1. Read these translations of Poem 1 (Ode to Aphrodite): Lefkowitz, Lattimore, Powell, Miller, Dubnoff, Carson. Study the differences among the translations and discuss how they affect the interpretation of the poem. How do the different renderings give you a different sense of what is going on?

2. Read these translations of Fragment 31 ("that man seems equal to the gods...."; = Raynor 8): Lefkowitz, Lattimore, Powell, Miller, Dubnoff, Carson. Study the differences among the translations and discuss how they affect the interpretation of the fragment. How do the different renderings give you a different sense of what is going on? Keep in mind that this is a fragment of a poem and that translation necessarily entails a reconstruction of the poem's situation.

3. Read these translations of Fragment 16 (Helen; = Raynor 4): Lefkowitz, Balmer, Miller, Dubnoff, Carson. Study the differences among the translations and discuss how they affect the interpretation of the fragment. How do the different renderings give you a different sense of what is going on? Keep in mind that this is a fragment of a poem and that translation necessarily entails a reconstruction of the poem's situation.

4. Read these translations of Fragment 94 ("I wish to die...."; = Raynor 14): Lefkowitz, Raynor, Miller, Dubnoff, Carson. Study the differences among the translations and discuss how they affect the interpretation of the fragment. How do the different renderings give you a different sense of what is going on? Keep in mind that this is a fragment of a poem and that translation necessarily entails a reconstruction of the poem's situation. Note also that some translators put quotation marks around the first line, and some do not. What difference does this make to the interpretation of the poem and to the situation the translator envisions?

5. Read these translations of Fragment 96 ("Sardis...."; = Raynor 15): Lefkowitz, Miller, Dubnoff, Carson. Study the differences among the translations and discuss how they affect the interpretation of the fragment. How do the different renderings give you a different sense of what is going on? Keep in mind that this is a fragment of a poem and that translation necessarily entails a reconstruction of the poem's situation.

6. Read these translations of Fragment 44 (Marriage of Hektor and Andromache; = Raynor 51): Lefkowitz, Powell, Miller, Dubnoff (fr. 28), Carson. Study the differences among the translations and discuss how they affect the interpretation of the fragment. How do the different renderings give you a different sense of what is going on? Keep in mind that this is a fragment of a poem and that translation necessarily entails a reconstruction of the poem's situation.

7. Read Ovid's Epistle of Sappho to Phaon (Heroides XV). (You may wish to consult also Jennifer Ebbeler's remarks on the "feminism" of the Heroides: abstract of a presentation titled "Back Talk in Ovid's Heroides"; longer description of the same paper.) Then, compare Ovid's representation of Sappho with your interpretation of one or more of the paintings of Sappho by David, Mengin, Guérin, Gleyre, Gros, Khnopff, or Moreau. What differences are there between the textual and plastic representations of the same tradition?

8. Keeping in mind that the tradition of Sappho's love for Phaon probably originated with fifth- and fouth-century comic poets, discuss two or more of the paintings of Sappho by David, Chasseriau, Mengin, Guérin, Gros, Khnopff, or Moreau. How have the painters represented Sappho? Why do you think they chose this theme?

9. Read over the poems of Alcaeus in your text (pp. 83-89) or online to get an idea of their tone and content. Then compare the Kalathos of Alcaeus and Sappho with Alma-Tadema's representation of Sappho and Alcaeus. How, in your view, do the painters construe the relationship between the two poets? How do you interpret it?

10. Consider the exchange between Alcaeus and Sappho which Aristotle reports (cited on your lecture outline). How does such an exchange fit with the view of Sappho's poetic voice as you construe it on the basis of the assigned poem and fragments? In other words, discuss the concept of rivalry generally in Sappho's poetry, including the exchange reported by Aristotle.

11. Look at the contemporary photograph by Louise Lawler (Image Resources page 4, second row far right). Its title is: "Sappho and Patriarch ('Is it the work, the location or the stereotype that is the institution?")". What does Lawler mean by the title and the photograph? Consider, in formulating your answer, one or more of the sculptures of Sappho by ancient sculptors, Dannecker, Gibson, Pradier, and Ream.