46 pages • 1 hour read
Works and Days
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Essay Topics
What is Hesiod’s purpose in “Works and Days,” and what does each part contribute to it?
Discuss Hesiod’s characterization of the gods in the poem. What do they signify, and how do they relate to mortals? Drawn on at least three examples from the text in your discussion.
After Zeus discovers that Prometheus has returned fire to men, he vows to give men “an affliction in which they will all delight as they embrace their own misfortune” (38). Explore the duality inherent in a misfortune that also delights. Where else is duality evident in the poem?
Examine the function aphorisms serve in “Works and Days.”How do they relate to Hesiod’s theme of interconnection among gods, humans, and the natural world? Use at least three examples from the text in your discussion.
Consider the significance of the fable of the hawk and the nightingale. Why is justice only relevant to humans?
Hesiod provides instructions on how to read the natural world, as when he advises: “As soon as the size of the crow’s footprint is matched by the aspect of the leaves on the end of the fig-branch, then the sea is suitable for embarcation” (57). Discuss the significance of this type of advice as it relates to the poem’s themes.
Hesiod includes, unusually among poets of his time, biographical information about himself and his family. To what extent does this information seem credible or not? Use specific examples from the text to support your position.
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