The course proposes the study of the epic genre in Greek literature, from the archaic age (reading of the nineth book of the IIiad), to the Hellenistic age (reading of the third book of Apollonius Rhodius' Argonautica), through the classical epic poets (Antimachus, Panyassis, Choerilus). These works have a fundamental value not only in the literary history of ancient Greece, but also in the western literature.

The goal of the course is to provide the student with:

- the necessary skills to read in the original language two exemplifying works belonging to the poetic genre under consideration;

- the skill to understand deeply the linguistic structures and, by them, the contexts, meanings and functions of the poems under consideration;

- the methodological tools to study a specific literary genre considered in its diachronic evolution;

- the skills and the tools to face a similar study also with regard to other literary genres, consistent with the professional figure of the student.

In the first part of the course (first Semester) the following arguments will be addressed:

- general introduction to epic archaic genre;

- mentioning the lesser epic cycle;

- introduction to the works attribuited to Homer;

- phases of the formation of the Iliad; the oral composition and transmission, the dialect, the context, the performance;

- reading of the hexameter, translation and textual commentary of the nineth book of the Iliad, with particular attention to the dialectical and formulaic elements and to the representation of the hero.

In the second part of the course (second semester) the following arguments will be addressed:

- the V century epic poetry, with mentioning to the works of Antimachus, Panyassis, Choerilus;

- general introduction to the composition and transmission of the literary works in the Hellenistic age;

- the role of Apollonius Rhodius in the Hellenistic age and in the history of the epic poetry;

- metrical reading, translation and commentary of the third book of Apollonius Rhodius' Argonautica, with particular attention to the linguistic and stylistic specificities and to the representation of the hero.

Students are required to learn about all subjects taught in the course; they have to show a good knowlwdge of Greek literature, of its phases and main authors, with a particular attention to the evolution of literary genres.

No bridging courses are required. 

The students will acquire the fundamental understanding of the ancient Greek literature and of the most important issues. The students must be able to translate, analyse and interpret a text. They will develop expository and argumentative skills, methodology of studying, critical autonomy in order to prepare for deeper further studies in this field.

At the end of the course the student will be acquired:

Knowledge and understanding

- Knowledge of the topics addressed during the course;

- knowledge of the main lines of literature development from the origins to the imperial age, with particular attention to the main authors and the various literary genres;

- the skill to critically orientate in the study of Greek literature in synchronous and diachronic sense.

Applying knowledge and understanding

- knowledge and understanding of specific features of the main works and the topics related to Greek literature;

- the skill to understand the original language texts by textual analysis and translation.

Making judgements

- the skill to acquire the specific knowledge in the field of the Greek language and literature in view of the elaboration of autonomous judgments.

Communication skills

- the skill to express the knowledge acquired in the field of Greek language and literature in a clear and precise way;

- the skill to argue topics and issues in this specific field of study.

Learning skills

- the skill to analyse and understand Greek texts;

- the skill to investigate literary problems concerning Greek literature;

- the skill to self-build strings of investigation and linguistic deepening. 

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

No supporting activities.

Teaching

Traditional classroom lessons and exercises.      

Attendance

Active participation in the lessons is strongly advised.

Course books

    

For the edition of Homer: D. B. Monro-T. W. Allen, (edd.), Homer. Iliad I (Books I-XII), Oxford 1963 (Oxford Classical Texts); Omero. Iliade. Introduzione e traduzione di G. Cerri. Commento di A. Gostoli, con un saggio introduttivo di W. Schadewaldt, Milano 1996 (Rizzoli), or Omero. Iliade. Traduzione di G. Paduano. Saggi introduttivi di G. Paduano e M. S. Mirto, Torino 2012 (Einaudi). For the commentary: B. Hainsworth, The Iliad: a Commentary III: Books IX-XII, Cambridge 1993 (Cambridge Univ. Press). A useful introduction to the Homeric epic: A. Ercolani, Omero. Introduzione allo studio dell’epica greca arcaica, Roma 2006 (rist. 2007) (Carocci). Choose at least two works among the following ones: B. Snell, La cultura greca e le origini del pensiero europeo, (trad. it.), Torino 19636, cap. I (‘L’uomo nella concezione di Omero’); J. Russo – B. Simon, ‘Psicologia omerica e tradizione epica orale’, in Quaderni Urbinati di Cultura Classica 12, 1971, pp. 40-61; B. Gentili, Poesia e pubblico nella Grecia antica. Da Omero al V secolo. Edizione aggiornata, Milano 2006 (Feltrinelli), cap. I: ‘Oralità e cultura arcaica’.

Edition of the text of Argonautica: Apollonio Rodio, Le Argonautiche, traduzione di Guido Paduano, Milano 1986 (Rizzoli). Choose at least two works among the following ones: M. Fusillo, Descrizione e racconto: sulla retorica dell'oggetto in Apollonio Rodio, “MD” 10-11 (1983), pp. 65-103; M. Fantuzzi, Omero autore di Apollonio Rodio: le formule introduttive al discorso diretto, “MD” 13 (1984), pp. 67-105; id., Ricerche su Apollonio Rodio. Diacronie della dizione epica, Roma 1988 (Edizioni dell'Ateneo); K. Ziegler, L’epos ellenistico: un capitolo dimenticato della poesia greca, Bari 1988 (Levante); M. Fusillo, Apollonio Rodio, in Lo spazio letterario della Grecia antica, Volume I. La produzione e la circolazione del testo. Tomo II. L'Ellenismo, Roma 1993 (Salerno Editrice), pp. 107-143; M. R. Falivene, Un'invincibile debolezza: Medea nelle Argonautiche di Apollonio Rodio, in Medea nella letteratura e nell'arte, Venezia 2000 (Marsilio), pp. 109-116; Stefano Caneva, Raccontare nel tempo. Narrazione epica e cronologia nelle Argonautiche di Apollonio Rodio, in Il lavoro sul mito nell'epica greca. Letture di Omero e di Apollonio Rodio, con una premessa di Diego Lanza, Pisa 2007 (Edizioni ETS ), pp. 67-128; M. Fantuzzi, Medea maga, la luna, l'amore (Apollonio Rodio 4,50-65), in L'epos argonautico, Atti del Convegno, Roma, 13 maggio 2004, Roma 2007 (Herder), pp. 77-95.

