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

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students master the most important philological tools for working with Greek texts, with special focus on the history of their transmission and reception. They also know elements of ancient Greek and Latin culture that are necessary for understanding modern European literatures.

Course contents

The myth of Circe: from Homer to Madeline Miller

After an introduction based on the notions of intertextuality and intervisuality, the course will focus on the myth of Circe, with readings ranging from Homer, Apollonius Rhodius, Plutarch, Vergil, Ovid, to modern rewritings - with particular attention to feminist retellings of the myth (e.g., Madeline Miller, Circe).

Visual renditions of the story, from classical antiquity until the present day, will also be analysed.

Latin texts must be studied in Latin. Students in Classics will be also 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

Homer, Odyssey, 10.135-574 and 12.1-150; Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 3.200-209; 4.661-752; Vergil, Aeneid 3.384-387; 7.10-24; Ovid, Metamorphoseis 13.904-968; 14.1-71; 14.241-415 and Remedia amoris 265-288; Carmina Priapea 68; Julia Augusta Webster, Circe; Margaret Atwood, Circe: Mud Poems; Madeline Miller, Circe (full reading of the novel). 

Suggested anthology: Circe. Variazioni sul mito, a cura di C. Franco, Marsilio 2012

General bibliography

One of the following books:

• 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.)
• M. Bettini-C. Franco, Il mito di Circe. Immagini e racconti dalla Grecia a oggi, Turin 2010

Additional specific bibliographical references, concerning the single themes and texts that will be object of the lectures, will be provided during the course (three additional readings among articles/book chapters should be selected by the student)

 

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