Monday, January 16, 2012
Quoted: D. H. Lawrence
"Every man has a mob self and an individual self, in varying proportions." ~D.H. Lawrence
(1) Re-tell the story of book 2 from the perspective of Achates as HE witnessed and participated in the downfall of Troy. Since we don't totally know what Achates was doing, you may stick closely to Aeneas' story (as if Achates were with him) or have him experience different parts of the fall of Troy as long as you include the major events of the book-Laocoon and the snakes, the events in the palace, and the eventual gathering outside the city.
(2) Use your post to express thoughts about the individual as part of and separate from a crowd. How does Achates think of himself as an individual in these events, and how as a part of the Trojan people? Which, in the end, is more important to him?
BE SURE TO INCORPORATE SUGGESTIONS FROM THE PREVIOUS BLOG!!
(1) Re-tell the story of book 2 from the perspective of Achates as HE witnessed and participated in the downfall of Troy. Since we don't totally know what Achates was doing, you may stick closely to Aeneas' story (as if Achates were with him) or have him experience different parts of the fall of Troy as long as you include the major events of the book-Laocoon and the snakes, the events in the palace, and the eventual gathering outside the city.
(2) Use your post to express thoughts about the individual as part of and separate from a crowd. How does Achates think of himself as an individual in these events, and how as a part of the Trojan people? Which, in the end, is more important to him?
BE SURE TO INCORPORATE SUGGESTIONS FROM THE PREVIOUS BLOG!!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Quoted: Walter Savage Landor
"Ambition has but one reward for all: A little power, a little transient fame; A grave to rest in, and a fading name!"
As a primary theme of the Aeneid, Vergil offers the idea that the rewards of piety and hard work are of questionable merit. In your first blog, you should:
(1) Re-tell the story of the first book of the Aeneid from the perspective of Aeneas' friend Achates.
(2) As you are telling the story, wrestle with the question Vergil poses to us as readers of the Aeneid: What IS piety's reward? In the mind of your Achates, is the suffering the Trojans are undergoing "worth it" for the rewards they will hopefully receive?
As a primary theme of the Aeneid, Vergil offers the idea that the rewards of piety and hard work are of questionable merit. In your first blog, you should:
(1) Re-tell the story of the first book of the Aeneid from the perspective of Aeneas' friend Achates.
(2) As you are telling the story, wrestle with the question Vergil poses to us as readers of the Aeneid: What IS piety's reward? In the mind of your Achates, is the suffering the Trojans are undergoing "worth it" for the rewards they will hopefully receive?
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