For the knowledge of Greek literature: a good manual, as G. Guidorizzi, La letteratura greca. Testi autori società, Milano 1996 (Mondadori Università); G. A. Privitera-R. Pretagostini, Storia e forme della letteratura greca, Milano 1997 (Einaudi Scuola); L. E. Rossi – R. Nicolai, Lezioni di letteratura greca, Firenze 2011 (Le Monnier); L. Canfora, Storia della letteratura greca, Bari 20162 (Laterza); A. Porro – W. Lapini, Letteratura greca, Bologna 2017 (Il Mulino).

The texts can be consulted at the Department’s Library. 

Assessment

The exam is in two phases: 1)  a written test, consisting of a translation and a commentary on some of the texts read and analyzed during the course; a written exam will be scheduled for each exam session; if written exam is valid, the student can take the oral exam in the same session; 2)  the oral test will consist of questions on the arguments dealt with in the lessons and on the history of Greek literature. The final grade given will be the average of the grades given in the two phases.    

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Attendance

For non-attending students: please contact the professor at least four months before the date of the exam session.

Course books

For the edition of Homer: D. B. Monro-T. W. Allen, (edd.), Homer. Iliad I (Books I-XII), Oxford 1963 (Oxford Classical Texts); Omero. Iliade. Introduzione e traduzione di G. Cerri. Commento di A. Gostoli, con un saggio introduttivo di W. Schadewaldt, Milano 1996 (Rizzoli), or Omero. Iliade. Traduzione di G. Paduano. Saggi introduttivi di G. Paduano e M. S. Mirto, Torino 2012 (Einaudi). For the commentary: B. Hainsworth, The Iliad: a Commentary III: Books IX-XII, Cambridge 1993 (Cambridge Univ. Press). A useful introduction to the Homeric epic: A. Ercolani, Omero. Introduzione allo studio dell’epica greca arcaica, Roma 2006 (rist. 2007) (Carocci). Choose at least two works among the following ones: B. Snell, La cultura greca e le origini del pensiero europeo, (trad. it.), Torino 19636, cap. I (‘L’uomo nella concezione di Omero’); J. Russo – B. Simon, ‘Psicologia omerica e tradizione epica orale’, in Quaderni Urbinati di Cultura Classica 12, 1971, pp. 40-61; B. Gentili, Poesia e pubblico nella Grecia antica. Da Omero al V secolo. Edizione aggiornata, Milano 2006 (Feltrinelli), cap. I: ‘Oralità e cultura arcaica’.

Edition of the text of Argonautica: Apollonio Rodio, Le Argonautiche, traduzione di Guido Paduano, Milano 1986 (Rizzoli). Choose at least two works among the following ones: M. Fusillo, Descrizione e racconto: sulla retorica dell'oggetto in Apollonio Rodio, “MD” 10-11 (1983), pp. 65-103; M. Fantuzzi, Omero autore di Apollonio Rodio: le formule introduttive al discorso diretto, “MD” 13 (1984), pp. 67-105; id., Ricerche su Apollonio Rodio. Diacronie della dizione epica, Roma 1988 (Edizioni dell'Ateneo); K. Ziegler, L’epos ellenistico: un capitolo dimenticato della poesia greca, Bari 1988 (Levante); M. Fusillo, Apollonio Rodio, in Lo spazio letterario della Grecia antica, Volume I. La produzione e la circolazione del testo. Tomo II. L'Ellenismo, Roma 1993 (Salerno Editrice), pp. 107-143; M. R. Falivene, Un'invincibile debolezza: Medea nelle Argonautiche di Apollonio Rodio, in Medea nella letteratura e nell'arte, Venezia 2000 (Marsilio), pp. 109-116; Stefano Caneva, Raccontare nel tempo. Narrazione epica e cronologia nelle Argonautiche di Apollonio Rodio, in Il lavoro sul mito nell'epica greca. Letture di Omero e di Apollonio Rodio, con una premessa di Diego Lanza, Pisa 2007 (Edizioni ETS ), pp. 67-128; M. Fantuzzi, Medea maga, la luna, l'amore (Apollonio Rodio 4,50-65), in L'epos argonautico, Atti del Convegno, Roma, 13 maggio 2004, Roma 2007 (Herder), pp. 77-95.

For the knowledge of Greek literature: a good manual, as G. Guidorizzi, La letteratura greca. Testi autori società, Milano 1996 (Mondadori Università); G. A. Privitera-R. Pretagostini, Storia e forme della letteratura greca, Milano 1997 (Einaudi Scuola)); L. E. Rossi – R. Nicolai, Lezioni di letteratura greca, Firenze 2011 (Le Monnier); L. Canfora, Storia della letteratura greca, Bari 20162 (Laterza); A. Porro – W. Lapini, Letteratura greca, Bologna 2017 (Il Mulino).

The texts can be consulted at the Department’s Library.

Assessment

The exam is in two phases: 1)  a written test, consisting of a translation and a comment on some of the texts read and analyzed during the course; a written exam will be scheduled for each exam session; if written exam is valid, the student can take the oral exam in the same session; 2)  the oral test will consist of questions on the arguments dealt with in the lessons and on the history of Greek literature. The final grade given will be the average of the grades given in the two phases.    

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.