ENGL 497Senior Seminar
Prof. G. Steinberg
Plato doesn't seem to like literature much. Why not? What is it about the way Plato understands the world and the way he sees literature that makes him consider literature valueless?
In the Republic, Plato defines literature as imitation. What does he mean by that? What and how does literature imitate? Why does Plato think that such imitation is valueless?
Plato doesn't have a very high opinion of literature's impact in the world. Why not? What does literature not do that other actions and activities do? In addition, to what faculties does literature appeal?
Plato also doesn't seem to have a very high opinion of writers. Why not? What does Plato see as the fatal limitation or weakness of writers? Where do they fall short?
According to Plato, what is the only useful role for literature in the world? Why would literature be useful for that role? What does the Ion say about how literature is created? If the Ion is correct about how literature comes into being, how would the Ion's assertions about the genesis of literature explain why literature is useful in only the one role that Plato is willing to give it?
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