Problem
What Ancient Greek cultural values are prescribed and reinforced by Homer's epics?
Students are encouraged to choose one ancient value (positive or negative) and explore how that value is presented and enforced in the epics, as well as drawing comparisons and contrasts with other myths in and out of the Ancient Greek tradition, and with the historical/archaeological record of life in Ancient Greece.
Possible topics include (but are not limited to):
• The role of women in Greek culture
• Greek martial values
• Greek sexual values
• Greek identity
• Religious observance
Students will be required to demonstrate their understanding of the course material as it applies to the subject, as well as analyze the works in the light of their time and place in history. To accomplish this, students should use at least 2 outside scholarly sources illustrating the historical situation of these works and the decisions made by their authors.