Description: Classics 211 aims to develop a basic understanding of ancient Greek and Roman civilization through the study of their greatest literature, from Homer to Augustine. The course involves lectures, discussions, videotapes, three papers, one mid-term and a final exam. This course satisfies a core requirement in literature.

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 an independent research project on one classical author, and there will be personal conferences with the professor to discuss that research. The minimum grade to earn honors credit for the course is a B+.

Expectations & grading: The primary requirements are faithful preparation, attendance, and participation in class. Absences will be excused only if explained in advance or justified by medical or other emergencies. Final grades will be based on attendance & participation, three papers, a midterm and a final exam. Calvin College makes reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Such students should notify the Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities (HH 455) and speak with me within the first two weeks of the semester.

Textbooks: (in order of use)

Robert Fagles (tr.). Homer: The Odyssey. Penguin: 1997.
Bernard Knox (ed.). Norton Book of Classical Literature. Norton: 1993.
R.W.Corrigan (ed.). Classical Tragedy, Greek & Roman. Applause: 1991.
Robert Fitzgerald (tr.). The Aeneid of Vergil. Random (Vintage): 1990.
Vernon J. Bourke (ed.). St. Augustine: The City of God. Doubleday: 1958.

Select Bibliography

Reference:

Boardman, John. et al. (eds.) Oxford History of the Classical World. DE 59 O94
The Cambridge Ancient History. Ref. D 57 C25 v.4-12
Kenney, C.J. (ed.) The Cambridge History of Classical Literature. PA 6003 L3
The Oxford Classical Dictionary. Ref. DE 5 O9 1970

Literary Criticism:

Homer:
Clarke, H.W. 20th-century Interpretations of the Odyssey. PA 4167 T85 1983
Clay, J.S. The Wrath of Athena: Gods and Men in the Odyssey. PA 4167 C54 1983
Cohen, Beth. (Ed.) The Distaff Side: Representing the Female in Homer’s Odyssey.
PA 4167 D57 1995
deJong, I. (ed.). Homer: Critical Assessments. PA 4037 H7747 1999 v.1-4
Katz, Marilyn. Penelope’s Renown: Meaning and Indeterminacy in the Odyssey.
PA 4170 P46 K38 1991
Nagy, Gregory. Homeric Questions. PA 4037 N345 1996
Pucci, P. Song of the Sirens: Essays on Homer. PA 4037 P86 1998
Scodel, Ruth. Listening to Homer: Tradition, Narrative & Audience. PA4037 S4164 2002
Thalmann, W.G. The Swineherd and the Bow: Representations of Class in the Odyssey.
PA 4167 T455 1998

Sappho:
Burnett, A. P. Three Archaic Poets: Archilochus, Alcaeus, Sappho. PA 3l05 B87 1983
Greene, E. (ed.) Reading Sappho: Contemporary Approaches. PA 4409 R474 1996
Rayor, Diane. Sappho's Lyre: Archaic Lyric and Women Poets of Ancient Greece.
PA 3622 R39 1991
Snyder, Jane. The Woman and the Lyre: Women Writers in Classical Greece and
Rome. PA3067 S69 1989

Aeschylus:
Conacher, D. J. Aeschylus: The Earlier Plays and Related Studies. PA3829 C65 1996
Goldhill, Simon. Aeschylus: The Oresteia. PA 3825 A6 G64 1992
Hogan, J.C. A Commentary on the Complete Greek Tragedies: Aeschylus.
PA 3829 H62 l984
Otis, B. Cosmos & Tragedy: An Essay on the Meaning of Aeschylus. PA3829 O8 1981
Winnington-Ingram, R.P. Studies in Aeschylus. PA 3829 W54 1983

Sophocles:
Hogan, J.C. A Commentary on the Plays of Sophocles. PA 4417 H64 1991
Knox, Bernard. The Heroic Temper. PA 4417 K5 (1964)
___. Oedipus at Thebes. PA4413.O7 K55 (1957)
Segal, C. Sophocles' Tragic World: Divinity, Nature, Society. PA4417 S46 1995
Steiner, G. Antigones. PA 4413 A7 S76 1984
Wilson, J.P. The Hero and the City: An Interpretation of the Oedipus at Colonus.
PA 4413 O 53 W54 1997
Winnington-Ingram, R.P. Sophocles: An Interpretation. PA4417 W55 1980

