Literary Time Period Nominations & Vote • May 2017

[sun surfer]

Help us select what the MR Literary Club will read in May 2017!


The category for this month is:

Time Period
BCE-1500, as chosen by vote


We will begin with a one-day vote to determine the time period. As soon as the time period is determined nominations will commence. Nominations can be set in and published in any time period, but they should be written during that time period.

The time period vote will close exactly one day from this post; even if the final tally doesn't occur immediately after voting closes, no votes made after that time will count.

Time period votes will be made by post. You will have a number of votes to cast equal to the number of time periods minus one - i.e. TWO. You may give each time period one or two (or no) votes. You may vote all at once in one post or vote in separate posts at different times, so long as you have more votes remaining to cast. You may use any number of your possible votes up to the maximum. Any extraneous votes per person (past their maximum or more than two for one nominee) won't count. Votes cannot be changed once they are cast.

Once voting is complete, the count will be tallied and a winner declared. If there is a tie, first listed wins by default (i.e. the oldest).


Notes:

-Previously chosen time periods currently ineligible:
1981-2000
1801-1900
1901-1920
1961-1980
1921-1940

-The period of 2001-Present is its own category (Contemporary) and therefore not eligible for the Time Period poll.


Once the time period is determined:


-Nominations will run for three days.-

You may offer up to two nominations. All nominees (so long as they are within the category) will move forward to the vote with no need for support from others.

Once nominations are complete, voting will begin and also occur in this thread.


-Voting will then run for four days.-

I will make a post in this thread to open voting. The vote will close exactly four days from that post; even if the final tally doesn't occur immediately after voting closes, no votes made after that time will count.

Votes will be made by post. You will have a number of votes to cast equal to the number of nominees minus one, which will be specified when the vote begins. You may give each nominee one or two (or no) votes. You may vote all at once in one post or vote in separate posts at different times, so long as you have more votes remaining to cast. You may use any number of your possible votes up to the maximum. Any extraneous votes per person (past their maximum or more than two for one nominee) won't count. Votes cannot be changed once they are cast.

Once voting is complete, the count will be tallied and a winner declared. In the event of a tie, there will be a one-day run-off vote, also in this thread. If the run-off also ends in a tie, then the tie will be resolved in favour of the selection that was nominated first.


We hope that you will read the selection with the club and join in the discussion.


What is literature for the purposes of this club? A superior work of lasting merit that enriches the mind. Often it is important, challenging, critically acclaimed. It may be from ancient times to today; it may be from anywhere in the world; it may be obscure or famous, short or long; it may be a story, a novel, a play, a poem, an essay or another written form. If you are unsure if a work would be considered literature, just ask!


The floor is now open!

*

Time period voting is closed. Final results:

• BCE-1500
  Votes- 4
• 1501-1800
  Votes- 4
• 1941-1960
  Votes- 3

Nominations are closed. Voting is closed. Final results-

• Epic of Gilgamesh, circa BCE 2700-1400
  Post / Goodreads / 175 Pages / Votes- 3
  
  
• Odyssey by Homer, circa BCE 800-600
  Post / Goodreads / 471 Pages / Votes- 1
  
  
• The Golden Ass by Apuleius, circa 150-170
  Post / Goodreads / 291 Pages / Votes- 3
  
  
• Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, 161-180
  Post / Goodreads / 191 Pages / Votes- 5
  
  
• Daphnis and Chloe by Longus, circa 100-200
  Post / Goodreads / 134 Pages / Votes- 5
  
  
• Agamemnon by Aeschylus, BCE 458
  Post / Goodreads / 111 Pages / Votes- 1
  
  
• One Thousand and One Nights, circa 800-1500
  Post / Goodreads / 599 Pages / Votes- 7

[sun surfer]

Judging by what we've previously chosen versus what's left, I have a hunch as to which might win. I might prefer that option too but I'm going to think on it before voting.

[fantasyfan]

I'll vote for 1941-1960.

[sun surfer]

fantasyfan, I'm counting that as one vote since you didn't specify, so you have one more vote still.

[bfisher]

I give 1 vote to BCE-1500

[Spinnenmonat]

BCE-1500
1501-1800

[Bookpossum]

1 vote for 1501-1800
1 vote for 1941-1960

[bfisher]

A battle between the Moderns and the Ancients

[bfisher]

1 vote for 1501-1800

[Bookworm_Girl]

1 vote for 1501-1800
1 vote for 1941-1960

[sun surfer]

I'd be happy with any of them but, mainly to possibly finally get to it and because I'm curious as to what would be nominated, I'll give my two votes to BCE-1500.

[sun surfer]

Voting for the time period is now over and we have a two-way tie, and might've even had a three-way tie if fantasyfan had given his other vote to the same period. Either way the result is the same; the tie is broken by first listed/oldest, which means our time period is:

BCE-1500

Nominations are now open.

[sun surfer]

I'll begin by going back to the very beginnings of writing down stories and nominate the Epic of Gilgamesh. From the ancient Sumer and Babylon area/people and formed from various found fragments and versions, it's a short epic poem/collection of tales concerning their religion, about the adventures of a king named Gilgamesh, a hero named Enkidu and their interactions with gods and monsters. It's considered the very first (surviving) great work of literature.

[fantasyfan]

I'll nominate The Odyssey by Homer.

[Bookpossum]

Just a question about this result. If we aren't having a run-off vote, should it not be the first one to receive the four votes, which would make the winner 1501-1800?

ETA. Oh, I see - it was the first one of these two categories which was nominated, by bfisher.