One More Plautus Play

Please watch Go Home Sam, a "reader's theater" presentation done by students at Aberdeen Central some years ago.   Then read The Pot of Gold, Pseudolus, or The Brothers Menaechmus and think about what you might include in a reader's theater style adaptation of the play. On Tuesday next week, the first 40 minutes of class will be devoted to preparing your presentations, and the last 35 minutes to the presentations themselves.  You will be working with other students who read the same play you did.

Share here some ideas on what you might want to see your group include.  What lines/passages would be particularly good for showing what the play says about Roman values, family relationships, romantic relationships, day-to-day life, religion, etc.?

The Prisoners

Please Thursday, September 25, pleas read Plautus' The Prisoners (Captivi). Cite a line from this play that shows something about Roman society or Roman history one might not learn from a more conventional historical source, e.g., something about day-to-day life in Rome, something about Roman values, or something about the Roman sense of humor. Explain why you chose this particular line. Alternatively, note something Plautus has done with one of the five "narrative essentials" (plot, character, theme, setting, and tone) that shows something important about Roman history.

Plautus' Swaggering Soldier (Miles Gloriosus)

For Tuesday, September 23, please read Plautus' The Swaggering Soldier (Miles Gloriosus), pp. 147-212 in the "Pot of Gold and other Plays" book. Cite a line from this play that shows something about Roman society or Roman history one might not learn from a more conventional historical source, e.g., something about day-to-day life in Rome, something about Roman values, or something about the Roman sense of humor. Explain why you chose this particular line.

Marius and Sulla

Marius and Sulla were both in some ways a great Roman heroes. However, each also contributed to bringing disaster on Rome.

Please read Plutarch's Life of Marius, either in the abridged version here or the unabridged version here. Then read Plutarch's Life of Sulla, either in the abridged version here or the unabridged version here.

Cite an example that helps build the case that one of these men was a great hero for Rome *or* cite an example that shows how one of these men brought disaster to Rome.

The War with Jugurtha

Please read the Introduction to Sallust's War with Jugurtha. Pick out what you consider to be the most important/most interesting line from this selection and explain why you think this line is particularly important or interesting. If other students have chosen a different line, explain why *your* line is even more important or more interesting.

Noble Romans (extra credit)

"All history is biography," said Emerson, and he's certainly right in thinking that an understanding of the lives of individual men and women is essential to history. Fortunately for us, many ancient writers shared Emerson's idea of the importance of biography, and they've left us many fascinating accounts of important Roman leaders. Among the most interesting biographies are those contained in Plutarch's "Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans." Please read one of the following selections from Plutarch. Cite an incident or sentiment that seems to you particular important in understanding Roman character/values/history, and explain why you chose this particular passage/event.
 
Abridged versions:

Tiberius Gracchus, Gaius Gracchus, Fabius Maximus, Cato the Elder, Camillus

Unabridged versions:

Tiberius Gracchus, Gaius Gracchus, Fabius Maximus, Cato the Elder, Camillus

Roman Warfare (extra credit)

Times of war tend to bring out both the strengths and weaknesses of a society. This is particularly true of Republican Rome. Please read through one or two of the selections linked below. Pick out an incident/passage that shows either the surprising nature of Roman success or one of the characteristics of Republican Rome that makes that success not so surprising.

Selections you should find interesting include: Livy's description of the Roman method of declaring war, Livy's account of the war with and eventual destruction of Veii (Book V, sections 1-23), Livy's account of the Sack of Rome by the Gauls and Camillus' rescue of Rome (Book V, sections 33-55), Polybius' description of The Battle of Cannae, Polybius' comparison of the Roman maniple to the Macedonian phalanx, and Polybius' description of Roman government.