OVERVIEW

Notwithstanding the enormous losses that it has suffered over time, Greek literature, the extraordinary wealth of which is still recognised (in terms of variety, prolongation in time and level of production), can offer precious information on the civilisation that produced it.

A basic knowledge of Ancient Greek is requested in order to understand simple, descriptive prose, with the help of a dictionary

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Acquisition of basic knowledge of the genres and most relevant authors of Greek literature and the ability to translate texts or to follow them in the original language with the help of an Italian translation, depending on the degree of complexity of the text. 

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Acquisition of basic knowledge of the genres and most relevant authors of Greek literature, the main Greek myths that interweave it, and the historical-social contexts in which it developed; acquisition of ability to translate non-complex prose with the help of a dictionary, and the ability to follow a text in the original language, with the help of an Italian translation for poetic texts or for articulated and complex prose texts; acquisition of the ability to describe and analyse the content and meaning of a Greek text and to situate it in terms of genre and the era to which it belongs. 

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures (with Power Point presentations) in which the chapters of Pausiana to be prepared in the original language will be entirely translated and annotated, with planned translations of parts of the text by students.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Part 1) Introduction to the Greek literary world: conservation and transmission of texts; periodising and situating genres and authors.

Part 2) A Journey through Greece guided by Pausania.

Situating the author and the work with the related problems of chronology, as well as sources and methods used by Pausania. Reading of book I on Attica and Megaride as follows: reading in Greek of chapters 17-28 (itineraries along Dipylon and the Athens agora, the urban area to the south-east of the agora, Olympieion and the Illissos valley, the southern slopes of the Acropolis, the acropolis and its northern slopes); reading of an Italian translation of the rest of book 1. Annotations will concentrate specifically on archaeological, topographic and artistic aspects

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

LARA PAGANI (President)

CLAUDIO BEVEGNI

VALTER LAPINI

FRANCO MONTANARI

SERENA PERRONE

LESSONS

Class schedule

GREEK LITERATURE AND CULTURE

EXAMS

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Written exam: it aims to assess the acquisition of basic knowledge of the genres and the most relevant authors of archaic and classical Greek literature paying attention also to the diachronic development. It consists of open questions (Part 1). Examples of exams will be made available to students on Aulaweb.

Oral exam: it consists of an oral interview in which the ability to translate (for the part in the original language), and analyse the content and meaning of a text of Pausania book 1, especially in relation to aspects of archaeological, topographical and artistic relevance (Part 2) will be assessed.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students are urged to attend lessons. Any students who do not attend are requested to get in touch with the teaching staff in order to agree on the additional bibliography.

Examples of (written) exams will be made available to students on Aulaweb.

The course requires a basic knowledge of ancient Greek to enable comprehension of simple and descriptive prose, with the use of a dictionary.

Students who have never studied ancient Greek can avail of the Assistant hours (60 hours, annual course) to learn the rudiments of the language; students who feel that they need some revision, clarification or translation practice, may contact teaching staff for personalised activities.