Who loves the classics? - Page 2

Tydeus · 12-31-2006, 11:43 PM

Well, there's always the Odyssey, for starters. That's a good one.

But the Iliad is way better. There are two types of people in this world -- Odyssey people, and Iliad people. And Iliad people are better. Because I'm one of them.

But, I mean, really -- does it get any better? And talk about not emo! I mean, what, Achilles kind of acts like a little emo bitch at the beginning, but then he comes to his senses; he doesn't mope when his friend dies! He kicks some ass!

Also, Tacitus. That's really all the classical stuff I've read. BTW -- "Classical" or "the classics" generally refers to Greek and Roman works. Not just great literature in general.

**Satan's Onion** · 01-01-2007, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fifthfiend

If you think about it, Emo is basically Hemmingway minus World War II and hard liquor.

You forgot the killing and fighting animals. The Old Man and the Sea, f'r instance, was partly about killin' a big ol' fish.

Of course, killing animals is arguably just a subset of the more generalized "killin' shit and drinkin' hard" that gives so many male literature teachers such a raging Hemingway boner.

Nique · 01-01-2007, 05:06 AM

I enjoy the stories of classic literature... But I've read very few outside of Highchool (which is going on 4 years since graduation now). I have a hard time identifying with much of it, probably becuase of the style of writing... I mean, a Tale of Two cities was probably the most boring book I've ever read, but the story itself is interesting, just as an example.

DeviousToast · 01-01-2007, 02:37 PM

Great Gatsby was like that for me Nique. Like, it was an interesting situation. But overall, fairly dry reading.

Magus · 01-02-2007, 07:28 PM

I still can't figure out the attraction of The Great Gatsby. It isn't about anything! Well, I mean, it's about all these high society types who play tennis and go to parties and sit around chatting. But I really couldn't figure out the plot, if there is one. And it isn't even humorous like The Catcher In The Rye, another book about nothing.

Sesshoumaru · 01-02-2007, 07:45 PM

The Great Gatsy is basically daytime soap in book format. If you want old, old literature, read The Epic of Gilgamesh, its not terribly interesting, but if you read it you can brag about having read the oldest work of literature ever. Also, was anyone else's favorite part in the Iliad the chapter where Achilles' gets his ass beaten down by a river, or am I just weird?

DeviousToast · 01-03-2007, 01:04 AM

Haha, Gilgamesh is silly. And really good reading if you've read much mythology that followed it. A lot of stuff gets borrowed, or outright stolen from Gilgamesh. Greek stuff especially, they just kind of split up everything Gilgamesh did and partitioned it out to a bunch of heros.

Gascmark de Leone · 01-03-2007, 12:37 PM

I've read The Art of War and I've toyed around with The Prince. But I need to read some Homer or something like that so I can be an arrogant intellectual. By the way, does the Bible count as a classic?

(Please don't ban me for that. I'm not trying to make an argument.)

Sesshoumaru · 01-03-2007, 02:10 PM

Probably, seeing as how most was written thousands of years ago (Old Testament) and the rest not quite two thousand years ago. But you have to read the Catholic version, 'cause it has Macabees in it. Or just read read 2 Macabees Ch. 2, my all-time favorite Biblical story. Basically, one of the neighboring kings sends some guys to rob the temple, so everyone in the city drops to their knees and starts praying. Then an angelic knight comes and knocks the leader off his horse, then two more angels appear and beat the crap out of him. Great stuff.

*Also, about Gilgamesh. You just gotta like a guy whose one third human and two thirds divine. It takes some real skillz to pull that off.

ElfLad · 01-03-2007, 02:55 PM

Revelation is probably the best book of the Bible in terms of poetic imagery.

