I hope you enjoy your Christmas break

I thoroughly enjoyed studying Greek mythology with you this semester, and I hope you found the work edifying as well. I hope to see all of you again in future honors colloquia.

I'm sick -- no class today

Yes, this is not one of those get-an-extra-day-of-vacation frauds; I really am sick. I went and taught my morning course in McMinnville this morning, but I just don't have the juice for the rest of the day. Don't know if this is flu, sinus infection, or just a really bad cold, but I do know that, barring a house fire or comparable catastrophe, I'm spending the rest of the day in bed.

For next Monday go ahead and read Illiad, Book 24. We'll have both quizzes (on books 23 & 24) on Monday, so be sure to have each fresh in your mind.

I hope your holiday is blessed, and I look forward to seeing you Monday, November 29.

Assignment for Monday, October 25, 2010

Read pp. 255-290 in Hamilton's Mythology. In case you're interested in reading ahead, here's some helpful information: your assignment for Wednesday will be pp. 291-318.

Review guide for midterm

Your midterm exam will be given in class on Wednesday, October 13, 2010. Everything we've covered in our readings, lectures, discussions, and videos are fair game, but if you focus on the following high points, you should do well:

• Olympus & its gods & goddesses, as described by both Hamilton & Graves. Know each deity's name, domain, and symbols
• The following chapters in Graves's book: Demeter's Lost Daughter, The Titans, The Underworld of Tartarus, The Birth of Hermes, Orpheus, Deucalion's Flood, Orion, Asclepius, King Midas's Ears, Sisyphus, The Labors of Heracles, Jason & the Golden Fleece, Perseus
• The following chapters in Hamilton's book: The Gods, The Two Great Gods of Earth, How the World and Mankind Were Created, Prometheus & Io
• Campbell's diagram of the psyche and theory of where in the psyche myth comes from; general and particular mythologies; the right- and left-hand paths; his view of human evolution and the development of male & female mythologies; mystical imagery of Achilles
• Be prepared to write an essay on one of the following topics: the origin & purposes of mythology; parallels in world mythology, particularly between Greece & Israel; mythology's relation to the human psyche and life-cycle; and the place of mythology through history and today.

Most of the exam will be multiple-choice, matching, and true-false. There will also be a short essay portion.

Straight from the horse's mouth

Thanks for checking here today; you never know when you might find important information here. For better or for worse, today is not that day.

Welcome to IDSH 1020!

This is the online horse's mouth for Honors Seminar in Greek Mythology. Please check back here often for assignments, readings, announcements, and course updates.