Greek Literature in Translation

3 credits · Undergraduate

Beginning with the two great epic poems of Homer, this course will consider the poetic legacy of ancient Greece, by considering the evolution of many of the literary genres which remain the basis for poetry and prose today. Moving through the archaic, classical and Hellenistic periods of ancient Greek literary history, students will encounter epic and lyric poetry, tragic and comic drama, historical, medical, and philosophical prose, the Platonic dialogue, and the soaring oratory of the courtroom and assembly. In this course we examine twelve of ancient Greece's greatest authors, choosing a key text each week for discussion and close reading while also considering the social and political context for each. EXCLUSIONS: CLAS 2000X/Y FORMATS: Seminar