Musings in Greek Literature

Professor Deborah Beck and Professor Lesley Dean Jones look back on the Odysseuses we’ve encountered in Homer Odyssey and Sophocles Ajax and Philoctetes. We muse on some other Odysseuses, and tricksters ,as well. Works and authors mentioned in this episode: Cratinus Odysseis (exists only in fragments), Euripides Cyclops

Caroline Young is joined by Kristen Allen to discuss Philoctetes. We’ll examine the arguments presented by Philoctetes and Neoptolemus. Which character is more convincing, and why?

Zach Springer is joined by Caroline Young to discuss the analysis of tragedy in Aristotle’s Poetics in relation to Sophocles’ Philoctetes. We also get into the difficulties of Odysseus’ moral character in Sophocles’ play, Neoptolemus’ nature, and other complexities. Recommended reading: Aristotle Poetics

Join Nicolas and Zach to examine the choral stasimon from Sophocles’ Philoctetes, lines 676-729.By exploring the empathy exhibited by the chorus as well as the deceit of the chorus. Nicolas and Zach discuss the different representations of Odysseus’ clever and tricky character in the Ajax and the Philoctetes. Notes: Schein, S., ed. 2013. Sophocles Philoctetes. […]

Megan Hunter and co-host Nicolas Larimer discuss the difference in portrayals of Odysseus in Sophocles’ Ajax and Homer’s Odyssey. How do we define the moral code that Odysseus follows?

Kayla and Megan discuss the similarities and differences of Agamemnon and Teucer’s speeches in Sophocles’ Ajax (lines 1226-1298), relating them to the heroic age maxim and the historical context of democracy in 5th century Athens. Further Readings: Hansen, Mogens Herman. 1991. The Athenian Democracy in the Age of Demosthenes: Structure, Principles, and Ideology. Blackwell.

Presented by Kristen Allen with co-host Kayla Hays, this episode explores the complicated relationship between Ajax and his wife Tecmessa. We’ll also talk about how Ajax’s status as a legendary warrior might play into his expression of masculinity.

Prof. Deborah Beck, the creator of “Musings in Greek Literature”, is joined by Prof. Sean Burd, Chair of the UT Department of Classics. We’re talking about Odysseus and his tricky nature, in the Odyssey and beyond. Show notes:Natalie Zemon Davis, The Return of Martin Guerre (1983)“The Return of Martin Guerre” starring Gerard Depardieu (1982, in […]

This season, join us as we talk about the different ways that Odysseus is depicted in several ancient Greek authors and poems.

Along with Professor Beck, Bill and Becca return for a conversation about the last book of the Argonautica that’s as wide-ranging as the travels of the Argonauts on their return from Colchis to Greece. Book notes: Carspecken, J. F. 1952. “Apollonius Rhodius and the Homeric Epic.” Yale Classical Studies 13: 35-143. Race, W. H., ed. […]

Liberty is joined by Cade, the host of Episode 3, to delve further into Medea’s feelings in Argonautica 3.752-770. How does that anxiety feel? How does Apollonius represent her emotions? Liberty and Cade walk a torturous path with Medea as she is pulled to and fro between her love for Jason and her ties to […]

Join Ava and Liberty as they examine Medea’s inner struggle between her societal norms and her love for Jason in Argonautica 3.656-664. They also dive into some of the ways Apollonius draws on Homeric epic and Medea’s character in Euripides’ Medea, as well as some similarities between Medea and Dido in Vergil’s Aeneid.

Focusing on Argonautica 3.471-488, Natalie and Ava explore relationships between the men (Jason and Argus), the women (Chalciope and Medea) and goddesses (Hera and Athena). How might they might relate to one another in the context of the larger quest and story? Book notes: Hunter, R., ed. 1989. Apollonius of Rhodes Argonautica Book III. Cambridge: […]

In Argonautica 3.275-319, Dylan and Natalie discuss the moment when Eros causes Medea to fall in love with Jason. They look at the implications this has within the poem, and for the poem’s place in epic literature.

Looking at Argonautica 3.151-93, Cade and Dylan chat about what Jason is like as hero, in the Argonautica and also in comparison to other Greek epic heroes like Achilles or Odysseus.

We’re joined by Dr. Rebecca van der Horst to talk about the different version of heroism that we find in Argonautica 2 as compared to Book 1. Instead of strength, heroes are all about clever planning. We follow Jason and the Argonauts all the way to Colchis, and we look at the start of their […]

Deborah Beck and Bill Farris kick off Season 3 with a conversation about how Book 1 sets the tone for the Argonautica, both what the story is about and how Apollonius tells the story. Reading notes:Beck, D. 2018. “Emotional and Thematic Meanings in a Repeating Homeric Motif: A Case Study,” Journal of Hellenic Studies 138: […]

Professor Deborah Beck returns to wrap things up. Things end well for this podcast season and for the course. For Creon, not so much.

Antigone offers one last lament before going down to her tomb to die. It’s the last thing we’ll ever hear her say. As she leaves, the chorus gives a bizarre ode that has left even the top commentators scratching their heads. It’s like no other choral ode we’ve seen, and some scholars have argued that […]

Nikhil and Payton get together again, this time to discuss aspects of the conversation between Haemon and Creon (Antigone 738-71).

In Antigone 700-737, Lexie discusses Haemon’s attempts to dissuade his father, Kreon, from punishing Antigone for burying her brother’s corpse.

Katherine analyzes the development of the characters Ismene and Antigone in Antigone 531-58. Spoiler alert: “family” plays a big role in their disagreements.

Mary discusses the significance of gender, family, language, and lament in Antigone 497-530.

Payton and Nikhil discuss Antigone 414-47, thinking about what isolation means to some of the main characters in the play.

Albion looks at the return of the guard in Antigone 384-414, his new and confident attitude, and how this seemingly minor character contrasts with the main characters in a big way.