Epic Poetry in Ancient Greece and Rome

For centuries epic poetry shaped the dreams and identities of the ancient Greeks and Romans, inspiring the creation of European Literature. In this course we shall focus on the central epic poems of ancient Greece and Rome, reading selections from Homer (the Iliad and the Odyssey), Hesiod (Works and Days and the Theogony), Apollonius Rhodius (Argonautica), Vergil (Aeneid) and Ovid (Metamorphoses). We shall examine the main features of the genre in terms of form, style, plot, characters and world views, discussing also the reception of the genre in contemporary culture. During the course we shall particularly look into the representation of heroism (and anti-heroism), creation stories and journeys to the underworld, and inter-personal relations. Classes will combine lectures with close reading of a selection of texts in translation.

This is an introductory course that requires no previous knowledge of Classical literature.

Course Requirements: Attendance and active participation; reading assignments from class to class; take-home exam.