Each seminar spent 20-25 minutes reading one another's essays. Once this was completed, we handed the papers back to their authors, giving them the opportunity to think about the suggestions of a peer before resubmitting the paper on November 27 after the Thanksgiving break. Troilus and Cressida launched the final two weeks of the semester's seminars. People variously noted the non-Homeric flavor of a play that makes use of all of the Homeric heroes. Appearance and seeming dominated the play, eclipsing sincerity and genuine bravery and skill.
Reputation is all.
Achilles slays Hektor as he's supposed to. Agamemnon is Agamemnon, Nestor Nestor. Troilus is true and Cressida false. This is a fitting introduction to the Iliad because it is not the Iliad. There is no seeming in Homer, just raw being.