Download History Paper 5 - Socrates Sophocles

Ancient Studies – History Paper #5 – Socrates & Sophocles Due Date: Saturday, December 6, at the end of class. Submit your essay to me electronically as a Microsoft Word document. Length: 500-­‐800 words Paper Topics – Choose One 1) How would you judge the case of Socrates in 399 BC? Would you vote to condemn or to acquit him? What penalty or reward does he deserve? Which arguments of his do you find most compelling or most appealing? And which arguments do you find least compelling—or most offensive? Write a SPEECH to your fellow Athenian citizens in which you strive to persuade them to vote to convict or to acquit. Write your paper as a speech in which you address an audience of Athenian jury members. Assume that you have the last word before the jurors vote. You and they both have heard Socrates mount his own defense, and now you get to respond. Declare your position in the opening of your speech and then use your subsequent paragraphs to discuss the arguments or actions of Socrates that you find either compelling or offensive. You should address whether Socrates has helped the people of Athens or hurt them with his conduct over the years. For this project, you have some freedom to structure your argument in the way you think best, but you MUST REFER to at least FIVE (5) specific statements that Socrates makes. You can quote Socrates directly on some occasions, but even more important than citing his words is responding with your own words and showing that you agree or disagree with the point he is making. You can find sufficient evidence on the handout entitled “Selections from Socrates” that I gave you. Use the passage number from the “Apology” in your citation. Here’s the process for citations. • If you include a direct quotation, then introduce it with a proper lead and follow it with a parenthetical citation, just as you have done in other papers. • But if instead you elect to paraphrase (that is, put into your own words) Socrates’ idea without citing his direct words, then you should still end your own statement with a reference to the appropriate passage from “The Apology.” • In either case, put the passage number in parentheses at the end of your sentence. Remember, you must address at least FIVE (5) specific statements Socrates makes. Your task here is not so much to analyze Socrates’ arguments as to respond to them, and then to lead your audience toward either acquittal or conviction. You should select passages that show Socrates either helping or hurting his fellow citizens, or either breaking or upholding the law. Note that a good speaker often begins by acknowledging the arguments on the other side before stating the arguments on his/her own side. You should strive to do that in your “speech” to the jury. Rogers – Ancient Studies – assigned 11.22.14 – due 12.06.14 Ancient Studies – History Paper #5 – Socrates & Sophocles 2) How would Socrates judge the actions and arguments of Antigone and Creon? Would he conclude that either character acted in accordance with justice? Which statements would he appreciate the most? And which would he expose as flawed? You should write your paper in the first person in the voice of Socrates. Your task here is complex, but you can have some fun with it. As we know, Socrates said he looked forward to the prospect of questioning great figures from Greek history and literature in Hades. Imagine that after his own death by drinking hemlock, Socrates encountered both Antigone and Creon in the underworld and had the chance to discuss questions of right and wrong and of justice and injustice with the two of them. What would he say to Antigone? What words or deeds would he ask her about? Would he be sympathetic, or would he be as hostile as a stinging fly in pointing out her flaws? And what would he say to Creon? What words or deeds would he ask him about? Would he sympathize or sting? And would he conclude that either figure acted properly, morally, or justly? IF you wish, you may write this paper in the form of a dialogue, and give Antigone and Creon a chance to respond to Socrates’ questions. OR you may elect to write only in the voice of Socrates. But either way, you should refer to specific passages (with line numbers) from Sophocles’ “Antigone.” And you should base your arguments in the voice of Socrates on passages from “The Apology” and “The Speech of the Laws.” You can cite any ideas from Socrates by passage number. Make sure that you review all the selected passages from Socrates, Plato, and Sophocles on your handouts. 2A) If you are not comfortable writing in the voice of Socrates, you may elect to write Topic #2 in the third person as a conventional analytical essay. If you go this route, be sure to include a good introduction with a clear thesis statement and at least two body paragraphs (one on Antigone and another on Creon). Each body paragraph should include at least two direct quotations with proper leads and MLA citations. Include a brief conclusion that restates your main ideas in fresh language. Rogers – Ancient Studies – assigned 11.22.14 – due 12.06.14 Ancient Studies – History Paper #5 – Socrates & Sophocles III. Did Athenian democracy work? Were the people of Athens able to rule themselves effectively? Consider evidence from Thucydides, Plato, and Aristotle about how democracy either did or did not function well. Then consider Athenian conduct during the Peloponnesian War and the Trial of Socrates. Did the people of Athens make the right decisions when confronting their adversaries or critics? This is a conventional analytical essay. State your direct answer to the question in your thesis statement in your introduction. Then use your body paragraphs to develop your answer. Given the structure of the question, it would be wise to devote at least one body paragraph to the functioning of democracy during the Peloponnesian War, and at least one body paragraph to the functioning of democracy during the Trial of Socrates. To answer this questions effectively, you should review the passages from Thucydides, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. (Note that the author of the arguments of “Pericles” is actually Thucydides, and that the author of arguments of “Socrates” is actually Plato. In each case the author takes some liberties with the words of the historical figure. This is not exactly fiction in the sense that Sophocles creates the characters of Antigone and Creon, but neither can we assume that the historical figures of Pericles and Socrates actually said what Thucydides and Plato write in their accounts.) Although it is not a strict rule, you would be wise to include at least two direct quotations in each of your two body paragraphs. Make sure that you have good textual evidence to illustrate your point about whether Athenian Democracy either did or did not function well. Then further develop your argument in your own words. Introduce quotations with a proper lead. You should use MLA-­‐style parenthetical citations. I will assume that all page references are to The Western World, but make clear whether the words come from Thucydides, Plato, or Aristotle. Furthermore, make clear who is the supposed “speaker” in Thucydides (for example: Pericles, Cleon, Diodotus, Athenian Ambassadors, or Melian Representatives) or in Plato (Socrates). You do not need a Works Cited page. Rogers – Ancient Studies – assigned 11.22.14 – due 12.06.14