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;
- deepen the command of ancient Greek language;
- 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

Students who have never studied ancient Greek in their previous education are required to follow the cycle of linguistic exercises that will take place in the 1st semester (Prof. Savio) and which will provide the linguistic bases: these cycle of linguistic exercises can also be attended by students who need a review or want to strengthen their foundations in ancient Greek language. The teaching that will take place in the 2nd semester (Prof. Pagani) requires a basic knowledge of the ancient Greek language as a preliminary requisite.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures and seminar-based lessons, with active contribution by the students. This teaching includes a cycle of linguistic exercises in the 1st semester, aimed at providing the fundamental linguistic competence to students who have never studied ancient Greek in their previous education, and also open to students who need a review or want to strengthen their foundations in ancient Greek language (see Prerequisites). The teaching will also benefit from a further cycle of linguistic exercises during the 2nd semester, in parallel with the teaching lessons, which will support students in the preparation of the exam texts, with insights in their linguistical aspects (morpho-syntactic analysis and translation).

The lessons will be held in presence. Attendance at lessons is highly recommended. Non-attending students are asked to contact the teachers to receive supplementary bibliography. All the students are requested to register on the Aulaweb page of the teaching.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

0) This teaching includes a cycle of linguistic exercises in the 1st semester (Prof. Savio), aimed at providing the basic linguistic skills to students who have never studied Ancient Greek in their previous education and is also open to those who need a review or want to strengthen their foundations of ancient Greek language (see Prerequisites).

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; Tyrtaeus, Solon, Mimnermus, Theognis; 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).
This part will be treated in class in general terms; students will find a full treatment of it in the handbook (see Recommended reading/Bibliography).

2) Language and translation: insights into morphology, syntax and lexicon of ancient Greek will be given in a coordinate way with the translation of a selection of prose passages from Strabo (book 8) and from Pausanias (book 5) relating to the sanctuary of Olympia. This part will benefit from a further cycle of linguistic exercises during the 2nd semester, in parallel with the teaching lessons.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

0) Linguistic exercises (1st semester):

a) P. Agazzi, M. Vilardo, Ἑλληνιστί. Grammatica della lingua greca. Manuale, Zanichelli 2002;

b) A Greek-English lexicon, compiled by H. G. Liddell and. R. Scott 9th ed. revised and augmented throughout by H. Stuart Jones, with a supplement, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1969 (available in the library or online: http://stephanus.tlg.uci.edu/lsj/#eid=1&context=lsj or http://perseus.uchicago.edu/LSJ.html)

1) Introduction to the Greek literary world:

– F. Will, A Guide to Ancient Greek Literature, Language, Script, Imagination and Philosophy, Cambridge Scholars Publishing 2020 (introductions the ages and genres; chapter/paragraphs related to the selection of authors indicated in the Contents (see above)).

2) Language and translation

a) P. Agazzi, M. Vilardo, Ἑλληνιστί. Grammatica della lingua greca. Manuale, Zanichelli 2002 or

J. Morwood, Oxford Grammar of Classical Greek, Oxford, Oxford University Press 2001;

b) H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, Oxford, Clarendon Press 1940 (available for consultation in the library and online);

c) The geography of Strabo, with an English translation by O. L. Jones (Book VIII), Cambridge (Mass.), Harvard University Press 1970-1988;

d) Pausanias, Description of Greece, with an English Translation by W. H. S. Jones, D. Litt, and H. A. Ormerod (Book V), Cambridge (Mass.), Harvard University Press 1918.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

LARA PAGANI (President)

MARTINA SAVIO

GRETA GERTHOUX (Substitute)

SERENA PERRONE (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Linguistic exercises: 18/09/2023

Teaching lectures: 21/2/24

Class schedule

GREEK LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral test. It is possible, but not mandatory, to split up the exam into two different tests, the first one about the topics listed above in nr. 1, the second one about the topics listed above in nr. 2 (in this order) (see Syllabus/Content and Readings/Bibliography): in that case, the final mark will be determined by an average between the marks of the two tests, each of one must be sufficient; if the second test proves insufficient, the evaluation assigned to the first test will remain valid.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral test consists of an interview aiming at ascertaining: 1) the acquisition of a basic knowledge of the genres and the most relevant authors of Greek literature, with attention also to the diachronic development; 2) the knowledge of ancient Greek language and the ability to translate, analyze the content and the meaning of the texts discussed in class, especially in relation to relevant aspects from an archaeological, topographical or artistic point of view (or of the texts collected in the volume indicated in Bibliography for non-attending students). As related to both aspects, also the capability to use an appropriate and correct expression will be assessed.
‘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 know the basic aspects of ancient Greek language and to be able to translate and understand the meaning of a pre-prepared ancient Greek literary text and to present its contents with an appropriate language.
‘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 language and using the appropriate technical vocabulary.

Exam schedule