Archaic Misogyny: Study Questions

Hesiod, Works and Days

1. What does the poem say about the origin of men?

2. What other things do men acquire along with the first woman?

3. What does Pandora have in common with her jar?

4. How is the creation of Pandora like Prometheus' trick of Zeus in Theogony?

WLGR 57 (Semonides of Amorgos, 6th C. BC)

1. List the vices of women catalogued by Semonides.

2. What virtues does the "bee woman" have?

3. What does the poem tell us about expectations for women in the household?

Anne Carson, "Putting her in her Place: Women, Dirt, and Desire"

1. In what sense are women "intruders" in the social structure of ancient Greece?

2. What are the ancient Greek associations with "wet" and "dry"?

3. What threat does the "wetness" of women present?

4. In what ways are women associated with animals in Greek culture?

5. What effect was erotic experience thought to have on women?

6. How does marriage make women safer?

7. How does Carson define dirt?

8. How is it that women are considered "polluted"?

9. How can female pollution be contained?

10. According to Carson, what gesture marks the climax of the ancient Greek wedding ceremony?