Short Response Paper #1

Due Monday, 7/19 by 9:00 p.m. AST ( Arizona Standard Time)

Submit via Blackboard’s Drop Box or as a Word document attached to email.

Paper One Topics (Choose one topic):

1) Aristotle said, “the man who is incapable of working in common, or who in his self-sufficiency has no need of others, is no part of the community, like a beast or a god.” Discuss the development of Achilles’ character in light of this statement. You may wish to use your book’s “Introduction” or the articles available from the “course documents” section of our class site.

2) As the film credits admit, Troy is "inspired" by Homer's Iliad. The script takes great liberties with Homer's story and his characters. The topics below allow you to do a comparative study of the movie and the book. Just be sure that your discussion takes you back to Homer and is not merely a plot summary or description of the film. Choose only one of the following topics.

• Choose a character from the Iliad. How consistently is that character portrayed in the film? Are his/her motivations the same?
• Study the scene in Book 24 of the Iliad, when Priam comes to Achilles to ransom Hector’s body. Compare and contrast with the similar scene in Troy.
• How does the general absence of the gods in the film Troy change the story or stories that Homer tells?
• Note how Troy treats the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus. How does it compare to Homer’s portrayal?

Formatting:

Responses should be 2-3 pages in length, using a 12-point font, 1” margins, and double spacing (in Microsoft Word). Follow MLA guidelines for citing.

Grading Criteria:

• Quality of analysis (insight, logic)
• Quality of research (care in selection of quotes, care in choosing sources, questioning sources)
• Structure of paper (clarity, organization)