2 gtc syllabus

Greek Tragedy in Context: FL/EN 363

SYLLABUS, Spring 1999

3 credits, M, W 2:30-3:45 Niccols 208

C. Luschnig (AD 310a) luschnig@uidaho.edu Office hrs 1:30, T, Th; 10:30 W

Lectures and discussions of selected Greek Tragedies and one comedy (or two): The purpose of this course is to reach an understanding of the richness of Greek tragedy, to look at the plays as individual works, and to see them in their contexts as part of a literary tradition and as comments on fifth century B.C. society.

Textbooks in order of use:

Luschnig, study guide, at the bookstore and on WEB

Aeschylus, vol. 2 (Chicago series) [Persians, Seven]

Sophocles, Theban Plays (Penguin, Fagles tr.) [Antigone, Oedipus Tyrannus]

Euripides, vol. 5 (Chicago series) [Phoenissae and Bacchae; Electra]

Euripides, vol. 1 (Chicago series) [Alcestis, Medea, Hippolytus]

Aristophanes, Frogs, Birds (Meridian, Arrowsmith’s translation)

Aeschylus, Oresteia (Penguin Fagles' translation)

Sophocles, vol. 2 (Chicago series) [Electra, Philoktetes]

Euripides, vol. 4 (Chicago series) [Iphigenia, Orestes]

Useful Links:

http://didaskalia.berkeley.edu/

Didaskalia: Ancient Theater Today

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/

Perseus project homepage

Assignments, requirements, grading

Attendance: students enrolled in the class are expected to attend the lectures and discussions and to turn in written work on time. Make-ups will not be given for quizzes but the lowest quiz grade(s) will be dropped. Attendance means being prepared, coming on time and staying until the end of class. A recent study indicates that students who attend class do better. Go figure.

Reading:

Read all plays assigned. Usually two sessions will be spent on each play. For the first session read the play; briefly outline it [in one sentence or less jot down who is in each episode and what it is about; what is the general subject of each choral song and vaguely how it relates to the action].

Note: these outlines may seem jejune at first, but this is an efficient way of seeing how a play is put together and of appreciating the point of the choral songs. In addition to the outline write down one question that occurs to you as you are reading.

For the second session, read the questions in your study guides, REREAD the play, and answer one or more of the questions in detail. This is best done as we go along, not at the last minute before your journal (see below) is collected. I will read the journals before spring break and use them to advise you about a paper topic.

Performance:

Working in teams of three to five, we will perform scenes from the plays. Stage-shy? You can be director, props-manager, member of the chorus.

Writing:

Journals: keep a journal of your outlines, answers to the questions in the study guides, questions, and observations. These journals will be collected before midterm and near the end of the term. They will give you an opportunity to experiment in your writing; the work does not have to be formal or polished. Always answer one or more of the questions in the study guides. You may also want to write down what strikes you as you are rereading the play. You will find that rereading is the real reading: the first time you are reading to see what happens; the second time you can see better what the playwright is getting at. If you feel unsure about your journal you may hand in your first entries at any time and I will tell you what is good and what could be improved.

Make a few of your entries somewhat more complete, polished, thoughtful than random notes. Include one entry on any four of the following:

the role of the chorus [in a particular play]
the use of myth [either how other myths referred to relate to the drama in question, or how the myth has been reworked in the drama]
the divine element / role of the gods [in a play or author]
violence in word or action
portrayal of time [kairos and chronos]
Greek tragedy: another dimension [what difference it makes in your understanding to see a performance: for this you will have to see one of the video films of a Greek play that are available in the FL&L dept. "Screenings" will be arranged. Oedipus (two versions), Antigone, Oedipus at Colonus, Trojan Women (all in English), Iphigenia (in modern Greek with English subtitles), Medea (in classical Greek and in English) are available.
a study guide for a play not on the syllabus or already in the study guides [outlines, questions]

The journal will count 100 points. A complete journal will include 1. outlines of the plays; 2. answers to one or more questions about each play including the four special entries.

Term Paper: Greek Tragedy in Context. Outside reading is required [see bibliographies in study guides; if you need help, please ask: how else will I know?]. Choose one play or a group of plays and write a paper 7-10 pp. putting it/them in context [literary, social, political, historical, artistic, and/or dramaturgical]; see list of possible topics (100 points). Your journals will help you in choosing a topic.

Tests

Quizzes [10-20 pts each] throughout the term usually at the beginning of the second day spent on any play (approx. 100 pts). These will be announced. The lowest score(s) can be dropped.

Midterm examination (100 pts)

Instead of a final we will have a last class session at which we will hear the term papers.

Order of Readings, lectures, discussions

January-February

Jan.11 Introduction: the Greek tragic theatre (stg. 1-8)

Jan. 13 Aeschylus, Persians (begin journal) (stg. 24-5)

Jan. 20 Aeschylus, Seven against Thebes (journal, quiz) (stg. 26-8)

Jan 25, 27 Sophocles, Antigone (quiz) Continue journal. (stg. 29-34)

Feb. 1,3 Sophocles, Oedipus the King (quiz) (stg. 35-7)

Feb. 8,10 Euripides, Phoenissae (quiz) (stg. 38) "I saw that his face looked just like mine"

Feb 17, 22 Euripides, Bacchae (stg. 39-40) "Cast your dancin’ spell my way, I promise to go under it."

Feb 24, March 1 Euripides, Alcestis (stg. 42)

March

March 3 midterm test: will include short answers, recognition of quotations, essays on general topics for comparisons. You should be able to use Persians, Seven, Antigone, Oedipus, Phoenissae, Bacchae, Alcestis.

March 8, 10 Euripides, Medea (stg. 44-5)

March 8, 10

JOURNALS DUE 8 March. I will try to help you with a topic for your term paper, based on interests shown in the journal or on the test.

15-19 March Spring Break

March 22 Aristophanes, Frogs

March 24, 29 Euripides, Hippolytus (stg. 46-7)

April-May

Aeschylus, Oresteia (stg. 50-53 and 62-4) 31 March-14 April

31 March first reading); 5 April Agamemnon second reading and quiz
7, 12 April Choephoroe (12 April: read Eumenides)
12, 14 April Eumenides finish Oresteia (possible quiz)

Sophocles, Electra 19, 21 April (22 April: read Euripides' Electra) (stg. 54-5)

21, 26 April Euripides, Electra [Orestes, if you have time] (quiz) (stg. 56-7)

28 April Sophocles, Philoktetes (stg. 58-9)

PAPERS DUE 3 May

Euripides, Iphigenia at Aulis 3, 5 May (quiz on IA and Philoktetes) (stg. 60-1)

JOURNALS DUE 5

Aristophanes Birds 5 May (if there is time)

Finals Week The class will meet for a final class session for the reading or summarizing of the papers at a time arranged.