Kirk Ormand

CLAS 210:  Greek and Roman Mythology

King 105a; x8392

 

Office Hours: 

Spring, 2002

 

Purpose:  This course will introduce you to a few of the vast number of stories included under the broad category of Greek and Latin Myth. Along the way, we will ponder deep questions, such as:  What is a myth?  What do myths do?  How should we read them?  And how do they operate in our modern world?  To this end we will be reading several short essays by R. Barthes in addition to the myths themselves, and using the collection at the Allen Art Museum.

 

Grading:  Your grade will be based on 3 very short papers and two exams.  Exams will cover lecture material as well as readings on the syllabus. Failure to complete any of the papers or exams will result in a grade of NC in the course.

 

Late Papers: Unless arrangements are made before a paper is due, late papers will be graded down 1/3 letter grade for each day late. Of course, in the case of a legitimate medical excuse, family emergency, etc., the above does not apply.  Simply speak to me as soon as possible, and we will make arrangements. 

 

Attendance:  For the duration of this semester and for the purposes of this class, we are a community of scholars.  Please plan to attend every class session.  If you miss class, it is your responsibility (not mine) to find out what you missed.

 

Academic Honesty:  In the unlikely event that a student is found to have engaged in academic dishonesty (cheating, helping other students to cheat, plagiarism) he/she will be reported to the Honor Board.  If any student is unclear as to what may be considered plagiarism, cheating, etc., she/he should speak to me about it.

 

Texts:

Tripp or Grimal, E.:  Meridian Handbook of Classical Mythology

Hesiod:  Theogony (trans Caldwell)

Athanassakis:  The Homeric Hymns

Grene & Lattimore:  The Greek Tragedies, V. I

Euripides:  Ten Plays by Euripides (trans. Hadas)

Ovid:  Metamorphoses (trans. Melville)

Apollonius:  Jason and the Golden Fleece

Livy: Early History of Rome

Barthes:  Mythologies (trans Lavers)

 

Schedule of Readings – Updated March 20

 

Feb. 5

Syllabus and texts; Expectations; Introduction to Mythology; Pretty Pictures

 

Background:  The Gods, and some stories about them

7

Tripp or Grimal, Zeus, Hera, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Hermes, Aphrodite

Ovid,  14-18 (Apollo and Daphne), 18-23 (Io), 36-40 (Callisto),49-50 (Europa), 55-58 (Diana and Acteon)

Feb. 8

Extra credit for attending part of the Marathon reading of Virgil

12

Athanassakis (trans), Homeric Hymns to Apollo (pp.15-30, 63) ,Homeric Hymns to Aphrodite (pp. 47-56, 59)

Tripp or Grimal, Adonis

Barthes, “The Blue Guide”, “Blind and Dumb Criticism”

14

Athannassakis, Homeric Hymn to Hermes (pp. 31-46) and all the Hymns to Hestia (pp. 64, 67)

 

Creating the World

19

Hesiod, Theogony pp. 29-63

Ovid, 1-14 (Creation, Flood, Deucalion and Pyrrha)

21

Hesiod, Theogony, pp. 64-83

26

Introduction to Freud:

  • Caldwell, essay on Theogony (pp.85-100)
  • Excerpt from Herodotus’ Histories – the Dream of Hippias (on E-res)

28

Zeus and Prometheus revisited: Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound

 

Heroes

March 5

A structuralist reading of Heroes:

  • Tripp or Grimal, Heracles, Achilles, Perseus, Odysseus, Theseus
  • Barthes, “The Brain of Einstein”

Paper #1 Due

7

The Adventurer: Jason 1

  • Tripp or Grimal, Jason
  • Apollonius’ Argonautica, Bk. III

12

The Adventure continues:

  • Apollonius’ Argonautica, Bk. IV
  • Barthes, “Operation Margerine”

14

The Hero comes Home: Jason 2

  • Euripides’ Medea
  • Barthes, “The Writer on Holiday”

18

Special Showing of Jason and the Argonauts in King 306, 8:30 pm

19

The End of Jason:

  • Discuss Jason and the Argonauts
  • Ovid, pp. 144-156 (Jason)

21

Mid-term Exam (In Class)

March 23- April 1 Spring Break

 

Myths about Gender, Women, and the Family

April 2

Creating Gender:

  • Hesiod, Theogony pp. 58-63,  Excerpt from Works and Days (in your edition of the Theogony), pp. 101-106
  • Greek Tragedies, Antigone
  • Barthes, “Striptease”

4

What women do:

  • Athanassakis, Homeric Hymn to Demeter

April 8

Extra Credit for attendance at David Halperin’s Lecture

9

Bending Gender:

  • Ovid, 61-66 (Narcissus and Echo), 83-86 (Salamacis and Hermaphroditus), 220-224 (Iphis and Ianthe), 279-290 (Caenis)
  • Euripides, Alcestis

 

11

The problem of Sex:

  • Euripides’ Hippolytus
  • Tripp or Grimal, Hippolyte, Hippolytus
  • Ovid, 366-68 (Hippolytus)

Paper #2 Due

16

Family problems at Thebes:

  • Tripp or Grimal, Oedipus, Laius, Jocasta
  • Greek Tragedies, Oedipus the King
  • Barthes, “The Great Family of Man”

 

The Creation of Athens

18

Meet in the Allen art museum – tour of some post-classical works.

  • Tripp or Grimal, Cecrops, Erechtheus, Erichthonius
  • Ovid, 46-49 (Aglauros)

23

Family Problems in Athens:

  • N. Loraux, “The Children of Athena” on E-res
  • Tripp or Grimal, Cecrops, Erechtheus, Erichthonius
  • Ovid, 46-49 (Aglauros)

25

Autochthony Reconsidered:

  • Euripides’ Ion

 

Some Particularly Roman Myths

30

Rome: 

  • Barthes, “The Romans in Film”
  • Livy, pp. 35-63

Paper #3 Due!

May 2

The foundation continues:

  • Livy, 63-101.

7

Ovid, pp. 314-348 (Aeneas, Pomona and Vertumnus)

9

Ovid, 349-353, 366-379

??

In-class Final Exam