Talisker Tutorial's Great Books II Assignment 11 Study Questions

Great Books II Study Questions for Assignment 11

Plutarch, Pompey and Alexander

Pompey

1. Pg. 70: How was Pompey's character different from that of his father Strabo?

2. Pg. 89: What power was given to Pompey to end piracy in the Mediterranean? Pg. 93: To conduct the war against Mithridates and Tigranes? How was he affected by this power? (cf. bottom 104, top 105) Compare this with Cinncinatus in Livy.

3. How did Pompey tend to treat those he conquered? (cf. pgs. 91-92) How did he treat his friends? (cf. pg. 102)

4. Pg. 106. What is Plutarch's general comment here on Pompey's life and fortunes?

5. What role does Cato play in Pompey's life? (pgs. 105, 111, 112, 114, 115, 119)

6. Pg. 119. What does the modern expression "crossing the Rubicon" refer to? What did Caesar say there, and why?

Read this short article on Caesar crossing the Rubicon, and also this one on the First Triumvirate.

7. Pgs. 124, 125. What weakness does Pompey show in his command here, in the Civil War against Caesar? Contrast the discipline and attitudes of Caesar's and Pompey's armies at Pharsalia. How is this related to the weakness referred to in the first part of the question?

8. Pg. 127. What is Plutarch's general comment upon the Civil War here?

9. Pg. 131. Plutarch, speaking about Cratippus, suggests his own idea of the reason Rome had to fall into monarchy. What is it? In Plutarch's biography of Pompey, what is the evidence that Plutarch is right? Compare this to Livy's comment at the beginning of book 2 of his history about the Romans being ready for liberty.

10. Pgs. 132-134. How did Pompey die? Why? Pg. 135: What was Caesar's reaction? What does this suggest about Caesar's character?

Alexander

11. pg. 139 How does Plutarch's design in writing affect his choices about what things from the lives of great men to write about? In what way is Plutarch's aim in writing like Livy's?

12. Recount the episodes of Alexander first riding Bucephalus, meeting Diogenes, cutting the Gordian knot, drinking Philip's potion. What does each episode reveal about Alexander's character?

13. What do pages 155-157 tell us about Alexander's character? Consider especially the line near the bottom of 155, that Alexander esteemed it "more kingly to govern himself than to conquer his enemies." (Compare this to Proverbs 16:32, "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.")

14. pgs. 179-181 Why did Alexander kill Clitus? How was Clitus at fault? What was Alexander's reaction after it was over? What is Plutarch's own assessment of the episode? (pg. 179) What does this episode reveal about Alexander's character?

15. What was Alexander's greatest motivation all his life? Show where and what Plutarch says to back up your answer. Sum up Alexander's character, taking into consideration your answers to questions 12-15.

16. In what ways was he like Pompey? How was he different?

17. Why are Alexander the Great's life and conquests significant to a Christian's study of history?