Extra Credit Opportunity for WLIT 2323
Spring, 2001
In order for Students to get extra credit for this event, they will attend for at least the reading of one book of the Iliad, and write a report of their experience.
What was it like to listen to a whole book of this epic? What part of the myth did you hear? What was the difference between listening to it and reading it to yourself as part of an assignment for a class? What suggestions do you have for improving the part of the work which you listened to? How was the pace? How would you have done it differently? What did you like? Be as specific as you can.
If you choose to complete this optional assignment, you will hand in your typed report to Professor Levine by Monday April 30.
EPIC READING OF HOMER'S ILIAD
Saturday, 21 April, 2001.
University of Arkansas Greek Theater.
6:00 AM-8:00 PM
It's never been done in Arkansas before, but on Saturday, 21 April, 2001, a group of students and faculty at the University of Arkansas will read aloud the entire ILIAD of Homer, in the modern translation of Stanley Lombardo (Hackett, 1997). This version of Homer is so rapid, colloquial and idiomatic, that the Aquila Theater Company produced Book 1 of Lombardo's Iliad at the Clark Studio Theatre at Lincoln Center Plaza, NY in '99-'00 -- to rave reviews in the NY Times, the American Reporter, and Theater.Com.
Our reading will include all twenty-four books of this epic tale of war and pride, of love, and loss. We shall begin the reading at 6 AM on Saturday morning, April 21.
Translator and Zen Master Professor Stanley Lombardo (Professor of Classics, University of Kansas) will read the final book of the epic, concluding our reading some time Saturday evening.
Homer's Iliad and Odyssey are the western world's earliest literature, containing stories of men and women dealing with love, hate, anger, honor, pride, courage, and pity. The Greeks composed these poems for oral recitation -- in hexameter meter. Our reading will re-create the original oral delivery and immediate poetic effect.
All are welcome to attend this historic event.
For further information, please contact Professors Dave Fredrick and Daniel Levine, Department of Foreign Languages, 425 Kimpel Hall, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701. FAX 575-6795; TEL 575-2951; EMAIL dfredric@uark.edu; dlevine@uark.edu