Part IV Essay Questions The Illiad, Medea, Caesar’s Gallic Wars, and Tacitus’ Germania tell the story of men at war, or of cultures dominated by warring men. But there are also several women in the books. Based on those whom we have met, what are the varied roles of women within the community of these ancient Greeks, Romans, and Germans? How did those roles change over time and space, and how do they differ from one another, and from the roles of women in contemporary American society? What do you make of what has remained the same, and of what has so changed? What are your predictions for the future role of women in American society, given its past? The Germanic peoples lived by a strict set of laws or cultural codes. In the literature, we see the heroes judged in relation to what has come to be referred to as the Heroic Code for behavior. Identify at least three aspects of this Heroic Code as you find evidence for them in Gallic Wars, Germania, and Beowulf. Further, compare and contrast these character traits to generic traits for both the Roman understanding of the heroic code, and our own understanding of Heroic behavior for men and women today, living in the 21st century, in Minot, as you see them. Speculate about the significance of what has changed, and what has remained the same. What is more, as a culture that is always in the process of rewriting codes, where are we headed in our future understanding of the heroic code? Be thoughtful, specific, and organized in your response.
Part IV Essay Questions The Illiad, Medea, Caesar’s Gallic Wars, and Tacitus’ Germania tell the story of men at war, or of cultures dominated by warring men. But there are also several women in the books. Based on those whom we have met, what are the varied roles of women within the community of these ancient Greeks, Romans, and Germans? How did those roles change over time and space, and how do they differ from one another, and from the roles of women in contemporary American society? What do you make of what has remained the same, and of what has so changed? What are your predictions for the future role of women in American society, given its past? The Germanic peoples lived by a strict set of laws or cultural codes. In the literature, we see the heroes judged in relation to what has come to be referred to as the Heroic Code for behavior. Identify at least three aspects of this Heroic Code as you find evidence for them in Gallic Wars, Germania, and Beowulf. Further, compare and contrast these character traits to generic traits for both the Roman understanding of the heroic code, and our own understanding of Heroic behavior for men and women today, living in the 21st century, in Minot, as you see them. Speculate about the significance of what has changed, and what has remained the same. What is more, as a culture that is always in the process of rewriting codes, where are we headed in our future understanding of the heroic code? Be thoughtful, specific, and organized in your response.