Progressing through Plutarch's Lives

So far in Plutarch we have studied Theseus and Romulus, Publicola (or Poplicola) and Solon. This has been one of the few books I've read out to the girls in a while as they think they've gotten a little old for such a thing, but we found it was necessary when they just weren't grasping the story. Reading out loud has brought even more great discussion. We've looked for each leaders gifts or strengths and asked ourselves if that would still make a great leader today. We've watched how the leaders have evolved from being heroic based on the killing of thieves (not something we admire today) to being heroic based on justice and mercy to the poor, which is still a high ideal today.

It's great too to see names that were mentioned in Herodotus and Spielvogel come up in Plutarch. During our reading of Solon Cereus, Cyrus & Cinncinatus were mentioned.

I've truly enjoyed this time together and hopefully we'll do more books out loud in the future. Sophocles is up next, a drama, which is meant to be heard, not read. I do think students need to learn to decipher the great books on their own, but alternating with a good read and discuss method seems to benefit them too.

I hope you all are enjoying your studies!

Plutarch's Lives....

As you read Plutarch's Lives you may want to take notes on each person in order to answer the following questions:
1. What do we know about his birth, his parentage & gifts of body, mind and opportunity?
2. What do we know about his education, training and development of these gifts?
3. What works and deeds did he do throughout his life?

How does this compare to the opposing man?
Do we still value these qualities or actions in leaders today?

For easier reading consider the readings by Rosalie Kaufman linked on the Ambleside Online web site (scroll to bottom of page):
http://www.amblesideonline.org/PlutarchSch.shtml

Is revenge ever OK?

Here is anna's essay answering this question.

Revenge
According to the Bible, is revenge wrong? That is the question for the essay you are reading currently.
The answer is, that unless produced by God (as in God spoke to a certain person to take revenge on a certain person), revenge is wrong and harmful. The whole aspect of revenge is pointless if you think it is correct, because you know that the person you take revenge on will take revenge on you and you’ll just have to keep going back and forth like that! In my opinion that doesn’t sound very satisfying.

Some Bible verses that speak about revenge and enemies are: Romans 12:17-21 which says “Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back,’ says the Lord. Instead, ‘If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.’ Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.” And also Ephesians 4:2 which reads, “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for others fault because of your love.”

These verses clearly show that we are to not take revenge and to love our enemies (you know, those people you want to take revenge on). And by being kind to our enemies they feel guilty, which is in a way revenge, but you were just loving them so you didn’t really make them feel guilty. And that is what I think. Peace.