Unit 2

English 201:    Masterpieces of Western Literature

 

.Unit 2 Reading

Course Reading

Entry Page

 

Introduction

Background

.Explication

Questions

Review

Review:

You met new characters.  You should be able to define who they are:

• Sarpedon
• Phoinix
• Patroklos
• Narcissus

You should know something more than you did before studying this lesson about the Western sense of identity & how it is developmentally achieved.

You should be able to briefly explain the relationship among id, ego, & super-ego in the process of acquiring identity.

You should be able to explain AK's complex identity:

• his choice of glory over pleasure
• his narcissism & vanity
• his semi-divine & awesome power
• how his power is unable to create or deliver honor
• his relationship of mentor to PAT

We do not have a chance to consider Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics where honor plays a large part in defining what the good life is & in how to actualize it.  Honor is not so important in the Christian outlook.  You should understand why honor was so important in the Greek outlook.  Honor is the imprimatur on one's identity.  Honor is the sole accomplish that seems to endure even after death.

You should know something about the Greek aristocratic or meritocracy view of political power.

This is the end of unit 2.  Next week you will work through unit 3.  It will have the same structure & you will use the same navigation bar.  See you then.