1) a number of letters of Phalaris (a famous Greek tyrant), of
Socratics (friends of Socrates), Diogenes and Krates (famous Cynic
philosophers), and Chion (a friend of Plato).
2) letters of Euripides the famous Greek tragedian who wrote the Medea
and the Bacchae among others
3) letters of Jesus Christ and Abgar (a local potentate)
4) letters of the Apostle Paul and Seneca, the Roman philosopher and
author of the Apocolocyntosis
While reading these, try to think of why they would have been written
in the first place. Also consider any modern fictional works that you
know which use fictional letters. Why do they do this? What does
this format have to offer in fictional literature?
Jordann Markowitz
ReplyDeleteWould the letters have been written to make people seem more real or to give someone a more personal and human voice compared to their regular writings?
Sara Welish
ReplyDeleteAre the letters written in a formal or informal manner? They all seem to be written in the same manner whether it is addressing a king or a friend.
Maeve Tischbein
ReplyDeleteWhat is a toparch?
Shannon Potts
ReplyDeleteIs there any other evidence besides these letters for Seneca being Christian?
Katie Burke
ReplyDeleteSome of the letters, like the first Phalaris one, sound entertaining. Were they written for entertainment purposes?
Erin Bradley
ReplyDeleteWhy does Paul cation Seneca against reading his letters to Nero and then in the the last letter calls him to convert people in the Imperial palace? Also, Seneca says that Nero enjoyed the letters about Christ. Is there any evidence that shows Nero considering Christianity?
Krysta Brown
ReplyDeleteWould Paul and Seneca really have been so friendly? As a stoic philosopher would Seneca have been so cordial to someone who believed so ardently in montheistic god, these philosophies would have likely competed in the ancient world. Right?
Zander Fodor,
ReplyDeleteI really liked in the Psudoepigrapha, in section 39 (Phalaris), when it's talking about fate. This is the first reading (that I can remember), where the character not only isn't trying to find out the future, but doesn't even want to know because they can't change it.
Doug Ritchey
ReplyDeleteIn the Letters of Christ and Abgarus, Abgarus calls attention to the different miracles that Jesus has performed, all of which are common to Christian beliefs. (e.g. making the blind see, the crippled walk, cure leprosy, raise the dead) The most fictive part of this story has to deal with the image of Jesus' face appearing on the handkerchief he sent, but that was not even part of the letter.. is this really fictive? jk
Steve Fusco
ReplyDeleteIn the introduction to the letters between Paul and Seneca, the translator states how he believes them to be of poor quality, and is only translating them again because of their fame. What is it that makes them poor quality, and if they are then why are they famous?
Since we went over all of these in class, I will not answer them again here.
ReplyDeleteAR