Musings in Greek Literature

Joseph talks about the second half of the Ode to Man, lines 354-383. He looks at the meter of the strophe and antistrophe to show Sophocles’ theme of duality in both the ode and the play as a whole.

Brendan begins a two-episode dive into the second choral song in the Antigone, the “Ode to Man,” with a deep discussion of verses 322-52. What does the word deinos mean? Awesome? Terrible? Amazing? All of the above? And how does that shape our understanding of the play? Performances Referenced: Antigone by Sophocles translated by Robert […]

Along with guest Evan Cleary, a business student, Lyle discusses the nature of Creon’s leadership in Antigone 304-331. He and Evan look at some modern interpretations of Antigone.

Laura breaks down Creon’s response to the news that the body of Polynices was buried (Antigone 280-303), discussing both the details of the Greek in this passage and the complexity of Creon’s character and motivations.

Focusing on Antigone 215-42, Cassandra Winkley and Rachel Prichett discuss the messenger trope in Greek tragedy. They see the Guard in Antigone as a pseudo-, sort-of messenger.

Dylan McKibban discusses the second half of Creon’s first speech (verses 191-210). He finds that its connections to a previous passage complicate who the hero of the play really is.

Prof. Deborah Beck introduces season 2 with a discussion of the characters, language, and themes in the prologue of Sophocles’ Antigone (verses 1-99).

A trailer for the Second season of Musings in Greek Literature, where they’ll be looking into the Antigone

Professor Deborah Beck provides some Homeric ring composition by looking back on the Iliad and the podcasting experience for the class.

As the Iliad comes to an end, Lauryn draws on her knowledge of three-act structure to think about the story of the entire poem.

Trey Timson discusses the myth of Niobe and the use of the word sitos (“food”) Iliad 24. What is this story doing here? Why does Achilles tell it?

Rachel Prichett discusses Achilles’ response to Priam’s request for the return of Hector’s body. For a brief moment, the two enemies find they have more in common than they might have thought.

In this episode, which focuses mainly on Iliad 24.477-86, Austin McDow talks about the simile used immediately before Priam’s supplication of Achilles for the body of Hector.

Claudia Cockerell discusses the opening of Book 23, focusing on the funeral rites of Patroclus and the different treatment of Patroclus and Hector’s bodies.

Sam Ross discusses the impartiality of the Iliadic narrator, specifically in reference to Andromakhe’s laments for Hektor.

Ethan Russo focuses on Iliad 22.378-404. He thinks about Achilles and Hector’s body, both what Achilles says about the dead Hector, and what Achilles does to the body.

In our first episode, Prof. Deborah Beck gives an introduction to this season. We look at epic similes, fate, and the gods at the end of Hector and Achilles’ chase around Troy, focusing on Iliad 22.199-213.

A trailer setting up the First Season and the Series as a whole.