Over the past school year, we have read texts, had discussions, and generated many blog posts all in an attempt to unravel the answer to some big questions about revenge. What motives revenge? Can revenge be justified? Is revenge a form of justice? Is revenge punishment? How much agency do characters have? What are the traits and tropes of revenge characters? After exploring these questions for so long, we have been asked to create our own project connecting this class to an outside discipline.
For my culminating project I would like to explore the connections between the revenge characters in ancient texts and their portrayal in contemporary literature. I specifically plan to compare and contrast Euripides’ Medea and Ovid’s Hera to Medea and Hera in the Percy Jackson series. There are two layers to this comparison. First, Medea vs. Hera in the ancient texts and Medea vs. Hera in modern texts. Second, ancient Medea vs. modern Medea and ancient Hera vs. modern Hera. Three questions I hope to answer are 1) Is agency conserved? (i.e. Does each woman retain the agency she is given in the ancient texts?). 2) How does each woman plot and carry out revenge? 3) Do traits change with time? This project will incorporate the differences between revenge from a mortal and revenge from a god, a topic we previously discussed in class, as well as apply the analysis skills I’ve learned in class to something I am interested in. I would like to discuss my ideas and thoughts on this topic with Ms. Fountain. I think she would really help me with deeper character analysis.
I chose to compare and contrast ancient and modern texts because it is something that has always interested me. Ever since I started reading the Percy Jackson series in sixth grade, I have been intrigued by Greek mythology. It’s always to observe Zeus in the 21st century and then see Zeus in ancient times. I like investigating how an author takes a ancient figure and adapts him or her to live in modern times. I also love Percy Jackson, so that’s convenient.
For my culminating project I would like to explore the connections between the revenge characters in ancient texts and their portrayal in contemporary literature. I specifically plan to compare and contrast Euripides’ Medea and Ovid’s Hera to Medea and Hera in the Percy Jackson series. There are two layers to this comparison. First, Medea vs. Hera in the ancient texts and Medea vs. Hera in modern texts. Second, ancient Medea vs. modern Medea and ancient Hera vs. modern Hera. Three questions I hope to answer are 1) Is agency conserved? (i.e. Does each woman retain the agency she is given in the ancient texts?). 2) How does each woman plot and carry out revenge? 3) Do traits change with time? This project will incorporate the differences between revenge from a mortal and revenge from a god, a topic we previously discussed in class, as well as apply the analysis skills I’ve learned in class to something I am interested in. I would like to discuss my ideas and thoughts on this topic with Ms. Fountain. I think she would really help me with deeper character analysis.
I chose to compare and contrast ancient and modern texts because it is something that has always interested me. Ever since I started reading the Percy Jackson series in sixth grade, I have been intrigued by Greek mythology. It’s always to observe Zeus in the 21st century and then see Zeus in ancient times. I like investigating how an author takes a ancient figure and adapts him or her to live in modern times. I also love Percy Jackson, so that’s convenient.