2008/09 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

CLAS3790 Greek Tragedy

20 creditsClass Size: 50

Module manager: Dr Sue Hamstead
Email: s.d.hamstead@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2008/09

Module replaces

CLAS3135CLAS3145

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module is suitable for Level 2 or 3 students with some basic knowledge of Classical literature. It encourages detailed study of four major Greek tragedies, Sophocles' Ajax and Women of Trachis and Euripides' Hecabe and Heracles. The aim is to promote understanding of the nature of Greek tragedy as a literary genre, of the dramatic technique and thought of two major tragedians and to locate fifth-century tragedy in its cultural context, and to acquaint students with the most important contemporary approaches to Greek tragedy. The plays are studied in English translation (tr. E. Watling Sophocles: Electra and Other Plays, Penguin 1973; tr. P. Vellacott Euripides: Medea and Other Plays, Penguin 1973). The module is worth 20 credits and runs in semester 1 only, with two lectures per week and a total of two seminars. For further information, visit us at the Electives Fair or contact the Department of Classics, situated on the first floor of the Parkinson Building, south end (email: classics@leeds.ac.uk; website: www.leeds.ac.uk/classics/; telephone: 0113 343 3537).

Objectives

To encourage detailed study of four major Greek tragedies; to promote understanding of the nature of Greek tragedy as a literary genre, and of the dramatic technique and thought of two major tragedians; to locate fifth-century tragedy in its cultural context; and to acquaint students with the most important contemporary approaches to Greek tragedy.

Syllabus

This module will study four tragedies Sophocles (Women of Trachis, Ajax) and Euripides (Heracles, Hecabe) in English translation. The introductory lectures will highlight important themes and issues in the four plays; outline their transmission and reception; and discuss some of the problems of interpretation posed by texts composed in a culture different from our own by authors about whom we have very little reliable independent evidence. In the subsequent lectures and seminars the plays themselves will be studied with a view to: performance and staging; dramatic technique and structure; innovations in the stories dramatised; religious and ethical issues.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	20	1.00	20.00
Seminar	2	1.00	2.00
Private study hours			178.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	1 x 2,000 word essay	40.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		40.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	2 hr 00 mins	60.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		60.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 03/10/2008

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