Humanitys Plight

Choose only one of the following seven questions to write a comprehensive essay that draws on
at least one text from each of our three units (three texts total, only one from each unit). Good
essays will support its points with quotes and specific examples from the assigned readings.
Essays should be no longer than 8 pages.

1. Unite One texts:

Genesis, Ecclesiastes, Samson, Jonah, The Dark Knight Returns, and The Epic of
Gilgamesh.

2. Unite two texts:

The Trial
and Death of Socrates, the New Testament and the Kor’an

3. Unite three texts:

Sappho’s fragments, Sophocles’ Antigone, Voltaire’s Candide, Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle, and a small selection of erotic poems.

1. Most of our texts involve some element of divine will. Describe some various models of this
we’ve read about in our texts. How are they similar and different?

2. Most of our texts involve some element of humanity’s plight. Describe some various models
of this we’ve read about in our texts. How are they similar and different?

3. Most of our texts involve some element of friendship. Describe some various models of this
we’ve read about in our texts. How are they similar and different?

4. Most of our texts delve into the meaning of love. Describe some various models of this we’ve
read about in our texts. How are they similar and different?

5. Many of our texts pose observations about human sexuality. Describe some various models
of this we’ve read about in our texts. How are they similar and different?

6. Many of our texts describe the human practice of religion. Describe some various models of
this we’ve read about in our texts. How are they similar and different?

7. Many of our texts describe acts of violence as heroism. Describe some various models of this
we’ve read about in our texts. How are they similar and different?