Thucydides excerpts

[Leah]

I know that we will not have much time to spend on our readings with Thucydides, so I am hoping that some of you might have some suggestions for excerpts to read.

Has anyone just read certain parts and found that still beneficial?

Thanks!

[Angie (WI)]

Ds read that book and says you can't really select excerpts. Thucydides writes chronologically, not separating battles and so forth.

Angie

[kate in seattle]

actually you can read parts of Thucydides. You can read parts of ANY book. let's be realistic. try the Melian dialog. Read the funeral oration Pericles gives for the Athenian dead (often called Pericles' funeral oration, making it sound like it is FOR him)

As always, what is your goal? I am pretty much firmly in the camp that says high schoolers only need a fast and (mostly) fun introduction to the great works. most don't have the life experiences to really appreciate them. I loved "Confessions" much more at 50 than at 18! By 50 my life had several parallels to that of Augustine and I could also relate to Monica. Did my high schoolers enjoy "Confessions"? Yes, it was one of their faves. But they didn't really love it and appreciate how it spoke to the human condition as I did.

Maybe you will only read 20 pages of Thucydides. When your student has an opportunity to re-visit it in another 5 or 10 years, they will remember it with fondness, tackle longer sections and appreciate it more.

Please don't flame me. If you have the time and inclination to read every work in its entirety - that's great. They are all worth being read. But when you face time constraints, it's fine to cut to some essential (or famous) part of the work and move one.

[Sharon in MD]

:iagree:

We are reading the Odyssey right now and I know we, too, will only have time to sample other works. I was wondering what to pick and you've helped me with your suggestions.

I also am in the camp of introducing my student to the great works. I would have liked to go the more classical/great books route, but it just didn't seem to be working for us. So we've gone a more traditional way with a sampling of great works thrown in this year.

We all have to pursue the course to academic excellence that works best for our dc.

I'm with you! For many of us there are just too many books and too little time, so I'm all for sampling!

Thanks for sharing your insight!

[Leah]

actually you can read parts of Thucydides. You can read parts of ANY book. let's be realistic. try the Melian dialog. Read the funeral oration Pericles gives for the Athenian dead (often called Pericles' funeral oration, making it sound like it is FOR him)

As always, what is your goal? I am pretty much firmly in the camp that says high schoolers only need a fast and (mostly) fun introduction to the great works. most don't have the life experiences to really appreciate them. I loved "Confessions" much more at 50 than at 18! By 50 my life had several parallels to that of Augustine and I could also relate to Monica. Did my high schoolers enjoy "Confessions"? Yes, it was one of their faves. But they didn't really love it and appreciate how it spoke to the human condition as I did.

Maybe you will only read 20 pages of Thucydides. When your student has an opportunity to re-visit it in another 5 or 10 years, they will remember it with fondness, tackle longer sections and appreciate it more.

Please don't flame me. If you have the time and inclination to read every work in its entirety - that's great. They are all worth being read. But when you face time constraints, it's fine to cut to some essential (or famous) part of the work and move one.

No flames! This is what I was looking for! We are reading a number of books cover to cover, but there just isn't enough time for it all! I appreciate your input here. If anyone else wants to chime in with their take on the essential parts of Thucydides, feel free.

(And I had the same experience with Confessions-I was in love with it, could go on and on about it...the high schooler liked it but was not nearly as impressed. :)