Unit name | Approaches to Myth |
---|---|
Unit code | CLAS22362 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | I/5 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
Unit director | Dr. Zajko |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | Department of Classics & Ancient History |
Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
The aim of this unit will be to explore a number of aspects of Greek and Roman mythology, using texts from a variety of genres and periods. We will explore the significance of the way that the term myth-ology combines both 'muthos' and 'logos' and so can be seen to encode the struggle for mastery between a story and its interpretation. Myth has generally been negatively defined against other forms of discourse, against e.g. history, philosophy, or theology, and it has been claimed that it was the Greeks themselves who invented this kind of taxonomy. In the modern world this kind of negative definition of myth can be seen to structure on-going debates about e.g. the relation of myth to feminism or to science. We shall explore both ancient and modern debates in relation to particular stories and their numerous and various interpretations.
Aims:
The aim of this unit will be to explore a number of approaches to Greek and Roman mythology, using a variety of texts and images as source material. Myths will be shown to respond to a range of different interpretative strategies.
On successful completion ofthis unit, students should
myths
representations of myths
(through discussion and questions) and in written communication (through essay work, informal tests and examinations). The different expectations of work for first-year and second-year students are spelled out in detail in the two respective
Student Handbooks, in the sections on" 'Progression' in your course" (currently on p. 32 in 1st-Year Handbook and 16 in 2nd-year Handbook).
Lectures (but with use of small-group work, question-sessions, informal presentations by students).
One continuous-assessment essay (2000 words for Level 1; 2500 words for Level 2) - 50 marks
One written examination of 90 minutes:
(a) Comment on two out of four passages or images (2 x 15 marks)
(b) Write on one out of four essays (20 marks)
Total 50 marks
R. Buxton, Imaginary Greece (Cambridge, 1994)
E. Csapo, Theories of Mythology (Malden, 2005)
W. Doty, Mythography. The Study of Myths and Rituals (Tuscaloosa 2000)
L. Edmunds, Approaches to Greek Myth (Baltimore, 1990)
D. Feeney, Literature and Religion at Rome (Cambridge 1998)
R. Woodward, The Cambridge Companion to Greek Myth (Cambridge 2008)
Set Texts: