Final Paper

The final paper is on a topic of your own choosing that goes beyond the plays and themes raised in class. Ideally, you will provide the inspiration, and I will help in guiding you to worthwhile reading. But if the fount of inspiration runs dry, we can talk about your interests and mutually find a topic.

Logistics:

Next week, I will schedule appointments with each of you to discuss your chosen topic. This will give you a chance to bat around preliminary ideas, get bibliographical guidance, and for me to offer preliminary criticism and advice.

By Monday April 26 (at the latest!), you will turn in a prospectus for your paper by e-mail. In the propectus you should state briefly but clearly the topic of the paper, and should sketch (either by outline or discursively) what subtopics you plan to include in the paper.

The paper is due at 7:30 pm on Monday May 3. No exceptions without permission from the Dean.

Goals:

Aim at 8-10 pages. That still means that you need to focus on a fairly limited topic. Don't let the added length of the paper fool you. (Remember how easy it was to fill up 3 pages with thoughts on a very limited topic!) I'd much rather read a tight 8-page paper that makes a few good points than a flabby 20-page paper.
Write a formal essay. Slang, misspellings, mis-constructions of grammar should not appear. Strive however not simply for a journalistic, matter-of-fact style, but for elegance of expression.
Construct an argument. Make sure that you have a thesis, and that you back up your thesis with specific citations and details. When you draw on secondary sources, give specific references and include a bibliography.
Go beyond the plays we have read. This should not be simply an expanded version of the earlier papers, that is, it should not be simply a longer interpretation of a play we read in class. You should expand your horizons in at least one direction such as the following:

Interpretative essays for Greek tragedies, beyond those we've read.

(a) Read an ancient tragedy beyond one of those we read in class (there are 14 more!), and use that the basis of an interpretative paper.

(b) Work on a theme that embraces more than one play (which can include those we've read): for instance, a study of the figure of Helen in Euripides' Helen and his Orestes.

Reading the interpretative work of others is strongly advised, but do not simply ape or report the work of others: instead, use others' interpretations as fuel to fire your own inspiration. If you do read and make use of other interpretations, be sure to cite the sources.

Study of modern rewritings of ancient tragedy. Discuss the appropriation of themes and characters by later writers (I deliberately leave the specific line of interpretation open, but you might think e.g. about why it is that later laters adopt these ancient themes-- what is achieved by taking over a story from Sophocles?) There are many examples of later rewritings, from Anouihl to Brecht to Eugene O'Neill to Robinson Jeffers. If you're interested in this possibility, come talk to me for some specific references.
Background in history, society, religion as the basis for interpretation. Read background materials relating to an issue in Greek society, history, religion, or myth, and use this background knowledge as a basis for interpretation of an ancient play (which can be one of those we've read in class). You might, for instance, read about the cult of Dionysus and write about Euripides' Bacchae; or about the status of Greek women, and write about how Euripides' attitude toward women seems to reflect or differ from the attitudes of the society at large; or about satyr plays, and then try to write creatively an Alcestis that is a true satyr play (as we know that Phrynichus, another tragedian, in fact did).
I am completely open to other ideas: be creative, and follow your own interests!