Course Description
The conventions of classical tragedy as exemplified in the plays (in English translation) of the Greek dramatists Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, as well as the Roman tragedian Seneca.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students are required to direct seminar sessions and write more extensive research papers.
Athena Title
Ancient Tragedy
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in CLAS 4210W
Prerequisite
CLAS 1000 or CLAS 1000E or CLAS 1000H or CLAS 1010 or CLAS 1010E or CLAS 1010H or CLAS 1020 or CLAS 1020E or CLAS 1020H or CLAS 3000 or CLAS 3010 or CLAS(ANTH) 3015 or CLAS(ANTH) 3015E or CLAS 3030 or CLAS 3040 or CLAS3050 or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. STUDENTS WILL BECOME AWARE OF THE TRADITION OF GREEK TRAGEDY THROUGH THE ANALYSIS OF THE EXTANT PLAYS OF AESCHYLUS, SOPHOCLES, AND EURIPIDES. 2. STUDENTS WILL LEARN ABOUT THE PREHISTORY OF TRAGEDY AS TRANSMITTED BY ARISTOTLE AND OTHER ANCIENT WRITERS. 3. STUDENTS WILL BECOME AWARE OF TRAGEDY'S INSTITUTIONAL STATUS AS PART OF THE CITY DIONYSIA AND ITS ROLE IN CREATING AND MAINTAINING BOTH ATHENIAN AND PAN- HELLENIC IDENTITIES. 4. STUDENTS WILL BECOME AWARE OF THE FORMAL FEATURES OF TRAGEDY AND LEARN TO ASSESS THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE EFFECT OF A PLAY. 5. STUDENTS WILL BECOME AWARE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRAGEDY IN THE FIFTH CENTURY AND BE ABLE TO CONTRAST THE APPROACHES OF AESCHYLUS, SOPHOCLES, AND EURIPIDES. 6. STUDENTS WILL BE EXPOSED TO A WIDE RANGE OF APPROACHES TO TRAGEDY, INCLUDING FORMALIST, PSYCHOANALYTICAL, AND FEMINIST APPROACHES. 7. STUDENTS WILL BE EVALUATED BY A MID-TERM, A FINAL EXAM, AND A 10-15 PAGE PAPER. 8. MUCH MORE ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT WILL BE EXPECTED BY THOSE ENROLLED FOR GRADUATE CREDIT, INCLUDING SEVERAL SEMINAR PRESENTATIONS AND A MORE EXTENSIVE TERM PAPER.
Topical Outline
I. ARISTOTLE ON TRAGEDY; PICKARD-CAMBRIDGE, DITHYRAMB, TRAGEDY AND COMEDY. II. AESCHYLUS: PERSIANS, SEVEN AGAINST THEBES, HIKETES, AGAMEMNON, CHOEPHOROI, EUMENIDES, PROMETHEUS BOUND. III. SOPHOCLES: ANTIGONE, OEDIPUS THE KING, ELECTRA, WOMEN OF TRACHIS, PHILOCTETES, OEDIPUS AT COLONUS. IV. EURIPIDES: MEDEA, HIPPOLYTUS, ELECTRA, IPHIGENIA IN TAURIS, CYCLOPS, HELEN, BACCHAE.