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Classical Language and Texts: Greek V: Tragedy

Module description

Detailed study and literary appreciation of Greek Tragedy in the original language.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module aims to produce advanced understanding of the language, style and significance of Greek tragedy by close study of selected plays. The plays are chosen from the three extant fifth-century tragedians.

Attention will also be paid to Aristotle's Poetics as the most important ancient text dealing with tragedy.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the language, style and content of the plays studied
• 2. Describe in detail and provide an advanced analysis of the form and significance of the genre of Greek tragedy

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Demonstrate advanced linguistic mastery of ancient Greek
• 4. Enhanced critical and interpretative skills
• 5. Locate literary texts in their cultural context

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Show a capacity for sustained independent analysis of literary texts in a foreign (ancient) language
• 7. Capacity to discuss the content and form of these texts with peers and instructor

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will involve 22 two-hour seminars, with instructor and students exploring closely the Greek texts and their significance. Seminars focused on key passages throughout plays, with instructor and students sharing in translation, interpretation and discussion.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Prescribed texts:

• D. Raeburn and O. Thomas (eds.), The Agamemnon of Aeschylus (Oxford University Press, 2011).
• R.D. Dawe (ed.), Oedipus Rex: Revised Edition (Cambridge University Press, 2006).
• C.W. Willink (ed.), Euripides: Orestes (Oxford University Press, 1986).
• M. Heath, Aristotle: Poetics (Penguin Classics, 1996: this text will be studied mainly in English translation).

A detailed reading plan and secondary bibliography will be supplied by the module lecturer.

Selected further reading:

• The Cambridge Companion to Greek Tragedy (ed. P.E.Easterling, Cambridge 1997)
• E. Csapo and W. Slater, The Context of Ancient Drama (Ann Arbor, 1995).
• P. Easterling (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Tragedy (Cambridge, 1997).
• Markantonatos (ed.), Brill's Companion to Sophocles (Leiden, 2012).
• J. Mossman (ed.), Oxford Readings in Euripides (Oxford, 2003).
• R. Rutherford, Greek Tragic Style (Cambridge, 2012).
• M.E. Wright, Euripides: Orestes (London, 2008).

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=2287

Key words search

Classics, Greek, Tragedy