Paper #1 Assignment: The Song Remains the Same: Translating the Ancient Greeks

Many students are understandably upset when they have to read old literature, since it is not only old but from a world that seems impossibly distant.  These students might argue, “why should we read a book about a war with people we’ve never heard of?  If Sappho’s poetry didn’t survive, then why should we try to resurrect it?  Can’t we read new works by living authors/artists?” 

For this paper, I want you to help students understand the power or relevance of either Sappho’s poetry OR The Iliad by comparing it to a modern “translation” of either work.  By “translation,” I mean some work of art that seems to rework the same ideas, themes, characters, or philosophies.  And by “work of art” I mean anything created for our entertainment or education: a book, a film, a song/album, a painting, a photograph, a video game, etc.  Your goal is to prove that by reading Homer/Sappho, we can better understand modern-day works, as well as better appreciate the stories and songs we continue to tell one another.  Be creative, and help the students realize that great art never dies—it’s merely translated for a new audience/generation. 

Here are some tips for writing this paper:

• Write to a typical 21^st century high school student: what biases/stereotypes do they have about these works?  How can you surprise them or help them see ideas they might miss?  You might even open the paper by addressing these very concerns. 
• Don’t summarize the plot of the poem/book.  Instead, analyze specific passages (through quotations) that you can then explain to the students. 
• Point to specific connections, but remember that they don’t have to be literal.  It could be a character like Achilles who comes to a similar realization, or it could be a song that expresses similar ideas to one of Sappho’s fragments.  It doesn’t have to be word-for-word. 
• Be sure to explain and describe your secondary work of art and quote whenever possible.  Help  us “see” the connections between both works, so that even the most indifferent student could see how Sappho is still alive in another singer’s ballad, for example.    

REMEMBER: Paper #1 is optional; you can either write this paper OR take Exam #1.  However, if you take Exam #1, you have to write Paper #2.  You can write both papers if you wish, but you cannot take both exams.  Try to have fun with this assignment and be creative.  Paper #1 is due Monday, September 29^th by 5pm