CLAS E-116/W

Introduction to Greek Literature: Concepts of the Hero & Beyond

SPRING 2009

The true "hero" of this course is the logos or "word" of logical reasoning, as activated by Socratic dialogue. The logos of dialogue requires careful thinking, realized in close reading and reflective writing. The last "word" to be read in the course will come from Plato's memories of the last days of Socrates. These memories depend on a thorough understanding of the concept of the hero in all its varieties throughout the history of Greek civilization. This course is driven by a sequence of dialogues that lead to such an understanding, guiding the attentive reader through many of the major works of the ancient Greek Classics, from Homer to Plato. The recorded lectures and supplementary proseminar sessions are from the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences course, Literature and Arts C-14.

Prof. Gregory Nagy (e-mail: gnagy@fas.harvard.edu). Classics Department, Boylston Hall, 2nd floor.

Dr. Kevin McGrath (e-mail: kmcgrath@fas.harvard.edu). Classics Dept. Office hour, 3:45 - 4:45, on Thursday, in Boylston Hall 228.

Course Web Page: http://chs.harvard.edu/nightheroes [Username - nostos and password – kleos]

Required Reading: Sourcebook. You must collect the Sourcebook at the Harvard COOP: it is under the listing of Lit. & Arts C-14, (LA C-14). The Sourcebook is also available as a PDF file on the Website.

Recommended Reading: For further background on and interpretation of the required reading, two books by G. Nagy are available on the website, The Best of the Achaeans: Concepts of the Hero in Archaic Greek Poetry; and, Pindar's Homer. These books supply background for some, but hardly all, of the topics to be presented in the course.

Elements of the Course: two, weekly one-hour recorded Dialogues; one weekly recorded Proseminar; and one weekly live Section at Church Street. All these are required. The Section is streamed 'live' and Distant Students will be able to telephone questions directly to the Instructor.

Components of Course Grade: Two 3-page essays, 15% & 30%; final 8-page paper, 55%. This is a Writing Intensive Course.

Important Dates:

February 26: Draft of first paper due in class.

March 12: First paper due in class.

April 9: Draft of second paper due in class.

April 23: Second paper due in class.

April 30: One page abstract of final paper due in class.

May 18: Third paper due by 5:00 pm in Classics Dept. (Mailbox of Kevin McGrath.)

You are responsible for meeting these requirements. If you know that you are going to be absent, submit the material at an earlier date to the Classics Dept., mailbox of Kevin McGrath. There are No Extensions given for papers; electronic submissions are Not accepted, except for Distance Students. Distance Students Must prefix each page of any paper submitted with their name and e-mail address. Distant Papers are to be submitted on the due day by SIX p.m., via e-mail.

SCHEDULE OF DIALOGUES AND READINGS

Beginning with the second week, you should complete the assigned reading BEFORE Thursday's Section.

Week 1

Reading: Reading: "Introduction 1: Facts about the 'Heroes' course." "Introduction 2: Relevant facts about ancient Greek history." "Introduction 3: The Epic Hero." (All available on the website). Introduction to the Homeric Iliad and Odyssey" (Sourcebook).

1/29 Dialogues 1a and 1b

Week 2

Reading: Iliad, Scrolls I-VIII; and, selections from Alcman and Sappho; also, Nagy, "Lyric And Greek Myth", "Homer And Greek Myth", "Did Sappho And Alcaeus Ever Meet?" (on the website),

2/5 Dialogues 2 and 3

Week 3

Reading: Iliad, Scrolls IX-XVII.

2/12 Dialogues 4 and 5

Week 4

Reading: Iliad, Scrolls XVIII-XXIV. Reread "Homer And Greek Myth."

2/19 Dialogues 6 and 7

Week 5

Reading: Begin reading Homeric Odyssey, Scrolls i-xii; and, Proclus, Summaries of the Epic Cycle; also re-read Nagy, "Homer And Greek Myth" - the second half, about the Odyssey (on the website).

2/26 Dialogues 8 and 9

Draft of First Paper due in class.

Week 6

Reading: Odyssey, Scrolls xiii-xxiv.

3/5 Dialogues 10 and 11

[Draft of First Paper returned.]

Week 7

Reading: Selections from Philostratus; and reread "The Epic Hero" (on the website).

3/12 Dialogues 11 and 12

First Paper due in class.

Week 8

Reading: Selections from Hesiod and Theognis.

3/19 Dialogue 13.

Week 9 SPRING BREAK

Week 10

Reading: Selections from Herodotus; Aeschylus, Oresteia Trilogy: Agamemnon, Libation-Bearers, Eumenides; and, Nagy, "Notes on Greek Tragedy."

4/2 Dialogues 14 and 15

Week 11

Reading: Aeschylus, continued; selections from Pindar, Herodotus.

4/9 Dialogues 16 and 17

Draft of Second Paper due in class.

Week 12

Reading: Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus; Oidipus Tyrannus.

4/16 Dialogues 18 and 19

[Draft of Second Paper returned.]

Week 13 Reading: Euripides, Hippolytus; Bacchae.

4/23 Dialogues 20 and 21

Second Paper due in class.

Week 14

Reading: Plato, Apology; Phaedo.

4/30 Dialogues 22 and 23

Abstract of Third Paper due in class.

Week 15

The Hero As Savior.

5/7 Dialogue 24

[Abstract returned.]

Week 16

Review & Final Questions:

5/14 Closing Dialogue During Section

5/18 Third Paper due by 4:00 pm in the Classics Department