FOURTH HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT:
Erasmus

 

Due electronically by 5 PM, October 8. Send to <21H.418-students>:

 

1) Is there a difference between Erasmus, the historical individual who died in 1536, and Erasmus, the author who wrote texts such as The Paraclesis and On Good Manners for Boys? How would you describe that difference? (Jardine may provide some clues here.)

2) The Paraclesis was the introduction to Erasmus' translation of the New Testament from Greek into Latin. This book had Erasmus' edited version of the Greek text on one side of the page, and his Latin translation on the other. Who did Erasmus imagine would read this work? How did he imagine they would read it? Do we read texts today the way Erasmus wanted his audience to read his translation of the New Testament?

3) As you will have gathered from the online biography of Erasmus, he was the foremost literary scholar and writer of his time, a man who restored the texts of classical antiquity and engaged in learned debate with other humanists and theologians throughout Europe. He was the author of The Praise of Folly, one of the most-widely read satires of the Renaissance. Yet he also took the time towards the end of his life to write On Good Manners for Boys, a handbook on etiquette for children. Why would he bother to do this? And why did he think a book would keep kids from farting loudly, picking their noses, and eating with their fingers?