[Xenophon] Study Guide Questions

[Andre Stipanovic]

"historia est testis temporum, lux veritatis, vita memoriae, magistra
vitae, nuntia vetustatis"
History is the witness of time, the light of truth, the life of memory,
the teacher of life, the messenger of antiquity"  (Cicero)

Dear fellow readers, 
As I read Xenophon, I find that trying to 'get to know' him is not easy at
first.  He seems quite impersonable to me in the opening chapters. 
However, I am really enjoying the speeches at the end of Book I.  Why is
this?  I find that as Xenophon 'finishes up' the Peloponnesian war in Book
I vis-a-vis Thucydides, he starts to become easier to get to know, his
style starts to come out, he starts to find his 'voice.'  I am seeing more
interesting digressions, anecdotes and stories coming out in Books 2 & 3
also.  I am getting more and more impressed with his writing as I continue
to read the Hellenika and I think the real Xenophon starts to be evident
more in Book 2.  By the way, I have read the Anabasis by Xenophon and it
is excellent.  His style is very good in that book too in both English and
Greek.
How does Hellenika read to you?
Here are some questions to help guide you on your reading (see below).  We
will use these questions to help guide our group discussion on our next
conference call.  The conference call is primarily our time to share our
observations and thoughts of our experience reading this great book.  We
also ask some of our readers to participate in another way.  I will ask a
few of you in the coming weeks to 'take on a question,' that is, kickoff a
question for discussion with your observations and comments to help jump
start our group discussion of that question.  It involves nothing more
than what you would like to share in connection with that particular
question.  In the meantime, please feel free to email your thoughts and
comments to the group when inspired to do so.  
Happy reading and I hope you are enjoying the book!
Andre

Our reading schedule and study guide questions follow:

Xenophon 2010 Hellenika - Conference Call Schedule
Call 1 - Monday January 11, 2010 (done)
Call 2 - Monday February 22, 2010
Call 3 - Monday March 22, 2010
Call 4 - Monday May 10, 2010
Call 5 - Monday June 7, 2010
Call 6 - Monday July 12, 2010


Xenophon Reading Group 2010
Book I - II.3.10 Study Guide Questions

1.  Alcibiades - You’ve got to either love him or hate him…or both. 
Xenophon tells of his role in the latter years of the Pelopponesian War
throughout our reading assignment for this discussion.  As in Thucydides,
we see Alcibiades’ career ebb and flow.  In our reading of Book I, how
does Xenophon portray this ‘renegade’ Athenian?  How responsible is
Alcibiades for Athens’ fortunes at the end of the war?  According to
Xenophon, how much blame or praise should he get?  [For readers of
Thucydides, how does Alcibiades compare in both authors?]

2.  Hellespont - A critical region as the Pelopponesian War draws to a
close.  According to Xenophon, how important is control of the Hellespont
in terms of winning the war?  Why?  What are the most important
bases/allies in the Eastern Mediterranean mentioned by Xenophon for the
Spartans?  Athenians?

3.  Doreius - Xenophon’s overall style is pretty straightforward, so
when he digresses, it is somewhat noticeable and sometimes abrupt.  The
Doreius digression is one which stood out to me.  Why does Xenophon take
the time to mention Doreius’ story in I.5.18-19?  What is so important
about Doreius’ example in terms of Xenophon’s narration of the end of
this war?

4.  Kallikratides - The arrival of this Spartan admiral seems to shake up
the narrative a bit in Book I.6.  At this point, I started getting
flashbacks of Thucydides!  How does Xenophon portray the Spartan Naval
Command through the central figure of Kallikratides in I.6?  For example,
is there a unified approach in the Spartan Naval Command or is there
unnecessary dissension?

5.  Trial of the Generals - Xenophon gives us a very important account of
a trial in Athens following the Athenian naval victory at Arginousai.  As
a matter of fact, the battle is scantily described in comparison to the
trial that followed.  Euryptolemos’ interesting speech (I.7) presents
important elements related to the defense of the accused Athenian
generals.  What are these key elements and how do they represent the state
of Athenian politics at this time?  What might Xenophon be implying about
Athenian democracy and its ability to wage a major war?

6.  Lysander - Although he was mentioned in Book I, Book II opens with
momentous events involving Lysander.  How much of Lysander’s success is
due to circumstance?  his own cleverness?  Spartan strategy as a whole? 
Which does Xenophon emphasize?  What do you think?

7.  Theramenes - In II.2.16-19, why would Theramenes allow the Athenians
to languish and suffer in this most critical time?  Why would the
Athenians send him off again to Sparta to make peace??  Who is Theramenes
and what else did he do for or against Athens that we know of?

8.  News from Sicily - In Book II and elsewhere, what do the Sicilian
updates (example in II.2.24) really have to do with the events narrated
concerning Athens and Sparta?  Do you consider them ‘interpolations’
or not?  Why?

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