ENG214.001 – Topics in World Literature: Ancient to Medieval

War and Heroism

Prof. Eileen Joy

Spring 2013

TAKE-HOME MID-TERM EXAM

DUE: Monday, March 18th (typed and double-spaced; please hand-deliver to Instructor in class)

At one point in the Iliad, Achilles laments that,

"The portion's equal

whether a man hangs back or fights his best;

the same respect, or lack of it, is given

brave man and coward. One who's active

dies like the do-nothing. What least thing have I

to show for it, for harsh days undergone

and my life gambled, all these years of war?"

First, comment on the context of this quotation: when does Achilles say this; what is happening, plot-wise, when Achilles says this; to whom is he talking; what impels him to say this, etc.? Then, spend some time thinking about whether or not these statements are true, specifically within the story of the Iliad and the ancient heroic, militaristic world to which it belongs. Do you think Achilles really believes what he is saying here, and how would you judge these words in light of his eventual actions? Are they rash words, or truly felt? Do they paint a picture of reality, or do they represent a pessimism that is not grounded in reality, specifically [again] in relation to the world to which the poem belongs? Be sure to provide very specific details and concrete examples from the poem itself [including direct quotations -- but do NOT overquote] to illustrate and support whatever observations and points you want to make.

Write a thoughtful, brief essay exploring the representation of heroism in at least two of the films we have watched thus far (Saving Private Ryan, The Thin Red Line, 300, the "Caretan" episode of Band of Brothers, and/or Platoon), and please feel free to also bring in other war films you have watched, if you like [my preference is for war films that represent actual historical events, such as World War I, the Vietnam War, etc., and not mythical or fantasy movies]. You might first spend some time thinking about how you would define what heroism is -- in general, in everyday life, in the world at large, in relation to various historical events that have threatened individuals and societies [whether hurricanes, tsunamis, terrorism, oppressive governments, war, etc.], but also in relation to the "smaller" and more private events that maybe also require courage and heroism [as YOU define it]. Then, consider how different directors depict what wartime is like and how individual soldiers respond differently to the life-threatening tasks they are asked to undertake. And this is the important question: how do the different ways these things are represented in contemporary films [relative to real historical events] maybe affect the way we view, not just the events themselves, but the actions and feelings of the soldiers? How is our understanding of courage and heroism affected, and maybe also modified and changed, by these representations, and why should that matter to us? As with Part I above, please refer to specific and very concrete details of the films themselves [character-wise, plot-wise, scene-wise, etc.] in order to support and illustrate whatever observations and points you want to make.