Plato's Republic and its Neoplatonic Reception

A close reading of Plato's Republic together with Proclus' fifth-century CE commentary. The main focus is Plato's discussion of poetry and mimesis (books 2, 3, and 10), his appropriation of myth and dramatic technique (books 7 and 10), and Proclus' attempt at reconciling Plato with Homer, namely Plato's anti-mimetic stance with his overt theatrics and myth-making. Brings together classical writing with its post-classical readings, broaches such topics as the notion of mimesis and the reception of Plato as well as Homer in Antiquity, and introduces students to late antique allegory and what has been termed the birth of the symbol.