when you come to class on Wednesday please have with you a print out of The Life of Antony

 

 

What are the main stages of Antony`s Life?

 

What was your favorite episode from the Life?

 

What part of the Life did you like the least?

 

What depictions/presentations of the Life do you find questionable?

 

How would you describe Antony`s life before the hermetic withdrawal? What were his upbringing and education?

 

How did he decide to become an ascetic?

 

Was he the first ascetic to withdraw from the world?

 

What temptations did he undergo in the desert? How do you relate to his temptations?

 

What can you say about Antony`s wisdom? Discuss his contention with the philosophers.

 

In what words and images is articulated Antony`s power?

 

What roles does he play in his Life?

 

Life of Antony was called a brave attempt at articulating evil. How is evil depicted in this work? What are its names, guises, actions?

 

How does Antony progress in his spiritual life?

 

What can you say about Antony`s asceticism? Is it negative or affirmative?

 

Is Antony a student of the Bible?

 

What Biblical quotations or references can you identify in this narrative?

Does Anthony seem mentally imbalanced to you? Why or why not?

Although he is removed from civilization, is he cut off from society?

With what types of people does Anthony have contact?

If Anthony had never left his cell, could he still be a good Christian?

 

Why does he need to first separate himself from society before he can minister to society?

 

How does Anthony relate to church authorities? to imperial authorities? to local governmental authorities?

 

How does bishop Athanasius make use of Anthony?

 

Who is intended audience of Athanasius?s Life of Antony?

In your view, is Anthony`s lifestyle the best form of Christianity?