Classical Mythology

Classical Mythology
Document Analysis

The question is as follows:

Write a brief analysis of how Earth (Gaia) is characterised at Theogony, lines 154-66 (from ‘And these most awful sons of Earth and Heaven…’ to ‘Who first began devising shameful acts.’)

Tip: Pay particular attention to how Earth is compared and contrasted to Sky both in her own words to her son and in the narrator’s voice. Consider what the characterization of Earth suggests about the cosmos and the natural world. You should chiefly address the set lines (154-66) in detail, and make sure you keep to 750 words.

Assessment Criteria for the Document Analysis Task:

What is expected from your paper:

Concision. This task tests your ability to provide clear analysis of the text within a very strict word limit.

Use of appropriate primary evidence. Your analysis should directly employ appropriate citation of lines from the set passage (Theogony, 154-66) to explain and support the points you make.

Prioritisation of most important points. This task does not ask you to be comprehensive (to say everything it is possible to say about lines 154-66). Rather you should identify what you think are the main characteristics of Earth as presented in this passage. Your ability to identify the most significant characteristics is part of what is being tested in this exercise.

Clarity of expression and presentation. As with all assignments for this course, the Document Analysis is an exercise in the clear communication of complex ideas and arguments. These need to be expressed in clear and correct English and presented in a manner that directly conveys your meaning.

What is not expected from your paper:

Background detail. Do not provide any background on Earth/Gaia, Hesiod, the Theogony generally, the Archaic Greek society that produced the poem, etc.. That sort of contextual detail is unnecessary for a task such as this, and there is simply not the scope within 750 words to provide this background and still complete the analysis required successfully.

Essay structure. This is not a structured essay task (i.e. with an introduction, developed main paragraphs and conclusion). While you need to make your points very clear, and you should certainly avoid bullet points or other abbreviated styles of presentation, you are not expected to form each point into a full paragraph.

Bibliography. While you are free to use secondary sources that you believe appropriate, you are not required to consult sources for this task beyond the seminar reading for Unit 2 and, most importantly, the Theogony itself. If you do choose to use secondary sources, however, you must cite them correctly according to the Style Guide for this subject.