00556 - Greek Literature

Learning outcomes

Starting from a general outline of the main stages of Greek literary production, the course focuses mainly on the study of Greek language sources pertaining to the cultural heritage of the Classic age and of Late Antiquity, as well as on the myths, rituals, and institutions that gave rise to this heritage.

Course contents

A. Special section

Guided reading of Homer, including a discussion of the Homeric language (conventional, crystallized, and strongly influenced by meter), of the centuries-long stratification process in Epic poetry, and of the Homeric question. Required reading: Homer, Iliad IX.

B. General section

Elements of literary history, historical grammar, and history of tradition.

Readings/Bibliography

A. - A. Ercolani, Omero, Rome (Carocci) 2006; E.Cavallini (ed. by), Omero mediatico. Aspetti della ricezione omerica nella civiltà contemporanea, Bologna (Dupress) 2006.

Further required reading includes one of the following studies: B. Gentili, Poesia e pubblico nella Grecia antica , Rome-Bari (Laterza) 1989 (II ed.); W. Burkert, Mito e rituale in Grecia. Struttura e storia, Rome-Bari (Laterza) 1991; La civiltà dei greci. Forme, luoghi, contesti , edited by M. Vetta, Rome (Carocci) 2001.

It is recommended to visit the site of the Mythimedia Project (http://www.mythimedia.org)

B. - Homer: students can pick one of the currently available editions.

C. - For the historical grammar section, students are advised to use either P. Chantraine, Morphologie historique du grec, Paris (Klincksieck) 1961, or D. Pieraccioni, Morfologia storica della lingua greca , Messina-Florence (D'Anna) 1975. For the literary history section, A. Bruscaglioni, Letteratura greca , new updated edition by C. Boni, Bologna (Nautilus) 2003.

Students of the introductory Greek course can use A. Aloni (ed.), La lingua dei Greci, Rome (Carocci) 2003.

Teaching methods

Classes will put emphasis on the essentially 'fluid' nature of Epic poetry, on the constant modifications, additions and adaptations it has undergone according to different social contexts, patrons, and audiences. Ever since its origins, the Greek mythical narration has been a 'work in progress', and has found interesting echoes/reverberations even in modern culture. Examples of this have been discussed in the seminars on Homer's presence in contemporary music, paying special attention to some of the most sophisticated expressions of what is commonly (although not always rightly) referred to as 'popular' music.

Assessment methods

The oral examination consists in reading a short passage from Homer in the Greek language, translating it, and briefly commenting on its grammar and linguistic features. Further questions will focus on literary history and on the historical and social implications of the texts that have been chosen for study.

Teaching tools

Introductory Greek language course (Dott. Michela Rondina).

Links to further information

http://www.mythimedia.org

Office hours

See the website of Eleonora Cavallini