Euripides:
Burnett, Anne. Catastrophe Survived: Euripides' Plays of Mixed Reversal.
PA 3978 B8 (1971)
Carpenter, T.H. & C.A. Faraone (eds.). Masks of Dionysus. PA3015.R5 D55 1993
Dunn, F. M. Tragedy's End: Closure and Innovation in Euripidean Drama.
PA3978 D86 1996
Meagher, R.E. Mortal Vision: The Wisdom of Euripides. PA 3978 M39 1989
Michelini, A. Euripides and the Tragic Tradition. PA 3978 M5 1987
Winnington-Ingram, R.P. Euripides and Dionysus: An Interpretation of the
Bacchae. PA3973 B2 W5

Vergil:
Anderson, William S. The Art of the Aeneid. PA 6825 A72
____, (ed.). Appproaches to Teaching Vergil’s Aeneid. PA6825 A75 2002
Bloom, H. (ed.) Virgil: Modern Critical Views. PA 6825 A3 1986a
Commager, Steele. (ed.) Virgil (20th-Century Views). PA 6825 W5
Galinsky, G.Karl. Augustan Culture: An Interpretive Introduction. DG 279 G17 1996
Harrison, S.J. (ed.) Oxford Readings in Vergil’s Aeneid. PA 6825 O 94 1990
Johnson, W.R. Darkness Visible: A Study of Vergil's Aeneid. PA 6825 J6
Martindale, Charles. (ed.) Cambridge Companion to Virgil. PA 6825 C35 1997
Otis, Brooks. Vergil: A Study in Civilized Poetry. PA 6825 O8
Poschl, Victor. The Art of Vergil: Image and Symbol in the Aeneid. PA 6825 P6
Putnam, M.C.J. Vergil’s Aeneid: Interpretation and Influence. PA 6825 P84 1995
Quinn, S. (ed.) Why Vergil? A Collection of Interpretations. PA 6825 W46 2000
Thomas, Richard. Virgil and the Augustan Reception. PA6825 T518 2001
Williams, Gordon. Technique and Ideas in the Aeneid. PA 6825 W535 l983

Augustine:
Bourke, Vernon J. Augustine’s Love of Wisdom. BR 65 A62 B68 1992
Brown, Peter. Augustine of Hippo: A Biography. BR1720 A9 B7 2000
Chadwick, Henry. Augustine. B 655 Z7 C46 1986
Markus, R.A. (ed.) Augustine: A Collection of Critical Essays. B 655 Z7 M29
O'Donnell, James. Augustine. BR 65 A62 O36 1985
____. Augustine’s Confessions: Introduction and Text. BR 65 A6 1992 v.1
Rist, J. M. Augustine: Ancient Thought Baptized. BR1720 A9 R55 1994
Stock, Brian. Augustine the Reader: Meditation, Self-knowledge, and the Ethics
of Interpretation. BR 65 A62 S76 1996

Greek History & Politics:
Forrest, W.G. The Emergence of Greek Democracy. DF 81 F6
Garlan, Y. Slavery in Ancient Greece. HT 863 G 3713 1988
Green, Peter. Ancient Greece: An Illustrated History. DF 214 G8 1979
Kagan, Donald. Pericles of Athens and the Birth of Athenian Democracy. DF 228 P4 K34 1991
Patterson, O. Freedom in the Making of Western Culture. JC 585 P32 1991 v.1
Stockton, D. Classical Athenian Democracy. JC 79 A8 S74 1990
Tarn, W.W. Alexander the Great. DF 234 T3
Wood, M. In Search of the Trojan War. DF 221 T8 W66 1986

Roman History & Politics:
Eck, Werner. The Age of Augustus. DG279 E2513 2003
Gardner, J.F. Women in Roman Law and Society. K 471 W6 G3 1986
Grant, Michael. Fall of the Roman Empire. DG 311 G75
Shelton, Jo-Ann. As the Romans Did: Sourcebook in Roman Social History. HN 10 R7 S45 1988
Syme, Ronald. The Roman Revolution. DG 241 S9
Thompson, L.A. Romans and Blacks. DG 190 T48 1989
Zanker, Paul. The Power of Images in the Age of Augustus. N 5760 Z36 1988

