Works and Days

Throughout the poem, the values of hard work and justice are presented as intimately connected. Expound on this connection. Why is hard work such an important component of justice? Why do the gods want mortals to work hard?

Teaching Suggestion: Before responding, students might meet in small groups to briefly discuss what Hesiod and other ancient Greeks likely meant by “hard work.” They might also discuss what kind of labor the Greeks valued (e.g., agricultural labor) and what kind of labor they did not value as much, as well as how the Greeks might have approached the contrast between physical and intellectual labor.

Differentiation Suggestion: English learners, students with dyslexia, and those with attentional or executive function learning differences might utilize pre-selected, pre-highlighted, relevant sections of text in order to limit the amount needed to gather evidence.

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Writing a Didactic Myth or Fable”

In this activity, students will use creative thinking and collaborative learning to produce their own didactic myth or fable.

Working in small groups, create a list of the 3-5 most significant lessons in Hesiod’s didactic text, Works and Days.