CL 104.02 Dr. Matthew Gumpert
T 10:00-11:50 JF 333; R 10:00-10:50 TB 415
CLASSICAL LITERATURE
Syllabus: Spring 2016-2017
Introduction. An introduction to ancient Greek and Roman literature in its cultural and historical context, with an emphasis on major genres (epic, lyric, tragedy, pastoral) and representative works.
Course Materials. The reader for Classical Literature, which includes all required readings for the course, is available at the BU library copy center. Supplementary and/or optional readings may be distributed as handouts during the course of the semester.
Grading. Midterm 30%; Class Performance and Short Papers30%; Final 40%
---Class performance is a large part of your grade, and includes preparation, participation, attendance, and a number of short response papers assigned during the semester. It is your responsibility to have the text we are covering in class with you!
---There is an in-class midterm and final exam for this course. To be admitted to the final, the student must fulfill the attendance requirement. The midterm, class performance, and the final exam together make up the grade for the course.
Reading Schedule
Week 1 (6-10 Feb)
Archaic Greek Epic
Hesiod, Theogony, lines 1-83
Homer, Iliad, book 1
Homer, Odyssey, books 1.1-83
Week 2 (13-17 Feb)
Archaic Greek Epic
Homer, Iliad2-13
Week 3 (20-24 Feb)
Archaic Greek Epic
Homer, Iliad 14-19
Week 4 (27 Feb –3 March)
Archaic Greek Epic
Homer, Iliad20-24, Odyssey4, 8, 11
Classical Greek Lyric
Alcman, “Partheneion”, Steischorus, from Helen, Palinode
Sappho, Fr. 16
Alcaeus, “Helen” (N1), “Helen and Thetis” (B10)
Week 5 (6-10 March)
Classical Greek Lyric
Pindar, Odes:Pythian 6, Olympian 1, Pythian 5, Pythian 4
Week 6 (13-17 March)
Classical Greek Tragedy
Eurpides, Helen, Bacchae
Week 7 (20-24 March)
Classical Greek Tragedy
Euripides, Bacchae
Week 8 (27-31 March)
Hellenistic Pastoral
Theocritus, Idylls: 4 (“The Herdsmen”), 11 ("The Cyclops"), 13 ("Hylas"), 18 ("Helen's Bridal Hymn")
Week 9 (3-7 April)
Hellenistic Epic and Lyric
Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica(trans. Rieu), books 1, 2 (Athene lands on ship), 3
Callimachus, Aetia: 1.1 ("Against the Telchines"), 3.7-14 ("The graces"), 7.19-21 ("The Return of the Argonauts" and "The
Rite at Anaphe")
Week 10 (10-14 April)
Roman Epic
Virgil, Aeneid, books 1,2,
17-21 April: Spring Break
Week 11 (24-28 April)
Roman Epic
Virgil, Aeneid, books4, 6, 12 (lines 920-52)
M 1 May: Tatil
Week 12 (2-5 May)
Roman Epic
Ovid, Metamorphoses, books 1, 3
Week 13 (8-12 May)
Roman Epic
Ovid, Metamorphoses, book 10
Week 14 (15 May)
Roman Lyric
Ovid, Heroides(trans. Isbell) 1 (Penelope to Ulysses), 7 (Dido to Aeneas), 12 (Medea to Jason), 16 (Paris to Helen), 17 (Helen to Paris);Amores1.1-3
15 May: Last Day of Classes
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