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Classical and Christian

Informatium magnum habet Marcus Olsonus de Pseudo-Polymath.
That is, Mark Olson at Pseudo-Polymath has a great idea for those of you who could read the first line, assuming it means you are into classics. (I don't mean to discriminate against Hellenists, but I think three weeks of accelerated college Latin have made me realize how little Greek I actually know.) Ancient literature buffs could certainly get in on the project as well, which Mike describes thus:

The idea is to compare and contrast two heroic stories from almost the same eras but from very different cultures. The two stories I had in mind were the Hebrew heroic story … that is the story of King David in Samuel I & II … and the Greek heroic poems from the same era by Homer … that is the Iliad (and perhaps the Odyssey). I had in mind perhaps posting once weekly (say Thursdays) on the similarities and differences - to contrast and compare the stories of David and Achilles. We could write on the same subtopic on this theme each week. For example, for next week I was thinking we could write on the openings. To compare and contrast the Iliad’s immortal opening cadences to the more subtle (tender?) vignette of Hannah giving up of Samuel, her firstborn, to the Temple.

Tomorrow he'll start off with his own essay on that topic, but in the Thursdays to come, Mark would like other interested bloggers to take him up on suggesting topics and contributing their own for discussion.

Comments

And you say you're not creative.... :)

Posted by: gl at September 14, 2005 3:40 PM

It sounds fun and interesting. I'd like to read them. I have to confess that I don't know any Latin at all, so I have to sit on the sidelines cheering!

Posted by: Hannah at September 14, 2005 4:02 PM

Glenn, I don't get it - it was Mike's idea!

Hannah - Aw, but Latin's not a requirement. You could read the Iliad and the Odyssey in Greek and contribute your own commentary on the similarities and differences in the artificial dialect in which they're written. Hahaha.

Posted by: Laura at September 14, 2005 6:36 PM

Uncreative Laura,
You're right and I remembered that salient fact right after I clicked "post." Alas, there is no "undo" feature on blog comments so I couldn't erase that flight from reason. Tis good for my sanctification to embarrass myself in front of your 1500 weekly readers.

Posted by: GL at September 15, 2005 7:57 PM

That sounds fun. I'm teaching English Lit at a Christian sschool, and some of my kids are writing papers comparing a character from Anglo-Saxon lit (either Beowulf or Caedmon) to a biblical figure. I think they're having fun with it ... I'll know how they did on Monday when they turn in their papers!

Posted by: Waterfall at September 17, 2005 8:53 AM

i am an idiot and i am lead by richard simmons

Posted by: idiot at January 5, 2006 2:06 PM

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