Unit name | Greek Language Level B2 |
---|---|
Unit code | CLASM0029 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | M/7 |
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 |
Plato’s Symposium is a literary masterpiece set at a high society dinner in 5th-century Athens. As the wine flows, each member of the party gives a speech on the nature of erōs. We are treated to an intimate glimpse of Athenian super-stars at leisure: the comedian Aristophanes, tragedian Agathon, physician Eryximachus, and of course philosopher Socrates, each present their vision of eros. Socrates’ speech seems to cap a crescendo of interpretations, but just as he finishes, the enfant terrible Alcibiades bursts in and gives his own speech. Dressed like the god of wine himself, he narrates how he could not conform to Socrates’ theory and Socrates could not accept his passions. This conflict is all the more poignant in that Plato sets the dialogue near the time of Alcibiades’ violent death. Socrates himself would be executed not long after. Who was right about erotic love?
On successful completion of this unit students should:
Lectures, Seminars and reading classes
Modes of assessment for First, Second, Third years and MAs will be as follows:
J.R. Cheadle, 2002. Basic Greek Vocabulary, Nelson
Dover K.J.ed.1980 Plato’s Symposium, Cambridge
Liddell, H. G.and R. Scott. 1963. Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon, Oxford
Morwood, J. 2001. Oxford Grammar of Classical Greek, Oxford
Set Texts:
Set Greek passages: 700 lines TBA
Students should also read all of Plato’s Symposium in English