OVERVIEW

Greek literature, whose extraordinary richness is still recognizable (in terms of variety, temporal extension and level of production) in spite of the enormous loss it suffered during the transmission, provides precious information on the civilization that produced it and represents an important source of data within the archaeological investigation.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching aims to provide students with a basic knowledge of the genres and the most relevant authors of Greek literature, of the main Greek myths that underlie it, of the historical-social contexts in which it developed. The teaching also aims to promote the acquisition of the ability to describe and analyze the content and the meaning of an ancient Greek text and to contextualize it in the genre and era to which it belongs. Finally, the teaching aims to develop the ability to translate the texts of ancient Greek literature or to follow them on the original with the help of a translation into a modern language, according to their complexity.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Participation in the activities and / or individual study will allow the student to:
- know the genres, the periodization and the most relevant authors of Greek literature;
- know the main myths underlying Greek literature;
- know the socio-cultural contexts of Greek literature;
- acquire the ability to translate the texts of ancient Greek literature or to follow them on the original with the help of a translation into a modern language, according to their complexity;
- acquire an appropriate vocabulary for the description of the content and the interpretive problems posed by texts of Greek literature;
- apply the acquired knowledge and skills to the archaeological investigation.

PREREQUISITES

As a preliminary requirement, a knowledge of the ancient Greek language, even rudimentary but complete, is compulsory, such as to allow the comprehension, with the use of the dictionary, of a descriptive prose. Students who have never studied ancient Greek before have at their disposal the course of Greek for beginners, to be attended beforehand, in order to learn the rudiments of the language, to be completed and perfected with home study. All students who need to review or perfect the linguistic aspects can contact the teacher for a personalized extra-activity.

TEACHING METHODS

Seminar-based lessons, with active contribution by the students. Practice exercises will be planned, about single parts of the text to be translated autonomously and then presented during the lessons by single students or (preferably) by groups of students with different levels of command in the Greek language. On their choice, students can, also working in small groups, prepare written exercises using the example tests that will be made available on Aulaweb (see below, Assessment Methods), to be presented and discussed during scheduled lessons. This course is included in a project for the teaching innovation.

The chapters of Strabo’ Geography to be prepared in Greek will be entirely translated and commented upon. The comment will focus specifically on how to use literary evidence with relation to archaeological, topographical and artistic aspects

The students are requested to register on the AulaWeb page.Attendance at lessons is highly recommended. Non-attending students are asked to contact the teacher to receive supplementary bibliography.

A preliminary requirement is a knowledge of ancient Greek language even rudimentary but complete, such as to allow the comprehension, with the use of the dictionary, of a descriptive prose. Students who have never studied ancient Greek before have at their disposal the course of Greek for beginners, to be attended beforehand, in order to learn the rudiments of the language, to be completed and perfected with home study. All students who need to review or perfect the linguistic aspects can contact the teacher for a personalized extra-activity.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Part 1: introduction to the Greek literary world:

– conservation and transmission of texts;

– periodization;

– genres and a selection of main authors (Homer; Hesiod; Archilocus, Semonides, Hipponax; Solon, Xenophanes, Mimnermus; Sappho, Alcaeus; Simonides, Pindar, Bacchylides; Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides; Aristophanes; Plato, Aristotle; Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon; Lysias, Isocrates, Demosthenes, Aeschines; Menander; Callimachus, Apollonius of Rhodes, Theocritus; Polybius; Plutarch; Lucian).

Part 2: Strabo’s Peloponnesus.

Survey on author and work. Reading of book 8 of Geography, about Peloponnesus, according to the following: reading in Greek language of chapters 1,1-3 (general description of Greece),  3,30-33 (Olympia and Pisatis), 5,1-8 (Laconia); reading in Italian translation of the rest of the book 8.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The reading list for this course, together with the lecturer's suggestions and instructions are available on the Italian version of the web page.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

LARA PAGANI (President)

MARCO COMUNETTI

SERENA PERRONE (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

February, 17, 2020

Class schedule

GREEK LITERATURE AND CULTURE

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Written test (questionnaire: four questions) and oral test. Students are not allowed to access the oral test before having passed the written one (< 18/30). The written test and the oral test do not necessarily have to be taken, but can be taken in the same exam session. The evaluation of the written test will be communicated via email. If the oral test proves insufficient (< 18/30), the evaluation assigned to the written test will remain valid. The final mark will be determined by a weighted average between the marks of the two tests according to the following ratio: written test: 40%; oral test: 60%. Both part of the exam must be sufficient (> 18/30).

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Written test: it aims to ascertain the acquisition of a basic knowledge of the genres and the most relevant authors of Greek literature, with attention also to the diachronic development (Part 1). Examples of tests will be made available to students on Aulaweb.
Oral test: it consists of an interview aiming at ascertaining the ability to translate (for the part expected in Greek), analyze the content and the meaning of the text of book 8 of Strabo’s Geography, especially in relation to relevant aspects from an archaeological, topographical and artistic point of view (Part 2).
‘Pass’ requirements are: to have substantially learned the information concerning the genres and the most relevant authors of the Greek literature, as well as understood the conceptual turning-points and the crucial problems; to be able to understand the meaning of a pre-prepared ancient Greek literary text and to present its contents with an appropriate vocabulary.
‘Excellence’ requirements are: a total mastery of the analysis tools of phenomena and texts of Greek literature, so that the student is able to elaborate in an autonomous and critical manner the problems posed by them; the ability to translate fluently and safely, with good command of the linguistic aspects, a pre-prepared ancient Greek literary text and to present its contents with an appropriate vocabulary.

Exam schedule