Unit name | Greek Poetry and Poetics |
---|---|
Unit code | CLAS30020 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | H/6 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
Unit director | Dr. Michelakis |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | Department of Classics & Ancient History |
Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
What is the function of poetry? What kinds of experience does it offer? How does it provide access to knowledge? What is the role of emotions in poetry? The focus of this unit is on the very formulation of these questions and on the attempts to answer them in the major tradition of poetic theory and criticism produced by Greek culture. The unit combines close textual analysis, literary theory, and the history of ideas. Key texts include the Homeric epics, Aristophanes' Frogs, Plato's Republic, Aristotle's Poetics, Gorgias' Helen, and Longinus' On the Sublime.
Aims:
To engage with defining texts in Greek poetics;
To gain understanding of and ability to analyse different ways of conceptualizing the experience of poetry;
To gain understanding of and ability to analyse different ways of thinking about literary criticism as an aesthetic and social activity;
To develop critical interaction with primary and secondary materials;
To develop written presentation skills through the course assessment.
On successful completion of this unit students will:
(1)be familiar with the differing ways in which poetry has been configured in the texts studied, and the uses to which these texts have been put
(2)have an appropriate level of skills in reading and interpreting different kinds of texts in relation to issues of literary criticism, ethics, and aesthetics
(3)be able to use the knowledge acquired in class and through independent research to construct coherent, relevant and critical arguments concerning the interpretative issues raised by the texts studied
(4) ability to apply existing analytical strategies to new evidence
Students will also be expected to show:
(5) skills in critical thinking and in written communication appropriate to level H
1 x 2 hour seminar and 1 x 1 hour seminar per week
One summative coursework essay of 3000 words (50%) and one unseen examination of 2 hours (50%).
Both elements will assess ILOs (1) (2) (3). The coursework essay in particular will offer students the opportunity to demonstrate ILOs (4) and (5).