#readingancientclassics

21.01.24 || New year, same old me with the pics from my study abroad two years ago. Where does the time go?

Term started late this year due to covid, but classes finally started last week. I’m taking three language courses and am in absolute heaven right now. I feel like I finally have the time to focus on the smallest details of Greek and Latin and can nerd out over grammar constructions with my professors. Maybe teaching a language is my true calling, since I’m at my happiest in a language class.

20.09.18 || I just finished up the first two weeks of online classes and oh my, are they stressful. I only taking three courses this term and I feel like I’m taking six! Does anyone else feel like online classes are more difficult than in-person classes?

This year I am a T.A. for the first time ever! This weekend will be used to brush up on my Greek grammar so that I can be the best for my students.

I’ve been thinking a lot about retellings recently - what is the value of them? why do we read retellings rather than the original text? should retellings aim to retain some sense or “essence” of the original myth? If not, then what is the point of them? Why not just write an original piece of fiction? Can retellings ever differ too much from the original? Similarly, can they ever be too close to the original? (and again, what would be the point of such a retelling?) How do authors balance their responsibility to the ancient world with their responsibility to the modern world (assuming they have such responsibilities?)

17 July 2021