Weeks 2 and 3:
For the next two weeks, I'd like to take a look at both Classical and Biblical readings! As a Letters major and life-long lover of Greek and Roman Mythology, I will start with books 5-7 of Ovid's Metamorphoses. Last semester, I finished my 3 semesters of Latin study with a course on Latin prose. While I enjoyed getting to read works by Caesar and Livy, I was also sad to be missing out on one of the most impressive elements of Latin writing -- poetry! I'm excited to read a little bit of Ovid in the coming weeks. Maybe after reading it in English, I could find a Latin transcript to glance at!
I chose books 5-7 of Ovid because of their focus on female characters. Similarly, I am drawn to the unit on Bible Women as a possibility for Week 3. However, I have always been intrigued by the books that did not make Bible canon, so I can also see myself changing my mind and delving into the Infancy Gospels that tell some of those forgotten stories. I'm sure that either way, I will end up reading all of it, just because! :)
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| Rebecca at the Well by Murillo, A story featured in the unit on Bible Women |
Ideas For The Weeks Ahead:
Middle East Unit: Persian Tales
Last spring break, I got the chance to visit the Iranian Interest Section in Washington D.C. right before the holiday Nowruz. The Interest Section was decked out in traditional decor. Everything display, food item, and reading had a special and historic significance. As soon as I left, I thought, "I want to visit Iran and experience all of this for myself!"Of course, that is easier said than done. Then, I thought, "I will take a class and learn Farsi for fun!" Sadly, it's hard to fit five hours of introductory language into a packed final-year schedule. So, I have made up for it by reading more Iranian fiction and non-fiction! I'm excited to get a more historic look as this fascinating culture's literature!
Native American Unit: Myths of the Cherokee
As I get closer to graduation, I am feeling more and more uneasy about how little time I have left to learn about anything and everything within the university setting. So, this winter, I took a course about Native American governance. Now, I just want to keep learning more! This subject is integral to both our national history and my own personal heritage. In Native American culture, time is cyclical. So, what happened (or was told in stories) years ago, affects the present as much as what we do today and in the future affects the legacy of the past. What a great way to learn more about that meaningful link!
European Unit: Heptamaron
In keeping with the trend of exploring my own heritage, I was looking at the British and European units for ideas. (Thanks, Ancestory.com DNA tests!) However, before I explored too much, this section caught my eye. The premise sounds so fun, and yet again, I am drawn in by a woman author. Plus, who wouldn't want to read what sounds a bit like the royal Gossip Girl of the renaissance?
I am so glad the Heptameron caught your attention, Audra: I love that book! And someone did a really fabulous Storybook based on that last year — you might want to take a look; it turned out great: Maggie's Heptameron
ReplyDeleteAudra,
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to see other non-Persians be interesting in the Persian tales topic! Being half Persian, I have heard many of the really interesting tales from my Father as a child. I think you would really enjoy reading about them; Persian culture is so rich! I too found Ovid's Metamorphoses to be very interesting and I plan on reading and writing more about both of these units in the future.
Alex