Essays and Research Papers on Greek & Roman Literature

This 5 page report is written as speech given by Thucydides tot he assembly of Athens and addressing the action to be taken against the revolting Mitylenians, policy relating to Melos, and the possibility of mounting a conquest of Sicily. No additional sources cited.

A 3 page essay that analyzes the writing style employed by the ancient Greek historian Thucydides in writing his classic history of the Peloponnesian War. The writer focuses on Thucydides' use of narrative and rhetorical arguments. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

This 5 page paper looks at the story of Oedipus written by Sophocles. The paper looks at the interaction between Oedipus and the fates and uses this as the basis to discuss if he was an innocent victim or if he could have changed things. The bibliography cites 5 sources.

Women, Patriarchy, and Feminine Suffering: A Gendered Analysis of Euripides’ “The Trojan Women”: A 6 page (5 pp. + 1 pg. Endnotes) paper which examines what appears to be women’s senseless suffering in times of war and peace and how this suffering is represented in Euripides’ tragedy. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

This 5 page paper argues that the political issue of gender role identification in Euripides' play, Alcestis, provides a basis for discussion within the current social meaning of politics, gender and society as it pertains to the ancient Greek social system. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 4 page paper which compares and contrasts the roles of men and women in these Greek classics. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 3 page paper which examines how female gender is depicted in Sophocles’ Oedipus trilogy and Aristophanes’ Lysistrata. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

5 pages. In Herodotus' Histories there are many references to wine and to drinking. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the significance of these references. The symbolic importance of wine and the drinking of wine within these books of Herodotus is an interesting one that makes for a more meaningful reading ...

In three pages this paper examines how 5th century B.C. Athenian history impacts upon the tension between individual and group that Sophocles thematically develops in his Oedipus trilogy (Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone). Three sources are listed in the bibliography.

This 4 page paper discusses two flawed leaders, Kreon and Agamemnon; and two women who fall in love with the wrong men, Dido and Phaedra. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 7 page book review that addresses Cicero's The Republic and The Laws. Cicero's The Republic can be viewed as the "culmination of pagan thinking" regarding political theory and, specifically, the organization of the Roman state (Powell x). Then, in its sequel, The Laws, Cicero expounds on the doctrine of Natural Law, setting out an ...

A 4 page essay that discusses why Virgil pictures Aeneas as possessing human flaws. Aeneas, hero of Virgil's epic poem The Aeneid, is, in many ways, the epitome the ancient Roman conceptualization of virtue. He accepts the will of the gods that he should be the founder of Rome. He displays compassion for the suffering ...

A 3 page essay that argues that the main theme in both Sophocles' Antigone and Herman Melville's Billy Budd is a warning that the society that ignores humanitarian issues does so at its own peril. These narratives warn us that the society that puts punitive justice ahead of all else may be enacting a ...

A 4 page research paper that examines the conflict between Antigone and Creon, which is whose law should take precedence, humanity's law or divine law. Citing the opinions of Creon's son, the chorus, and the people of Thebes, the writer argues that Sophocles clearly sides with Antigone. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A five page paper looking at the issue of righteousness in this classic drama by Sophocles. The paper argues that Antigone is in the right because her actions spring from a higher authority than the law she breaks. Bibliography lists four sources.

A 6 page paper comparing the treatment of women in Homeric times (as illustrated by the tribulations of Penelope in the Odyssey) with the many rules and prohibitions given to women under early Judaic law. The paper concludes that both systems effectively tie women to the house without giving them any authority over it. Bibliography ...

A 6 page paper assessing Creon's view of events and the results of his laws as ruler of Thebes. Antigone is dead because of Creon's trust in political power; grief has claimed both his son and his wife. Perhaps Creon has not taken full responsibility, for he still blames fate for a large ...

A 10 page paper which examines how this popular theme is presented in these great works of Western literature. No additional sources are used.

A 4 page paper which examines the lessons of revenge and justice. No additional sources are used.

A thoughtful 3 page comparison between the characters of Desdemona (Shakespeare's 'Othello') and Penelope (Homer's 'Odyssey'). Both women are viewed as brave, determined, and loyal -- exemplifying the age-old concept of love in both stories -- No Bibliography.

A 4 page essay that contrasts and compares the use of symbolism in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex and Shakespeare's Hamlet. The writer argues that both of these playwrights make their points concerning human nature via their use of imagery and symbolism. Sophocles uses the imagery of sight to dramatically illustrate the problems that Oedipus has with ...

A 4 page essay that contrasts and compares the characters of Hamlet and Oedipus. Despite being separated by the passage of centuries, as well as differences in language and culture, Sophocles’ portrayal of Oedipus and Shakespeare’s depiction of Hamlet bear similarities, as well as the innumerable differences that one would expect. The similarities revolve around ...

A 3 page paper which examines the protagonist's ability to determine between appearances and reality as differently presented in William Shakespeare's Othello and Sophocles' Oedipus the King. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

8 pages in length. When comparing Athenian democracy to imperialism, it is essential to evaluate how the two elements played out in their political history. Thucydides' account of Athenian democracy provides the reader with a significant understanding of why their democratic decision making may have been inherently flawed; if the quality of Athenian ...

This 5 page research paper examines Aristotle's definition of tragedy in his essay, Poetics. Specifically discussed are how Aristotle's interpretation of tragedy is expressed in two classic Greek plays, Antigone by Sophocles, and Agamemnon by Aeschylus. Bibliography lists 3 sources.