2023/24 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

CLAS1615 Greek Poets

20 creditsClass Size: 60

Module manager: Dr Bev Back
Email: b.back@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

Module replaces

CLAS1610 After Troy: Homecoming in Greek Epic and Tragedy

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module provides an introduction for students to two Ancient Greek poets, Homer and Aeschylus, through detailed study of Homer's Odyssey, a seminal work in the Western literary tradition, and Aeschylus’ Oresteia, the earliest acknowledged masterpiece of European drama. The poems will be read in English translation.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should have acquired an understanding and appreciation of two Greek poets: Homer and Aeschylus. Through these poets students will be introduced to Ancient Greek epic and Ancient Greek tragedy in detailed study of Homer's Odyssey and Aeschylus' Oresteia in English translation. In particular, they should be able to provide an informed analysis of:
- the narrative techniques of oral-traditional epic;
- the physical structure and stage conventions of the Greek theatre;
- the major themes of the Odyssey and Oresteia, their narrative and/or dramatic structure, and their intertextual relations;
- the implications of the religious and moral ideas which underlie the texts;
- the relevance of the contemporary social and political context to the interpretation of the texts;
The knowledge and critical skills acquired in this module will provide a basis for further study of classical Greek poetry and drama, and relevant background to the study of later European literature.

Learning outcomes
Students completing this module are expected to have acquired an understanding of Greek epic and tragedy through detailed study of two Greek poets, Homer and Aeschylus.

1. Through introductory study of Homer's Odyssey and Aeschylus' Oresteia, students will have gained insights into:
- the narrative techniques of oral-traditional epic (ILO 1)
- the physical structure and stage conventions of the Greek theatre (ILO 2)
- the major themes of the Odyssey and Oresteia, their narrative and/or dramatic structure, and their intertextual relations; (ILO 3)
- the implications of the religious and moral ideas which underlie the texts (ILO 4);
- the relevance of the contemporary social and political context to the interpretation of the poets and poems (ILO 5)
- and improved their communication and writing skills (ILO 6)
The knowledge and critical skills acquired in this module will provide a basis for further study of Greek literature and relevant background to the study of later European literature.

Skills outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to provide informed textual commentary on passages from the prescribed texts, and discuss key aspects of the literary, dramatic and cultural aspects of the two poems in discursive form.

Syllabus

The module will provide an introduction to two Ancient Greek poets, Homer and Aeschylus and to the genres of Ancient Greek epic and tragedy, through the detailed study of Homer's Odyssey and Aeschylus' Oresteia in English translation.

The module will cover the following topics: the Homeric poems and the oral tradition; the principal themes of the Odyssey; its religious and moral premises; the narrative structure of the poem; detailed study of major episodes; the place of the Odyssey in the epic tradition; the physical structure and stage conventions of the Greek theatre, and Aeschylus' use of these resources; the dramatic and narrative structure of the three plays, and of the trilogy as a whole; the trilogy's relationship to earlier Greek literary traditions; the religious and moral ideas which underlie the trilogy; the relevance of the contemporary social and political context to the interpretation of the trilogy.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	20	1.00	20.00
Seminar	7	1.00	7.00
Private study hours			173.00
Total Contact hours			27.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Reading primary texts: 2 x 15 hours = 30 hours
Lecture preparation: 20 x 1.5 hours = 30 hours
Seminar preparation: 5 x 4 hours = 20 hours
Essay 1: 47 hours
Essay 2: 47 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Seminar participation including formative presentations to develop oral communication skills; feedback on written coursework ahead of coursework 2.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	Essay of maximum 1500 words	50.00
Essay	1,500 word commentary	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Reading primary texts: 2 x 15 hours = 30 hours Lecture preparation: 20 x 1.5 hours = 30 hours Seminar preparation: 7 x 4 hours = 28 hours Preparing two assessments : 85 hours

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 14/11/2023

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