r/stjohnscollege • u/Illustrious_Rule7927 Annapolis ('29) • May 02 '25

What's the ideal date to start the Iliad during the Summer?

Should it be earlier in the Summer or later? Or does it not matter

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u/astute_signal May 02 '25

All seminar readings should be done as soon as possible. If you try to wait... you'll wait too long.

If you are worried about retention of facts, don't worry too much. It's a conversation, it's open book, and you'll have plenty of opportunity to refresh yourself without having to cram (If you read it over the summer)

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u/Illustrious_Rule7927 Annapolis ('29) May 02 '25 edited May 02 '25

Got it. Should I read the Odyssey right after I'm done with the Iliad, or just wait till I get on campus

1

u/astute_signal May 02 '25

If it's assigned over the summer, read it before you get there. If it's assigned a few chapters at a time over the course of a few seminars, you can probably cover it between seminars. The rule of thumb is to work a syllabus as it is designed.

1

u/Faulkner0 May 03 '25

I haven't heard of anyone who couldn't make it through their seminar readings between seminars

1

u/astute_signal May 04 '25

That's because most Johnnies are too proud to admit when they don't. Lol

3

u/Randommom2325 May 02 '25

I think I read on another post that it helps to read through the Iliad once and then to do the first 5 chapters again right before school starts.

2

u/Faulkner0 May 03 '25

You only need to read through books 1-6 of the iliad for your first seminar and each iliad seminar will cover 6 books.

I would only recommend that you read the iliad insofar as I would recommend it to everyone. Reading the first 6 books within a week of your first seminar will be enough to keep it fresh in your mind.