Homer's Iliad 2019: Lecture 6 Book I Pts. 1 and 2, The Theft of Briseis
In this lecture we (a) review Agamemnon's disgraceful treatment of Chryses, (b) consider Achilleus' assembly, Kalchas' prophecy, and Agamemnon's (over)reaction, and (c) conclude with meeting Thetis, Z...
27 Aug 201930min
Dante's The Divine Comedy 2019: Lecture 5: Cantos 3-8 (Upper Hell) Pt. 1
In this lecture we traverse Circles 1-4 and Cantos 3-8. Specifically, we (a) meet Minos, Charon, Cerberus, and Plutus from the Greco-Roman tradition; (b) we meet and consider Francesca and Paolo among...
27 Aug 20191h 3min
Homer's Iliad 2019: Lecture 5: Book I Pt. 1, The Conflict between Captains
In this lecture, we consider (a) the proem of Homer's "Iliad" and how it prefigures the events of the narrative; (b) the hubris of Agamemnon and the rage of Apollo; and (c) the assembly called by Achi...
26 Aug 201918min
Dante's The Divine Comedy 2019: Lecture 4: Cantos 1-2 (The Dark Wood) Pt. 2
In this lecture, we (a) review the symbolic significance of the three animals which Dante encounters in Canto 1; (b) we consider Dante's "invocation to the muse" and how that relates to Homer's and Vi...
22 Aug 201924min
Homer's Iliad 2019: Lecture 4: Agamemnon, Achilleus, and the Start of the Trojan War Pt. 2
In this lecture, we consider (a) differing mythological accounts of Achilleus' near vulnerability and Homer's alteration of mythology; (b) Achilleus' stint on Skyros pretending to be a daughter of Kin...
22 Aug 201929min
Dante's The Divine Comedy 2019: Lecture 3: Cantos 1-2 (The Dark Wood)
In this lecture, we (a) lay-out the fundamentals of an allegorical interpretation of Dante vs. a literal one, (b) meet Virgil, three beasts, and are introduced to three angelic-women; finally, we (c) ...
21 Aug 201934min
Homer's Iliad 2019: Lecture 3: Agamemnon, Achilleus, and The Start of the Trojan War
In this lecture, we (a) consider the mythic background of Homer's "Iliad"; (b) examine the reasons for the sacrifice of Iphigeneia, and (c) establish the theme that no one gets away with anything in G...
21 Aug 201925min
Dante's The Divine Comedy 2019: Structure and Background Pt. 2
In this lecture, we (a) review the basic structure of Dante's "The Divine Comedy", (b) consider the influence of Virgil on Dante and the middle-ages, and (c) conclude by looking specifically at the st...
15 Aug 201937min
