Unit Overview

In Unit II, we explore literary and philosophical traditions that continue to shape ideas about justice, ethics, leadership, and human responsibility. While the works in this unit emerge from different cultures—including ancient Greece, Rome, India, and China—they all examine fundamental questions about how individuals should live and what obligations they owe to others and to society.

You will read Sophocles' Antigone, selections from Ovid's Metamorphoses, the Bhagavad Gita, the Analects of Confucius, and selections from the Tao Te Ching. Together, these works invite readers to consider competing ideas about law, duty, power, morality, and personal virtue.

As you move through the unit, pay attention to how each culture defines justice and ethical behavior. Although these texts often arrive at different conclusions, they demonstrate that questions about leadership, responsibility, and the good life have challenged people across civilizations for thousands of years.

Unit Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit, you should be able to:

• Explain how historical and cultural contexts influence literary and philosophical texts.
• Compare different cultural perspectives on justice, duty, leadership, and ethics.
• Analyze literary themes using appropriate literary terminology.
• Interpret texts through close reading and textual evidence.
• Develop analytical arguments supported by MLA documentation.

Essential Questions

As you complete this unit, consider the following questions:

• What responsibilities do individuals have to family, society, and the state?
• When is it justified to challenge authority?
• What makes a just leader?
• How do different cultures define ethical behavior?
• What does it mean to live a meaningful and virtuous life?

Major Readings

During this unit, you will read:

• Sophocles, Antigone
• Ovid, Metamorphoses (Selections)
• Bhagavad Gita (Selections)
• Confucius, Analects (Selections)
• Laozi, Tao Te Ching (Selections)

Major Literary Concepts

Throughout this unit, pay particular attention to the following concepts:

• Tragedy
• Fate
• Free Will
• Justice
• Duty
• Transformation
• Virtue
• Leadership
• Philosophy

Preparing for the Unit

As you read these works, look for the different ways each culture answers questions about justice, responsibility, and ethical decision-making. Although the texts represent distinct historical traditions, they often explore similar moral dilemmas from very different perspectives.

Read actively by annotating key passages, identifying recurring themes, and considering how historical context influences each author's ideas. Throughout the unit, compare these works with one another and with the texts from Unit I to recognize both cultural differences and shared human concerns.

Writing Connection

This unit builds upon the close reading and comparative analysis skills introduced in Unit I. As you read, begin identifying how different authors define justice, leadership, and moral responsibility. These observations will prepare you for the comparative literary analysis you will complete in Essay 2.