CLA 211 Greek History and Culture: From Homer to Alexander the Great
This course will act as an introductory survey course to Greek history and civilization from the Bronze Age to the beginning of the Hellenistic Period. The course will be interdisciplinary, using art, archaeology, and literature in all units. Topics covered will include: Homer and societal ideals, the formation of the polis, the development of religion and sanctuaries, trends in material and literary culture, the development of theatre, social institutions, and major historical events. Our inquiry will be focused through the following lenses: Sources and Bias: what evidence do we have access to, and what is missing? Greece and their Neighbors: how was power negotiated and how did international relations develop? Identity: how did politics intertwine with other elements of socio-cultural self-fashioning? Exceptionalism: How does the notion of Athenian exceptionalism shape our understanding of ancient Greek history?
CLA 245 Classics and the Cinema: Ancient Greeks and Romans on the Big Screen
This course examines the phenomenon of adaptations of Greco-Roman narratives to the languages and conditions of modern cinematography. The class begins with an overview of the framework and methods of Reception Studies, and a short account of some technical tools and terminology necessary to appropriately examine the audiovisual aspects of film. Equipped with these analytical instruments, we will discuss selected ancient narratives, both mythological and historical, and then interrogate the mechanisms through which those stories have been adapted to the technological apparatuses, sociocultural expectations, and economic dynamics constitutive of the practice of modern filmmaking. Through an eclectic selection of film adaptations from different periods and parts of the world, we will interrogate the ways world cinema negotiates between the “old” and the “new,” both by deploying visual and narrative techniques to depict ancient motifs, and by using those tales to convey modern historical preoccupations, political ideals, and cultural expectations.
GREEK 115-2 Accelerated Elementary Ancient and Biblical Greek
This course is the second in a two-term accelerated series designed to teach students to read ancient Greek, making accessible much of the world’s most influential literature, from the biblical New Testament to Homeric poetry and Platonic philosophy. In this course we will complete our study of the fundamentals of Greek grammar, making students ready to transition into second-year courses in the New Testament, classical Greek oratory, and Homeric epic. We will also read longer passages of unaltered Greek, including passages from the New Testament and a song of Sappho. Thereafter students will be able to progress to a wide range of genres from the classical and post-classical periods, including ancient Greek history, poetry, philosophy, drama, and more.
GREEK 201-3 Introduction to Greek Literature: The Iliad
This course is the third and final element of the second-year Greek series. In this course we will read significant sections of Homer’s Iliad in the original language. Students will develop an ability to read the Homeric dialect and gain an understanding of the conventions of ancient epic poetry. As we explore the earliest European literary work we will also survey several important scholarly issues regarding the nature and history of the poem, including the nature of its composition and its place in ancient Greek society.
Latin 101-3 is the third quarter of the yearlong elementary Latin sequence designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of classical Latin. Alongside the grammatical material in this class, students will work on expanding their Latin vocabulary and developing the basic skills for reading Latin texts that are necessary to continue successfully in the second year. Throughout the quarter, class meetings will be devoted to grammar review and completing Chapters 32-40 of Wheelock's Latin. Students will also read extensive selections from the Letters of Pliny the Younger.
LATIN 201-3-1 Introduction to Latin Literature: Catullus
Latin 201-3 is the third quarter of the second-year Latin sequence designed to combine mastery of grammar and vocabulary with literary analysis at the intermediate level. The central focus of the course is an exploration of how meaning and emphasis are expressed in the poetry of Catullus. Structured primarily as a workshop, the course emphasizes collaborative discussion driven by student questions. Translation will be included in assessment but will constitute a relatively small portion of the overall evaluation. While the course continues to strengthen students' Latin language skills, it also fosters interpretive skills fundamental to the study of literature in any language.
A grade of C- or better in this course satisfies the Weinberg language proficiency requirement.
LATIN 201-3-2 Introduction to Latin Literature: Catullus
Latin 201-3 is the third quarter of the second-year Latin sequence designed to combine mastery of grammar and vocabulary with literary analysis at the intermediate level. The central focus of the course is an exploration of how meaning and emphasis are expressed in the poetry of Catullus. Structured primarily as a workshop, the course emphasizes collaborative discussion driven by student questions. Translation will be included in assessment but will constitute a relatively small portion of the overall evaluation. While the course continues to strengthen students' Latin language skills, it also fosters interpretive skills fundamental to the study of literature in any language.
A grade of C- or better in this course satisfies the Weinberg language proficiency requirement.
