The student will acquire the basic information on the material and structural aspects of ancient theatre (actor, chorus, material organization of the representation, agonistic occasion, scenic space, public) and the story of the transmission of the dramatic texts from the "first" performance to us.

Through the reading from the original language of Euripide's Medea, the student will learn to understand a classical dramatic text in its linguistic, metrical-musical, thematic, historical-literary aspects, and its theatrical dynamics.

The course will begin (I-III week) from a general introduction to the Attic theatre, to its historical-evolutionary (from the initial stages to the time of maturity), and historical-cultural (society, historical events) aspects as well as to its material (the form of the theatrical building, the mask, the actors) and dramaturgical (scenic space, theatrical machines, roles and movements on the scene) aspect.

It will continue (IV week) illustrating the figure and work of Euripides, whose tragedy will be the specific object of reading and analysis.

The remaining part of the course (V-IX week) will be entirely devoted to the original language reading of the Medea, whose text will be translated and commented in a critical-textual, historical-literary perspective, as well as in terms of plot and dramaturgy. The iambic trimeterwill be introduced and illustrated, with reading exercises, and some notes will be given about the structure of the lyrical sections.

The student is expected to have a sure knowledge of the Greek language.

The student will be guided to an essential knowledge of Classical Greek theatre, and to the ability to independently read a classical theatrical text with the complexity it presents.

From the point of view of the information obtained, the student will acquire an in-depth knowledge of issues relating to the transmission of the text (through a careful reading of the critical apparatus and of the transmitted lectiones), its performance and representation on the stage, the treatment of the plot in relation to the mythographical tradition.

More generally, the process of analytical reading of the chosen text will have important consequences on the student's ability to deal proficiently with independent, rigorous reading of every kind of source (literary, historiographical, etc.), and to develop analytical skills of close reading, synthesis and critical thinking on the data and sources.

From the educational point of view, the student will deepen their awareness of specific methodological aspects characterizing literary research and, in particular, his/her dramatic and aesthetic sensitivity to the formal aspects of the poetic and rhetorical and, namely, theatrical discourse.

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

The course maight be complemented by seminars and conferences methodologically relevant to the training and to matters relating to methods and themes concerning ancient Greek Theatre.

Teaching

Frontal lessons.

Attendance

The attendance of the course and any supplementary seminars is strongly recommended.

Course books

The reference edition for the Greek text covered in the course will be:

Euripidis Fabulae I, J. Diggle (ed.), Oxford 1984

The student is required to read the sections on the attic theater (including the sections on comedy and tragedy, from the fifth century to the age of Menander) in one of the following manuals:

L.E. Rossi (Firenze, Le Monnier, 1995)

G.A. Privitera - R. Pretagostini (Torino, Einaudi, 1997)

F. Montanari (Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1998)

A. Porro - W. Lapini (Bologna, Il Mulino, 2017)

As far as the knowledge of the material aspects of the ancient theater is concerned, he will consult

G. Mastromarco, P. Totaro, History of the Greek Theater, Florence 2008

or

 A. Pickard-Cambridge, The dramatic festivals of Athens, Second edition (1968) revised with a new Supplement (1988) by John Gould and D. M. Lewis

The student will also read one of the following essays:

- Medea nella letteratura e nell’arte, a cura di Bruno Gentili e Franca Perusino, Marsilio, Venezia 2000

- Medea Contemporanea (Lars von Triar, Christa Wolf, scrittori balcanici), a cura di Margherita Rubino e Chiara Degregori, Pubblicazioni DARFICLET, Genova 2000

Finally, in the english translation (in one of the editions with bilingual text currently available), all the following theatrical works:

Euripide, Helena

Euripide, Alcestis

Aristofane, Lysistrata

Assessment

Oral exam.

The aim of the test is to check knowledge of the history of Greek theatre (authors, works, chronological aspects), Greek theatre in its historical context (social framework, socio-political context, ritual context), historical-literary aspects (treatment of myth, comparison with other coeve plays), its functioning (theater building, actors, stage roles, stage machines, music, dramaturgy).

It also intends to ascertain the linguistic competence of the students, and their acquired ability to translate and interpret a dramatic text in the original language. Particular attention will be paid to this aspect of the test.

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.

Teaching

There are no teaching methods in e-learning.

Attendance

The student is requires to carefully observe the program indicated in the vademecum.

In case of specific needs, which require a variation of the indicated program, the student should contact the teacher to arrange an alternative program.

Course books

The reference edition for the Greek text covered in the course will be:

Euripidis Fabulae I, J. Diggle (ed.), Oxford 1984

The student is required to read the sections on the attic theater (including the sections on comedy and tragedy, from the fifth century to the age of Menander) in one of the following manuals:

L.E. Rossi (Firenze, Le Monnier, 1995)

G.A. Privitera - R. Pretagostini (Torino, Einaudi, 1997)

F. Montanari (Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1998)

A. Porro - W. Lapini (Bologna, Il Mulino, 2017)

As far as the knowledge of the material aspects of the ancient theater is concerned, he will consult

G. Mastromarco, P. Totaro, History of the Greek Theater, Florence 2008

or

 A. Pickard-Cambridge, The dramatic festivals of Athens, Second edition (1968) revised with a new Supplement (1988) by John Gould and D. M. Lewis

The student will also read one of the following essays:

- Medea nella letteratura e nell’arte, a cura di Bruno Gentili e Franca Perusino, Marsilio, Venezia 2000

- Medea Contemporanea (Lars von Triar, Christa Wolf, scrittori balcanici), a cura di Margherita Rubino e Chiara Degregori, Pubblicazioni DARFICLET, Genova 2000

In the english translation (in one of the editions with bilingual text currently available), the student will read all the following theatrical works:

Euripide, Helena

Euripide, Alcestis

Aristofane, Lysistrata

The non-attending student is also required to read the manual of R. Pierini, R. Tosi, Capire il greco, Bologna 2014.

Assessment

Oral exam.

The aim of the test is to check knowledge of the history of Greek theatre (authors, works, chronological aspects), Greek theatre in its historical context (social framework, socio-political context, ritual context), historical-literary aspects (treatment of myth, comparison with other coeve plays), its functioning (theater building, actors, stage roles, stage machines, music, dramaturgy).

It also intends to ascertain the linguistic competence of the students, and their acquired ability to translate and interpret a dramatic text in the original language. Particular attention will be paid to this aspect of the test.

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.

Further useful bibliography might be indicated by the teacher during the lessons.