A research
paper requires strong thesis that makes a point one can clearly support using textual or
contextual evidence. The central thesis should be narrow enough that it can be comprehensively
researched. It also needs to be a point on which scholars disagree. If a point is obviously
true, it cannot actually be argued, as an important part of argument is countering possible
objections.
One possible area of research is the connection of the poem to
ritual. Walter Burkert and other scholars have argued that Ancient Greek religion was grounded
in ritual and that myth often originates as an attempt to explain or accompany ritual behaviors.
One possible area for investigation in the paper would be to look at Ionian rituals used in the
worship of Aphrodite or excavated offerings to her and show how analysis of rituals used in
worship of Aphrodite in Lesbos during 's lifetime might illuminate the poem.
A major scholarly controversy concerning the poem is whether it was intended as a
serious appeal to Aphrodite or whether it is a lighthearted or even satiric poem intended
primarily as entertainment. One might start by reading the arguments by various scholars that
the poem is essentially satirical and then argue for or against that
claim.
No comments:
Post a Comment