01-02-2007, 07:45 PM	#16
Sesshoumaru Tyrannus Rex Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 616	The Great Gatsy is basically daytime soap in book format. If you want old, old literature, read The Epic of Gilgamesh, its not terribly interesting, but if you read it you can brag about having read the oldest work of literature ever. Also, was anyone else's favorite part in the Iliad the chapter where Achilles' gets his ass beaten down by a river, or am I just weird? __________________ "The Second Amendment is about ensuring the rights of the citizen to be armed, despite [not at] the whims of government or State bureaucracy" "Let us speak courteously, deal fairly, and keep ourselves armed and ready." -Theodore Roosevelt: San Francisco CA, May 13, 1903 "We are all citizens, not a one among us is a serf, and we damn well better remember it"

01-03-2007, 12:37 PM	#18
Gascmark de Leone Intercourse the Penguins! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: The Land of Wuz Posts: 326	I've read The Art of War and I've toyed around with The Prince. But I need to read some Homer or something like that so I can be an arrogant intellectual. By the way, does the Bible count as a classic? (Please don't ban me for that. I'm not trying to make an argument.) __________________ At the end of the day there's another day dawning And the sun in the morning is waiting to rise Like the waves crash on the sand Like a storm that'll break any second There's a hunger in the land There's a reckoning still to be reckoned and There's gonna be hell to pay At the end of the day! Les Miserables

01-03-2007, 02:10 PM	#19
Sesshoumaru Tyrannus Rex Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 616	Probably, seeing as how most was written thousands of years ago (Old Testament) and the rest not quite two thousand years ago. But you have to read the Catholic version, 'cause it has Macabees in it. Or just read read 2 Macabees Ch. 2, my all-time favorite Biblical story. Basically, one of the neighboring kings sends some guys to rob the temple, so everyone in the city drops to their knees and starts praying. Then an angelic knight comes and knocks the leader off his horse, then two more angels appear and beat the crap out of him. Great stuff. Also, about Gilgamesh. You just gotta like a guy whose one third human and two thirds divine. It takes some real skillz to pull that off. __________________ "The Second Amendment is about ensuring the rights of the citizen to be armed, despite [not at] the whims of government or State bureaucracy" "Let us speak courteously, deal fairly, and keep ourselves armed and ready." -Theodore Roosevelt: San Francisco CA, May 13, 1903 "We are all citizens, not a one among us is a serf, and we damn well better remember it" Last edited by Sesshoumaru; 01-03-2007 at 07:21 PM.*

01-03-2007, 02:55 PM	#20
ElfLad She's buying the Stairway to Heaven Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 581	Revelation is probably the best book of the Bible in terms of poetic imagery. __________________ Legendary: A webcomic about RPGs.

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12-31-2006, 11:43 PM	#11
Tydeus Sent to the cornfield Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: L.A. Sprawl Posts: 589	Well, there's always the Odyssey, for starters. That's a good one. But the Iliad is way better. There are two types of people in this world -- Odyssey people, and Iliad people. And Iliad people are better. Because I'm one of them. But, I mean, really -- does it get any better? And talk about not emo! I mean, what, Achilles kind of acts like a little emo bitch at the beginning, but then he comes to his senses; he doesn't mope when his friend dies! He kicks some ass! Also, Tacitus. That's really all the classical stuff I've read. BTW -- "Classical" or "the classics" generally refers to Greek and Roman works. Not just great literature in general.

01-01-2007, 02:37 PM	#14
DeviousToast It... it's thinking!!! Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 42	Great Gatsby was like that for me Nique. Like, it was an interesting situation. But overall, fairly dry reading.

01-02-2007, 07:28 PM	#15
Magus Archer and Armstrong vs. the World Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 7,164	I still can't figure out the attraction of The Great Gatsby. It isn't about anything! Well, I mean, it's about all these high society types who play tennis and go to parties and sit around chatting. But I really couldn't figure out the plot, if there is one. And it isn't even humorous like The Catcher In The Rye, another book about nothing.

01-03-2007, 01:04 AM	#17
DeviousToast It... it's thinking!!! Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 42	Haha, Gilgamesh is silly. And really good reading if you've read much mythology that followed it. A lot of stuff gets borrowed, or outright stolen from Gilgamesh. Greek stuff especially, they just kind of split up everything Gilgamesh did and partitioned it out to a bunch of heros.