Classics 1130 / Religious Studies 1144 Study materials


Information concerning exam, Monday, April 19, 2004: The final examination will be cumulative. It will be Monday, April 19, 4:00-5:50 PM in the regular classroom, G-8 C. L. Most of the exam will be the same format as the Feb. 11 test. There will be about 12 short answer questions (80%). Additionally, there will be one essay (20%). The starting-point, so to speak, for the essay topic will be Xenophanes, fr. 5 (Miller, p. 110 [fr. 11 D-K]), but it will be more general, dealing with both Homer and Hesiod and also later authors. This leads to some additional information concerning the exam.
This leads to information concerning the essay due Wednesday, April 14.
The Wednesday, February 11, 2004 test, covering the entire class period (50 minutes) will consist of about 8 questions. Each question will count equally; it is anticipated that there will be numerous instances in which partial credit will be given for your answers.

This leads to information concerning the Wednesday, Feb. 11 test. Additionally, a key to the sample test questions in the preceding link is available. Finally, this leads to a summary of important points in Odyssey, Books 5-8, covered in the class lecture, Monday, Feb. 8.


The test will cover the original texts we have read from Homer, Hesiod, Xenophanes, and Pindar. (Material from Aeschylus and Sophocles has thus far been cited merely by way of example, in discussing styles of translation in a general way, and will not be dealt with on this test.)

The material from ancient texts which has been assigned thus far is as follows:

   Citation from Pindar, Nemean 6, H&P, p. 21, and Grant, p. 45.
   Pindar, Pythian 8, lines 95-98 ("Beings ... kindly"), Miller, p. 162.
   H&P, pp. 100-102 (Hesiod, Theogony , lines 666-742).
   Xenophanes in Miller, frs. 5-13 (pp. 110-111).
   Homer, Iliad , Book 1, H&P, pp. 377-393.
   Homer, Odyssey , Book 1 (Fitzgerald, pp. 1-15).
   Homer, Odyssey , Books 5-8. (Fitzgerald, pp. 79-142). Cf. H&P's treatment of "Loves of Ares and Aphrodite", pp. 211-213, with the original setting in Odyssey , Book 8 (Fitzgerald, pp. 132-136).

On the other hand, we will not have time to go over Odyssey , Book 11 (listed on the syllabus as material to be covered in the first test.) Treatment of Odyssey , Book 11, along with Harris & Platzner, chapter 9 will be postponed until after the test.


An important point to keep in mind throughout this course is that different translations can present a text differently. Such variations are illustrated in translations of Aeschylus,
Prometheus Bound and Sophocles, Antigone.
In the specific case of Homer, various translations have been handled in class lectures and by way of handouts. Among the translations covered in handout, pp. 5-6 is
Hobbes' translation in rhyming verse. In this, the first few lines of the Iliad are as follows (to see this as originally printed, go to image 19 of the online version):

O Goddess sing what woe the discontent
    Of Thetis' son brought to the Greeks; what Souls
Of Heroes down to Erebus it sent,
    Leaving their Bodies unto Dogs and Fowls,
Whilst the two Princes of the Army strove,
    King Agamemnon and Achilles stout.
That so it should be was the will of Jove,
    But who was he that made them first fall out?
Apollo, who incensed by the wrong
    To his Priest Chryses by Atrides done.
Sent a great Pestilence the Greeks among;
    Apace they di'd, and remedy was none.

Handout, pp. 7-8 deals with lines 1-89 of Iliad, Book 1 in Lattimore's translation. This is available online through the Chicago Homer.