Arabic Poetry

I have placed the readings for Wednesday (two attachments) on Blackboard under "Readings" - (1) "Hispano-Arabic Poetry" and (2) "The Dove's Necklace."

You can get some background information on Ibn Hazm, author of "The Dove's Necklace" and some of the poetry you'll read, on Wikipedia here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibn_Hazm

Read both and I would like you to address two things:

1) Address two themes / ideas raised Ibn Hazm's "The Dove's Necklace" that interest you. How do these themes relate to the overall ideas of love that you find in this reading.

2) How do the themes raised in "The Dove's Necklace" carry over into the poetry? Address at least two specific poems.

Your responses should involve, as always, a short cohesive argument. Feel free to bring up anything else you deem important in your discussion.

Islamic Art

Dr. Fran Altvater will come and speak to the class the Monday after spring break on Islamic Art.

She has asked that you take a look at this website and read both the "History" and "Art" sections for the "Early Islamic Period," "Early Medieval Period" and "Late Medieval Period."

http://www.lacma.org/islamic_art/islamic.htm

For your blog posting, please comment on the ways in which certain cultures borrow from other cultures - why, how, etc.

Also - come up with a question that you can ask Professor Altvater.

Ovid's 'Metamorphoses' (Day Two: Books 4 and 6)

For today's readings, we have five main myths: The Minydes, Hermaphroditus, Perseus, Arachne, and Tereus / Philomena. Choose at least two of these five myths and look for a common theme within them. What is the theme? In what ways do these myths deal with this theme? Use quotes from the text to support your ideas. Remember - I'm looking for thought and analysis, not a retelling of the plot.

Mid-Term Exam

The mid-term exam will be next Wednesday - be present and on-time. If you are absent, I'll happily give you a zero (one less exam for me to grade!).

It will consist of two sections.

1. You will be given nine quotations from the four texts we have studied (Genesis, The Odyssey, The Republic, The Metamorphoses). For each quotation you must give the following information: (1) the text from which it comes, (2) the author if possible, (3) the speaker and (4) a short paragraph (around four sentences) explaining and analyzing the significance of the quotation in and of itself as well as to the text as a whole. Full credit will NOT be given for retelling a text's plot. 6 identifications x 10 points each = 60 points.

2. You will have a choice of three essay topics to write one essay. Hints I will give now: Topics will include gender, education / didacticism and the role of the human body. You will be asked to include specific scenes / characters from two to three texts in your discussion. 40 points.

Ovid's 'Metamorphoses' (Day One: Books 1 and 3)

For the discussion in-class I will focus mainly on Book 3, and more specifically on the Tireseas - Narcissus myths. Answer at least two questions or bring up your own topics and analyses for discussion.

Book One

1. How do you interpret the opening of the text? What themes, ideas, concepts does Ovid present here that you feel influences Book One or possible the work as a whole?

2. How might the initial myths of this text raise similar issues to those we found in Genesis? What are these issues? What do you find to be original then about the 'scope' of what Ovid raises here?

Book Three

3. The story of Tireseas appears to be just plain 'weird.' Where do you find its weirdness? What do you make of a person who can change from male to female and back again? How do you interpret the snakes? Tireseas's punishment?

4. Do a close reading of the conversation between Narcissus and Echo. Do you find anything strange going on here? Is Echo simply and "echo"? What does an echo do and what should an echo not do?

5. Deceptively simplistic question: With what or whom does Narcissus fall in love? What is the problem with this? Many writers see in this myth the foundation of love found in all relationships (I would agree!) - what does the myth have to tell us about human desire?