CLCV 115: Essay Questions for Test #1

Below are your topics for the exam.

You should prepare to write an essay on all four, but on test day you will be presented with and asked to answer only two
of the four chosen by the instructor. A complete essay will be one that: a) responds to the topic with specific examples b)
possesses logical argumentation, and c) reveals a thoughtful analysis of the relevant issues. Although we do not expect
you to quote verbatim (word for word) from the readings it will benefit you to recall specific elements from the texts in
place of vague generalities. General assertions have value only if you are able to support them with specific textual
evidence.

Discuss the Mother Goddess theory as it was presented in lecture and discussion. From Goodisons and Morris view,
expressed in Ancient Goddesses: the Myths and the Evidence, what groups of people oppose and support this movement?
How do their areas of study affect their view of the Mother Goddess? What assumptions are being made by these two
groups about the presence and/or significance of a Mother Goddess figure in ancient societies? What do you believe is
the most convincing evidence both for and against the Mother Goddess theory?
Consider the field of archaeology: unfortunately, most of our evidence about the nature of Neolithic cultures consists of
unearthed tools, pottery, and figurineseither secular or religious. What are the difficulties in presenting theories about
these ancient civilizations purely from archaeological evidence in the absence of surviving literature or other documents
that provide the narrative for us? You may want to draw upon Goodisons and Morris chapter from Ancient Goddesses:
the Myths and the Evidence, as well as the scholarship related to atalhyk (see image below), in addition to any other
relevant topics discussed in lecture and even your own experiences.

In addition to its function as a hymn of praise to Zeus, what do you believe to be the purpose of Hesiods Theogony? To
answer this question, you may want to draw upon the following: Richard Hamiltons The Architecture of Hesiodic
Poetry, Hesiods poetic structure and line of thought, the topics that Hesiod discusses within the poem, ancient
conceptions vs. modern conceptions of creation and the gods, the Geometric art style, and any other relevant information
gathered from lecture. Essentially, this question is asking you to put Hesiods Theogony into context: what role did it play
for the Greeks, and how does it show us today how the Greeks conceived of the gods and their own lives?
Name two similarities and two differences between the Greek (Hesiodic) account of the creation of man and another
ancient or modern cultures account of your choice (see Frazers Folklore in the Old Testament). Why do you think it is
that such diverse and wide-spread cultures tell such similar stories when recounting the creation of man? Or, do you see
important, irreconcilable differences that are perhaps overlooked in favor of interpretations that stress unity? You may
want to consider the following questions when formulating your answer: What could be the reasons that nearly every
society has some sort of creation account? How does the Book of Genesis figure in this discussion and how does it factor
into your own thoughts on the plethora of creation accounts? Do you believe that the great similitude between so many
creation stories lends them more or less credence? Where do you think these similarities come from?