The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no television at all for children under the age of two. Instead of the boob tube, they recommend talking, singing, or reading to the baby.
I like reading, and I thought it would be fun to read books to Max while he is awake but not really alert enough for playing. (Mostly this is the time immediately after feeding and diaper change before he drifts back off into sleep.) Because Max is about as young as you can get, I decided to start with humanity's youngest written story. I ordered my copy of the Epic of Gilgamesh when Katie was just into the third trimester. Gilgamesh was written around 1700 BC, well before Homer or even the Bible. A new English version of the story came out recently, and I thought it would be a great thing to start off young Max's literary education. Epic poetry seemed especially appropriate, since they were meant to be read (or recited) aloud.
It was one of our first few days home from the hospital, when I had Max lolling off to sleep on my chest as I lay on the bed and started to read the story. It started off nicely by describing the evil deeds of king Gilgamesh. To reform him, the gods sent him a friend, Enkidu. My deep sense of peaceful joy as I read to my newborn son was replaced by a growing sense of unease as I read about how the priestess Shamhat elicited the help of Enkidu:
Eventually we finished Gilgamesh, and moved on to Homer's Iliad. No blatant sex in this one, but man! The violence!
I like reading, and I thought it would be fun to read books to Max while he is awake but not really alert enough for playing. (Mostly this is the time immediately after feeding and diaper change before he drifts back off into sleep.) Because Max is about as young as you can get, I decided to start with humanity's youngest written story. I ordered my copy of the Epic of Gilgamesh when Katie was just into the third trimester. Gilgamesh was written around 1700 BC, well before Homer or even the Bible. A new English version of the story came out recently, and I thought it would be a great thing to start off young Max's literary education. Epic poetry seemed especially appropriate, since they were meant to be read (or recited) aloud.
It was one of our first few days home from the hospital, when I had Max lolling off to sleep on my chest as I lay on the bed and started to read the story. It started off nicely by describing the evil deeds of king Gilgamesh. To reform him, the gods sent him a friend, Enkidu. My deep sense of peaceful joy as I read to my newborn son was replaced by a growing sense of unease as I read about how the priestess Shamhat elicited the help of Enkidu:She stripped off her robe and lay there naked,I was blushing by this point, and hoping that Max was more sleeping than paying attention. Katie walked by and asked what I was reading. I sheepishly reread the passage. She raised an eyebrow, but let me continue.
with her legs apart, touching herself.
Enkidu saw her and warily approached.
He sniffed the air. He gazed at her body.
He drew close, Shamhat touched him on the thigh,
touched his penis, and put him inside her.
She used her love-arts, she took his breath
with her kisses, held nothing back, and showed him
what a woman is. For seven days
he stayed erect and made love with her,
until he had had enough.
Eventually we finished Gilgamesh, and moved on to Homer's Iliad. No blatant sex in this one, but man! The violence!
The weapon entered close above his ear,. . . or . . .
Cold through his temples glides the whizzing spear;
With piercing shrieks the youth resigns his breath,
His eyeballs darken with the shades of death.
Full in his face it enter'd, and betwixtMaybe television isn't really all that bad!
The nose and eye-ball the proud Lycian fix'd;
Crushed all his jaws, and cleft the tongue within,
Till the bright point look'd out beneath the chin.
"Because Max is about as young as you can get, I decided to start with humanity's youngest written story."
ReplyDeleteDid you go and confuse 'oldest' with 'youngest' again?
Alarmists! Try Baby Einstein; Zoo Babies; There are many more.
ReplyDeleteThere's this wild and crazy trend over the last few decades to read CHILDREN'S books to children rather than Gilgamesh or the Iliad.
ReplyDeleteThe oldest/youngest thing was rather confusing. I should have said, "Since Max is an infant, I wanted to read him something from when written literature was in its infancy."
ReplyDeleteAnd I suppose that most children's books are not as sexed or violent as what I've been reading so far. I will make the transition soon. Next is the Odyssey, then the Aeneid, then Beowulf, and we'll get to modern children's books eventually.
Sounds good to me... so long as you make the switch to something a little less adult by the time he understands English! :)
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, once he gets there, try Sandra Boynton. When you aren't laughing over the silliness, he can eat the books.
well, ahem, I have no comment on your selection of reading material, but that picture of Max is absolutely adorable!
ReplyDeleteYes, I see the point of reading more age-appropriate books. I love the Boynton, but will always be partial to the Dr. Seuss whimsy that I grew up on.
ReplyDeleteOne more quote from the Iliad:
Deep through his front the weighty falchion fell;
The crashing bones before its force gave way;
In dust and blood the groaning hero lay:
Forced from their ghastly orbs, and sprouting gore,
The clotted eye-balls tumble on the shore.
:)
ReplyDeleteMax will be a rock star!