Here is our updated reading list for the Summer! We'll be reading these in the order listed.
Looking forward ...
A few links to follow up on our recent discussions:
Shakespeare's English Kings - Peter Saccio's informative and engaging book is a helpful companion to the History Plays.
Asimov's Guide to Shakespeare - Asimov's multidimensional approach to the plays is helpful in providing accessible context.
Chimes at Midnight - Orson Welles as Falstaff (need more be said?). We'll discuss Falstaff in much more detail next session.
Frame story - We mentioned the Canterbury Tales and One Thousand and One Nights. This Wikipedia articles lists many more.
I will be focusing continuing comments on the the stories from Day 1, Story 1; Day 4, Stories 1 & 4; and Day 10, Story 10.
In the meantime, here are links for Pasolini's take on the Decameron:
Google search for clips online
And for Sibelius on the Kalevala:
Google search results for passages online
Maps found by Jon (thanks!):
For more on Salamis, consider these items:
Even though this satellite image was generated for other purposes, it shows the key area where the battle occurred and really conveys how narrow the straits are. The area in the centered square is where much of the fighting took place.
You might also enjoy this website to follow up on the Battle of Salamis and related topics:
https://www.ancient.eu/salamis/
And for additional reading, see Barry Strauss' book:
The Battle of Salamis: The Naval Encounter That Saved Greece -- And Western Civilaztion
The Decameron
If you're strapped for time, concentrate on the asterisked selections!
Enjoy!
The structure of the Kalevala as composed by Elias Lonnrot is a topic in and of itself. The following selections emphasize essential themes of creation and art, which I recommend as central to our discussion. The Kalevala is also rich in epic themes of vengeance, rivalry, courtship (Cantos 18 - 19), contests and adventures (Cantos 26 - 27), and the supernatural, including an apocalyptic war and restoration of the world (Cantos 43 - 49), and bear fights! So, I suggest you sample additional Cantos as your reading time permits.
Cantos 1 & 2: creation
Cantos 6 - 10: forging the Sampo
Cantos 16 - 17: the journey to the underworld
Cantos 37 - 38: forging a wife
Cantos 39 - 42: theft and music
Canto 50: the birth
The Brilliant Minds Spring 2019 Syllabus is now available here: Download BMinds Spring 2019 syllabus