Love and Strife in the Western Tradition

From Ancient Rome to Medieval Europe Explore two universal concepts in Western literature: love and strife. Begin with the Greek epic; then examine the Hebrew Bible, the philosophical discussion of love in Plato’s Symposium and the powerful tragic theatre of Euripides’ Medea. Move on to Virgilian epic poetry and Plautine comic theatre, and into the medieval world of Christian love and pagan love complications. Explore Shakespeare’s immortal star-crossed lovers; the conflict between honor and love as explored in Corneille’s drama; the question of what kind of love is the most real in D.H. Lawrence, and the words and music of Bernstein’s splendid score. Date & Time: Sun, May 3, 2009, 10:00am-2:00pm Location: Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street Code: T-LH5LS03-0