28952 - Tradition and Permanence of Classics (1) (LM)

Course contents

The myth of Briseis: from Homer to Pat Barker and Natalie Haynes

After an introduction based on the notions of intertextuality and intervisuality, the course will focus on the myth of Briseis, with readings ranging from Homer, Propertius, Ovid, the Ilias Latina, Severus of Alexandria, Quintus of Smyrne, to modern rewritings - with particular attention to feminist retellings of the myth (e.g., Pat Barker, The Silence of the Girls; Natalie Haynes, A Thousand Ships).

Latin texts must be studied in Latin. Students in Classics will be required to read the Greek Texts in Greek.

Not-attending students are kindly requested to contact the professor by e-mail to agree on additional readings.

Readings/Bibliography

Texts:

Selected passages from Homer, Iliad, I, IX, XIX, XX; Prop. II.8 e II.9; Ovid, Her. 3; selected passages from Ilias Latina; selected passages from Quintus of Smyrne, Posthomerica; Severus of Alexandria, ethopeia 1 Amato; Giovanni Pascoli, La cetra di Achille; Pat Barker, The Silence of the Girls (full reading of the novel); Natalie Haynes, A Thousand Ships (full reading of the novel).

The full list of the texts will be provided by the end of the course.

General bibliography:

• G. Genette, Palinsesti. La letteratura al secondo grado, Turin, Einaudi 1997
• G.B. Conte, Memoria dei poeti e sistema letterario. Catullo, Virgilio, Ovidio e Orazio, Palermo 2012 (II ed.)
• C. Dué, Homeric Variations on a Lament by Briseis, Maryland 2002
• M. Fantuzzi, Achilles in Love. Intertextual Studies, Oxford 2012
• F. Cox-E. Theodorakopoulos, Homer's daughters: women's responses to Homer in the twentieth century and beyond. Classical presences. Oxford-New York 2019

Additional specific bibliographical references, concerning the single themes and texts that will be object of the lectures, will be provided during the course.

 

Teaching methods

Lectures in class.

Assessment methods

Viva voce examination, which will test the ability of:
- understanding texts in their historical and literary environment

- understanding and translating Latin texts (students of Classics are expected to also read the Greek texts in their original Language; of course, the number of Latin texts to be read will be reduced: a detailed list of the texts will be available before the end of the course)

- discussing and evaluating the critical readings proposed in the bibliography of the course.

Assessment guidelines:
Failing grades: lack of basic linguistic knowledge and inability to produce a correct interpretation of the text.
Passing grades: linguistic and philological proficiency at an intermediate level; mostly correct interpretation of the texts, yet inaccurate and lacking autonomy.
Excellent grades: linguistic and philological proficiency at an upper-mid level; correct, autonomous, and precise interpretation of the texts.

Teaching tools

The texts and the images analysed during the course will be made available online.

Office hours

See the website of Lucia Floridi