Course Description
The interpretation and analysis of ancient myths, particularly those of Greece and Rome.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students are required to direct seminar sessions and write more extensive research papers.
Athena Title
Analysis Classical Mythology
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 FAMILIAR WITH AND BE ABLE TO APPLY SEVERAL APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF MYTHS, MOST OF WHICH REVOLVE AROUND HOW ONE INTERPRETS SYMBOLS. 2. STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY AND, IN CERTAIN INSTANCES, SOLVE PROBLEMS IN THE ANALYSIS OF (GREEK) MYTHS. 3. STUDENTS WILL ACQUIRE ABILITY TO INTERPRET THE DEVELOPMENT OF MYTHS THROUGH TIME AND ACROSS CULTURES. 4. STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THE "COMING OF THE GREEKS" AND THEIR DOMINATION OF THE AEGEAN (2000-1100 BC) AND TO RELATE THIS TO THE BEGINNINGS OF GREEK MYTH. 5. STUDENTS WILL ACQUIRE ABILITY TO APPLY NARRATIVE STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS TO SEVERAL ANCIENT MYTHS. 6. STUDENTS WILL ACQUIRE ABILITY TO ANALYZE SYMBOLS WITHIN A MYTH, A SET OF MYTHS, AND A CULTURE. 7. STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO EXTEND THE TOOLS OF NARRATIVE AND SYMBOL ANALYSIS FOR COMPARATIVE PURPOSES. 8. STUDENTS WILL ENGAGE IN CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF MYTH AND OF VARIOUS APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF MYTH. 9. STUDENTS WILL PRODUCE WRITING APPROPRIATE TO THE SUBJECT OF CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY AND TO THE DISCIPLINE OF CLASSICS.
Topical Outline
I. INTRODUCTION A. THEORIES OF INTERPRETATION - HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF APPROACHES TO MYTH ANALYSIS FROM ANTIQUITY TO THE 20TH CENTURY (E.G., ALLEGORIST, RITUALIST, FREUDIAN, JUNGIAN, ETC.) B. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF GREEK MYTHS II. HOMER'S ODYSSEY 1-4: AN APPLICATION OF NARRATIVE ANALYSIS TO THE "TELEMACHIA" III. HESIOD'S THEOGONY: COMPARISON (USING STRUCTURALIST AND SEMIOTIC APPROACHES) WITH OTHER COSMOGONIES, THEOGONIES AND ANTHROPOGONIES (INCLUDING BABYLONIAN, HITTITE, AND HEBREW ACCOUNTS) IV. A CONSIDERATION OF MAJOR DEITIES IN THEIR LITERARY AND ARTISTIC CONTEXTS, USING VARIOUS THEORIES INTRODUCED PREVIOUSLY (STUDENT REPORTS ON INDIVIDUAL GODS AND SETS OF GODS, USING DATA FROM HOMER, HESIOD, THE HOMERIC HYMNS, LYRIC POETRY AND TRAGEDY, PLATO, AND GREEK SCULPTURE, AND VASE PAINTINGS) V. CONCLUSION AND REFLECTION: ATTEMPTS TO DEFINE MYTH AND TO ASSESS METHODS MOST SUITABLE FOR ITS ANALYSIS