00556 - Greek Literature

Learning outcomes

The student will become acquainted with philological methods applyed to many literary texts , regarded within their historical and social background.

Course contents

Module 1 (30 hours)
War and Peace: the perspective of a comic poet (Aristophanes, Acharnians, Knights, Lysistrata).

Module 2 (30 hours)
Discourses on Love: Plato and Xenophon's Symposium.

Alphabetization to ancient Greek (optional): lessons to approach and improve the knowledge of ancient Greek language will be offered during the same academic year.

Readings/Bibliography

A (modules 1 and 2): Students are required to know the historical development of Greek literature and its main authors. Suggested handbook: Andrea Rodighiero, Sabina Mazzoldi, Dino Piovan, Civiltà letteraria della Grecia antica, Bologna, Zanichelli, 2025; Camillo Neri, Enrico Medda, Enrico Magnelli, Storia della letteratura greca, Roma, Carocci, 2025. Otherwise, the students can use the handbook they have from previous studies.

B (module 1): notes from the lessons and texts provided during the courses and uploaded to "Virtuale".

- It is compulsory the reading of: A) Aristophanes, Acharnians; B) Aristophanes, Knights; C) Aristophanes, Lysistrata.

- It is compulsory the reading of four articles (that will be uploaded on Virtuale): 1) C. Pace, “L’εὐβουλία di Diceopoli: politica e ironia in Aristoph. Ach. 1008”, Seminari Romani di Cultura Greca 8 (2019) 89-120; 2) F. Morosi, G. Paduano, “Fenomenologia del piacere sessuale nel teatro di Aristofane”, Dioniso 10-11 (2020-2021) 57-106; 3) E. Fabbro, “Democrazia e potere di Demo nei «Cavalieri» di Aristofane”, Dioniso 12 (2022) 67-113; 3) E. Fabbro, “La trasgressione felice nelle commedie «pacifiste» di Aristofane”, Dioniso 8 (2018) 121-164.

Suggested translations of Aristophanes' works:

- Aristofane. Acarnesi, introduzione, traduzione e commento di Diego Lanza, Roma: Carocci, 2012.

- Aristofane. I cavalieri, introduzione, traduzione e note di Guido Paduano, Milano: Bur, 2009.

- Aristofane. Lisistrata, introduzione, traduzione e note di Guido Paduano, Milano: Bur, 2014.

C (module 2): notes from the lessons and texts provided during the courses and uploaded to "Virtuale".

- It is compulsory the reading of: A) Plato, Symposium; B) Xenophon, Symposium.

- It is compulsory the reading of: A) L.E. Rossi, "Il simposio arcaico e classico come spettacolo a se stesso, in F. Doglio (ed.), Spettacoli conviviali dall’antichità classica alle corti italiane del ‘400 (Atti del VII Convegno di Studio del Centro di Studi sul teatro medioevale e rinascimentale, Viterbo 27–30 maggio 1982), Viterbo 1983, 41-50; B) M. Vetta, "Poesia simposiale", in Id. (ed.), Poesia e simposio nella Grecia antica. Guida storica e critica, Bari: Laterza, 1983, 13-60; C) D. Micalella, "Conoscenza e sogno: il discorso di Aristofane nel Simposio platonico", Studi Classici e Orientali 46.2 (1997) 409-421; D) M.L. Catoni, L. Giuliani, "Socrate-Satiro: genesi di un ritratto", Annuario della Scuola Archeologica di Atene e delle Missioni Italiane in Oriente, Ser. 3a, 15 (2015) 39-60.

Suggested translations of Plato and Xenophon's Symposium:

- Platone. Il simposio, traduzione di Carlo Diano, introduzione e commento di Davide Susanetti, Venezia: Marsilio, 1992.

- Senofonte. Simposio, introduzione, traduzione e commento di Anna Giovanelli, Milano: La vita felice, 2003.

Supplementary readings for students who cannot attend the course: (for Module 1) S. Beta, La donna che sconfigge la guerra. Lisistrata racconta la sua storia, Roma: Carocci, 2022; (for Module 2) L. Della Bianca, S. Beta, Oinos. Il vino nella letteratura greca, Roma: Carocci, 2002.

Students of the Bachelor in History will follow only one module and are requested to study the bibliography pertaining to points A (general part, mandatory for all) and B or C (according to the Module they will attend/study).

 

Teaching methods

Lectures and seminars.

Assessment methods

The conclusive examination is an oral interview. It is required a close, critical investigation of the texts examined during the course. The students who will prove to achieve a thorough and complete knowledge ofthe topics discussed during the lessons will gain excellent marks; the students who will show an incomplete knowledge of the topics and will not be able to contextualize the main authors of Greek literature will gain lower marks or even a fail, depending on the importance of the subject.

Range of marks: outstanding: 30L; excellent: 28-30; good: 25-27; discrete: 22-24; sufficient: 18-21.

Final tests will be scheduled in these months: 1) January, 2) February, 3) June, 4) July, 5) September, 6) October/November.

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible ( https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Use of AI allowed only as a tool for study and as a support for the final test; not allowed during the oral test.

Teaching tools

Texts and copies, e-learning documents (Virtuale).

Office hours

See the website of Mattia De Poli