Course Description
Selected comedies of Aristophanes. Emphasis is placed on language, style, and thought, and on the generic characteristics of Greek Old Comedy.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students are required to lead seminar sessions and do
more extensive research papers.
Athena Title
Aristophanes
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in GREK 4080W
Prerequisite
GREK 2001 or GREK 2001W or GREK 2003 or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. TO ACQUAINT THE STUDENT WITH THE LANGUAGE AND METERS EMPLOYED BY ARISTOPHANES. 2. TO ACQUAINT THE STUDENT WITH THE TOPICAL SETTINGS WHICH PRODUCE THE PARTICULAR FORM OF SATIRE KNOWN AS OLD COMEDY AND THE TREATMENT IT RECEIVES IN THE HANDS OF ARISTOPHANES. 3. TO ACQUAINT THE STUDENT WITH THE PLAYS IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENT IN COMEDY. 4. TO ENABLE THE STUDENT TO ENGAGE IN CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF SEMANTIC, SYNTACTIC, GRAMMATICAL, STYLISTIC, METRICAL, POETIC, AND CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL EVIDENCE IN ARISTOPHANES' PLAYS. 5. TO ENABLE THE STUDENT TO PRODUCE WRITING APPROPRIATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF ARISTOPHANIC COMEDY AND TO THE DISCIPLINE OF CLASSICS.
Topical Outline
I. READING, TRANSLATING AND ANALYZING THE LANGUAGE OF TWO OR MORE COMEDIES OF ARISTOPHANES. II. DISCUSSING THE DRAMATIC TECHNIQUES OF OLD COMEDY ARISING FROM READING THE PLAYS.
Syllabus