[Xenophon] Next Conference Call Discussion - Mon Feb 22

[Andre Stipanovic]

"Literature is news that stays news" - Ezra Pound

Xenophon has been my 'newspaper' for the last couple of months.

I hope your reading has been great.  As you know our next conference call
is coming up in about a week.  I am sending out individual requests for
some of you to take on a Study Guide question to comment on during our
next call.  Look for my email request in the next day or so.  The rest of
you keep on reading and send out your observations, comments or questions
to us via the group email.  I am getting to enjoy Xenophon more and more
as I get deeper into his work.  How about you?

Andre

Our reading schedule and study guide questions follow:

Xenophon 2010 Hellenika - Conference Call Schedule
Call 2 - Monday February 22, 2010  (Books I-II.3.10)
Phone #:  1 888 350 0075
passcode:  1100494#
8pm Eastern Standard Time

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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