Classics 211: Classical Literature (Spring 2009)
Instructor: Jeff Winkle
Office H-359
Phone (616) 526-6813
E-mail: jwinkle@calvin.edu
Course Description:
Classics 211 aims to develop a basic understanding of ancient Greek and Roman civilizations through the study of their greatest literature, from Homer to Augustine. Classes will include lectures, Powerpoint presentations, and films, but I hope that most class time will be spent in discussion.
Honors Credit:
This course is designed as an honors course, which means that it encourages greater personal initiative, deeper research, and a higher level of discussion than a typical class might. Each student will conduct independent research on one classical author/topic, and there will be class periods as well as personal conferences with the professor devoted to discussing that research. The minimum grade to earn honors credit is a B+.
Expectations and Grading:
The primary requirements are faithful preparation, attendance, and participation in class. Absences will be excused if explained in advance or justified by medical or other emergencies. Final grades will be based attendance/participation, two tests, and a final research project (see breakdown below). Calvin College makes reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Students should notify the Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities and speak with me within the first two weeks of the semester.
Textbooks:
Arrowsmith, William (ed.) Four Plays by Aristophanes. Plume, 1984.
Fitzgerald, Robert (trans) The Aeneid: Virgil. Vintage Classics, 1990.
Grene, David and R. Lattimore (eds.) Greek Tragedies, vol. 3, 2nd ed. Univ. of Chicago, 1991.
Kenney, E.J. (trans.) Apuleius: The Golden Ass. Penguin, 1998.
Lombardo, Stanley (trans.) Iliad: Homer. Hackett, 1997.
Various Authors. The Western World: Penguin Course Reader
Grading Breakdown:
Attendance and Participation: 20%
Midterm: 20%
Final Exam: 20%
Research Project: 40%
COURSE SCHEDULE
DATE ASSIGNMENT TOPIC
February 2 N/A Intro to Ancient Greek Epic
February 4 Iliad 1-4 Quarrel and Plague
February 6 Iliad 5-8 Diomedes and Aeneas
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February 9 Iliad 9-12 Embassy, Doloneia
February 11 Iliad 13-16 Dios Apate, Patroclus
February 13 Iliad 17-20 Armor for Achilles
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February 16 Iliad 21-24 End of the Wrath
February 18 N/A Legacy of Homeric Poetry
February 20 Overview of Research Project RESEARCH DAY
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February 23 Reader 1-8 Homer’s Odyssey; Nostoi
February 25 handout Hesiod and Homeric Hymns
February 27 Reader 9-24 Herodotus, Histories
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March 2 Reader 25-50 Thucydides, Peloponnesian War
March 4 handout Tragedy; Aristotle, Poetics
March 6 handout Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound
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March 9 Greek Tragedies 43-106 Sophocles, Philoctetes
March 11 Greek Tragedies 191-260 Euripides, Bacchae
March 13 Greek Tragedies 263-313 Euripides, Alcestis; Comedy
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March 16 Aristophanes 341-457 Aristophanes, Lysistrata
March 18 Aristophanes 469-583 Aristophanes, Frogs
March 20 Aristophanes 13-147 Aristophanes, Clouds
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March 23 SPRING BREAK
March 25 SPRING BREAK
March 27 SPRING BREAK
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March 30 Reader 51-64 Plato’s Socrates
April 1 Research Prospectus RESEARCH DAY
April 3 Reader 65-101 Platonic Myth
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April 6 MIDTERM
April 8 handout Roman Republic & Poetry
April 10 GOOD FRIDAY-NO CLASS
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April 13 Aeneid 1-4 A Roman Odysseus
April 15 Aeneid 5-8 From Underworld to Italy
April 17 Progress Reports—updated research RESEARCH DAY
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April 20 Aeneid 9-12 A Roman Achilles?
April 22 Reader 102-139 Lucretius and Ovid
April 24 Luke-Acts; Reader 140-169 NT, Pliny, Tacitus, Plutarch
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April 27 Reader 170-184 Ancient Novel: Petronius
April 29 ADVISING BREAK
May 1 The Golden Ass 1-3 Lucius in Thessaly
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May 4 The Golden Ass 4-6 Cupid and Psyche
May 6 The Golden Ass 7-9 Asinine Wanderings
May 8 The Golden Ass 10-11; Reader 185-209 Isis, Plotinus, Athanasius
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May 11 Reader 210-243 Saint Augustine
May 13 REVIEW
FINAL EXAM: Saturday, May 16th, 1:30pm
*RESEARCH PROJECTS ARE DUE AT THE TIME OF THE FINAL EXAM
RESEARCH PROJECT TIMETABLE
February 20th: In-Class Overview of Research Project
March 2nd: Author and General Topic Due
March 16th: Tentative Thesis Statement Due
April 1st: In-Class Individual Progress Reports
--Polished Thesis Statement
--Rudimentary Primary and Secondary Bibliography
April 17th: In-Class Individual Progress Reports
--Updated Bibliography
--Summary of Opposing and Complementary Views
--Opening 5 pages (at least) and Detailed Outline
May 1st: RESEARCH PROJECTS DUE
