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CODE 64893
ACADEMIC YEAR 2024/2025
CREDITS
SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINARY SECTOR L-FIL-LET/05
LANGUAGE Italian
TEACHING LOCATION
  • GENOVA
SEMESTER 2° Semester
TEACHING MATERIALS AULAWEB

OVERVIEW

Only a few complete examples and a multitude of fragments from the wide Greek and Latin theatrical production reached us, all of which by now reduced to bare texts. The class aims to provide the basic tools for understanding the contexts and practical aspects of ancient theater, and thus read Greek and Latin comedies and tragedies with awareness of their original performance dimension.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Knowing the history and authors of Greek and Latin theatre and the twelve texts by authors from Aeschylus to Seneca in their Italian translation. Ability to read texts that were written for the stage as ‘scripts’. Elements of the evolution of the theatre building. Sufficient ability to identify the structure of a text, possible stage situation and to recognise and connect the placement of words in lines. Elements on the success and presence of Greek and Latin texts in the modern age.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The learning aims in detail are:

  • knowledge of the main elements of the diachronic evolution of theatre in the ancient world from the origins to the imperial age: theatre buildings, performance contexts and practical aspects of staging;
  • knowledge of the main authors of Greek and Latin theatre (Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, Menander, Plautus, Terence, Seneca) and their surviving production;
  • ability to read texts intended for the stage as 'scripts', identify the dramaturgical structures, the possible stage situation, the interlocution and other performative aspects;
  • elements on the tradition and fortune of Greek and Latin dramatic texts.

 

At the end of the class, the student will have a basic knowledge of the history of theatre in the ancient world and of the main Greek and Latin authors of the tragic and comic genres; he/she will have direct knowledge of a representative selection of ancient plays; he/she will be able to read the texts with awareness of the dramaturgical structures and performance aspects; he/she will have the first rudiments to evaluate the reception of ancient theatre in modern and contemporary productions.

 

TEACHING METHODS

The first hours will offer a general overview of theatre in the ancient world through frontal lessons (with power points). This will be followed by lessons with direct reading of Greek and Latin texts in translation, but with frequent references to the original text, in which the active participation of the students will be required. With reference to the fortune of ancient dramas, video clips of contemporary performances may also be offered.

As part of the didactic support activities, Dr Letizia Cinus will hold 4 lectures dedicated to Latin theatrical texts.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Overview of the evolution of the theatrical phenomenon in the ancient world, from classical Athens to imperial Rome: theatrical buildings, contexts and practical aspects of staging; main Greek and Latin playwrights and the structure of the plays.

Reading and interpretation of a selection of texts representative of the tragic and comic genre.

Outlines on the reception and fortune of ancient drama, with particular reference to modern and contemporary restaging of classical comedies and tragedies.

Non-attending students are encouraged to contact the teacher (serena.perrone@unige.it).

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Recommended Handbook:

  • Elena Adriani, Storia del teatro antico, Carocci 2017

Autonomous reading of the full text in translation of 9 dramas (possibly in editions with the original text opposite for students of Lettere classical curriculum; in any translation for other students).

4 Greek dramas from a choice of the following (at least one per author):

  • Aeschylus, The Persians or Agamemnon or Coephorae
  • Sophocles, Antigone or Electra or Philoctetes or Oedipus Rex
  • Euripides, Alcestis or Medea or Electra or Helen or The Bacchae or Cyclops

3 Greek comedies from a choice of the following:

  • Aristophanes, Knights or Clouds or Peace or Frogs or Lysistrata
  • Menander, The Shield

2 Latin dramas from a choice of the following (one per author):

  • Plautus, Miles gloriosus or Amphitruo or Pseudolus
  • Seneca, Agamemnon or Medea or Oedipus Rex

Some materials and further guidance will be provided during the semester (see Aulaweb).

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

SERENA PERRONE (President)

LETIZIA CINUS

LARA PAGANI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Within the week starting 17 February 2025

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of an oral test aimed at assessing the acquisition of general knowledge about ancient theatre, its history and the main Greek and Latin playwrights, as well as the ability to read and interpret Greek and Latin dramatic texts with an awareness of their performative aspects.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The examen will consist of an interview aimed at ascertaining the acquisition of general knowledge about ancient theatre, its history and the main Greek and Latin playwrights, as well as the ability to apply this knowledge to the critical reading of a selection of texts, which includes the scenes covered during the class and the 9 full-length plays read in translation by the student on their own. Clarity and propriety of language in exposition are also considered.

As a basic threshold, knowledge of the outlines of Greek and Latin theatre history and the surviving production of the main authors (Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, Menander, Plautus, Terence, Seneca) is required. To reach a threshold of excellence, the ability to apply the acquired knowledge to the dramaturgical analysis of texts is required, demonstrating the ability to correctly frame texts, understand their structure and performative aspects, and grasp the essential aspects for a comparative analysis with modern re-staging.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Erasmus students not proficient in Italian may request a substitutive bibliography, and take the examination in English.

Students with a disability or specific learning disorder (SLD) can consult UniGe guidelines.