Religion & Philosophy:
Burkert, Walter. Ancient Mystery Cults. BL 610 B87 1987
Gruen, Erich . Diaspora : Jews Amidst Greeks and Romans. DS121.65 G78 2002
Dodds, E.R. The Greeks and the Irrational. BF 1421 D6
Martin, L.H. Hellenistic Religions: An Introduction. BL 722 M33 l987
Mikalson, Jon D. Athenian Popular Religion. BL 793 A76 M54 1983
Vlastos, Gregory. Socrates: Ironist and Moral Philosopher. B 317 V56 1991

Early Christianity & Classical Culture:
Brown, Peter. The Rise of Western Christendom: Triumph and Diversity, A.D. 200-1000.
BR162.2 B76 1996
Cameron, Averil. The Mediterranean World in Late Antiquity. DE 71 C25 1993
Helleman, Wendy E. (ed.). Christianity and the Classics: The Acceptance of a Heritage.
BR 128 G8 C47 1990
MacMullen, Ramsey. Christianizing the Roman Empire. BR 195 E9 M33
Mathews, T. F. The Clash of Gods: A Reinterpretation of Early Christian Art. N7832 M36
Meeks, W.A. The First Urban Christians. BR 166 M44 1983
Pelikan, Jaroslav. Christianity and Classical Culture. BL 245 P45 1993
Stevenson, J. The Catacombs: Life and Death in Early Christianity. DG 807.4 S74 1985
Wilken, R.L. The Christians as the Romans Saw Them. BL 2756 W54 1984
____ . The Spirit of Early Christian Thought: Seeking the Face of God. BR165 .W65 2003
Witherington, B. Women in the Earliest Churches. BR 195 W6 W58 1988

Women in Antiquity:
Cantarella, Eve. Pandora's Daughters: The Role and Status of Women in Greek and Roman
Antiquity. HQ 1134 C3513 1987
Clark. G. Women in Late Antiquity: Pagan and Christian Lifestyles. HQ 1127 C53 1993
Dixon, Susan. The Roman Family. HQ 511 D59 1992
Fantham, E. et al (eds.). Women in the Classical World: Image and Text. HQ 1127 W652 1994
Foley, Helen. (ed.). Reflections of Women in Antiquity. HQ 1134 R4 1981
Gardner, Jane F. Women in Roman Law and Society. K 471 W6 G3 1986
Lefkowitz, Mary & M.B. Fant. Women's Life in Greece and Rome: A Source Book in Translation.
HQ 1127 W653
Treggiari, Susan. Roman Marriage. K 471 M3 T74 1991

Miscellaneous:
Casson, Lionel. Libraries in the Ancient World. Z722 C37 2001
Dover, K.J. Greek Homosexuality. HQ 76.3 G8 D68 l978
Dupont, F. Daily Life in Ancient Rome. DG 78 D 8713 1993
Finley, M.I. The Ancient Economy. HC 31 F5
Garlan, Y. Slavery in Ancient Greece. HT 863 G3713 1988
Knox, B. The Oldest Dead White European Males. PA 3071 K58 1993
Landels, T.G. Engineering in the Ancient World. T l6 L36 1978b
Marrou, H.I. History of Education in Antiquity. LA 31 M32
Phillips, E.D. Greek Medicine. R 126 P46
Scarborough, T. Roman Medicine. R 126 S25
Snowden, F. Before Color Prejudice: Ancient Views of Blacks. GN 496 S65 1983
Solomon, Jon. The Ancient World in the Cinema. PN1995.9 .H5 S6 2001
Tuplin, C.J. & T.E. Rihl. Science & Mathematics in Ancient Greek Culture. Q127 .G7 S364 2002
White, K.D. Greek and Roman Technology. T 16 W54 1984
Winterer, Caroline. The Culture of Classicism: Ancient Greece & Rome in American
Intellectual Life, 1780-1910. LA227.1 .W56 2002