Marcus Aurelius MEDITATIONS

Questions to the assigned excerpts:

1. What are the main themes in Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations?

2. What is the genre/form of his texts?

3. What do you think was the purpose of Marcus’ writings?

4. Why did he write in Greek?

5. Which of the meditation texts did you find the most appealing/ worthwhile? Read one of them to the class. Analyze it or invite your class-mates to analyze it. Why did this text catch your attention?

6. Was Marcus Aurelius really a Stoic? What makes him a Stoic? What aspects of his character (if any) contradict the Stoic doctrine?

7. What does Marcus Aurelius say about the following issues:

-Asceticism

-Meditation/prayer

-Human nature

-Piety

-Death

-Human values

-Logos/nature

8. Which of Marcus Aurelius' values can be identified as Christian?