OVERVIEW

Greek literature includes some of the greatest masterpieces of poetry and thought of all time. In the training of a European citizen, this knowledge plays an essential role because it fosters a critical understanding of the main problems of man.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching of Greek literature aims to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of the literary civilization of ancient Greece, in its historical evolution from its origins to the sixth century. AD. This will be carries out through the reading of a selection of texts in the original language, and to refine the skills of interpretation and rendering in the modern language of the literary texts of ancient Greece.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

To provide an advanced knowledge of the history of ancient Greek literature and to have some particularly significant texts read in the original language. Students are expected to acquire a sufficiently broad and in-depth critical knowledge of the various aspects of ancient Greek literature, broadening in quantity and quality the knowledge acquired in the undergraduate course in the same discipline. At the end of the course, students should be able to know and describe the most relevant figures and genres of the literary civilisation of ancient Greece, with adequate awareness of their value and historical and cultural significance for the development of modern civilisation. They should also be able to read the works of major authors in their original language.

PREREQUISITES

A good knowledge of ancient Greek language and of the history of Greek literature, based on what was learned in the previous undergraduate course.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures.

Students unable to attend the lecture are invited to contact the lecturer well in advance in order to arrange an alternative programme.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Readings from complete and fragmentary comic plays (Aristophanes, Cratinus, Eupolis, and others)

In addition to the monographic course, students are required to prepare a textbook of Greek literature as well as some specific texts indicated below under “Texts/Bibliography”.

Students unable to attend the course are requested to contact the lecturer well in advance in order to arrange an alternative programme.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

In addition to the monographic course and the handbook (to be chosen from the commercially available editions of: A. Rodighiero - S. Mazzoldi - D. Piovan, Civiltà letteraria della Grecia antica, Bologna, Zanichelli, 1988; G. A. Privitera - R. Pretagostini, Storia e forme della letteratura greca, I-II, Torino, Einaudi School, 1997; A. Poro - W. Lapini, Greek Literature, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2017), students should present:

(1) Aristophanes. Frogs, edited by Dario Del Corno, Milan, Mondadori, 2006;

(2) Aristophanes, Birds, lines 1–768 (in any standard school edition provided it includes an introduction, translation, and notes);

(3) M. Di Marco, History of Greek Theater, Rome, Carocci, 2018;

(4) L. Canfora, Cleophon Must Die: Theater and Politics in Aristophanes, Rome–Bari, Laterza, 2018.

N.B. 1. The list of texts may be subject to change, therefore it is advisable NOT to purchase the texts before the start of the courses.

N.B. 2. For years, finding university (and even non-university) textbooks has become difficult. We therefore do not rule out the possibility of changing the bibliography in the course.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

First semester. Classes begin: September, 2026 week of 28/09/2026

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral test. The exam will open with a sight translation test of a short text by a Greek author of medium difficulty. This will be followed by testing on the monograph course, the texts in the exam syllabus (with translation of passages, questions on language and historical/literary background) and the history of Greek literature based on the textbook.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

In relation to the stated learning objectives, a sufficient knowledge of Greek to translate the original texts and a good knowledge of the fundamental aspects of ancient Greek literature will be ascertained. The examination includes a translation test on the imprint of a short text, in a question on the texts of the programme and the monographic course; it will also include questions on language, the literary historical framework and the history of literature; a theoretical and practical knowledge of the main ancient metrical forms, i.e. dactylic hexameter and iambic trimeter, is required.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Information on course and examination texts will be given at the beginning of the lectures. Useful materials will be made available on the Aulaweb. Students who are unable to attend the course are requested to contact the lecturer well in advance in order to arrange an alternative programme.

Students with disabilities or specific learning disabilities can find information on how to request services, compensatory tools, accommodations, or specific assistive devices in the document available at the following link: <https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/modulistica>.