The course proposes the study of the concept of justice through the reading of passages and of two entire works from the archaic and classical literature. 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 literary works concerning the concept of justice in the ancient Greek society;

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

- the methodological tools to study a specific political and social concept considered in its diachronic evolution;

- the skills and the tools to face a similar study also with regard to other important concepts of the Greek context expressed by literary works, through a study consistent with the professional figure of the student.

In the first part of the course (first Semester) the students will translate and comment on some important passages concerning the concept of justice, from epic (Homer, Hesiod), elegy (Tyrtaeus, Solon, Theognis), tragedy (Sophocles, Antigone; Euripides, Hecube). These passages testify the origin and the evolution of the concept and of the practice of justice from Homer to the fifth century. The students will translate and comment on Aristophanes' "Wasps" analysing it from metric, linguistic and literary points of view.

In the second part of the course (second semester) the students will translate and comment on some important philosophical passages concerning the concept of justice (Plato, "Republic", "Laws"; Aristotle, "Politics", "Nicomachean Ethics") and on the Demosthenic speech " "The betrayed Legation", particularly from the rhetorical point of view. 

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 Aristophanes' "Wasps": Z. B. Biles, S. D. Olson, Aristophanes. Wasps, Oxford 2015 (Oxford Unversity Press); for the translation: Commedie di Aristofane I, a cura di G. Mastromarco, Torino 2007 (UTET) or Aristofane. Le Vespe. Introduzione di G. Paduano. Traduzione, apparati e commento di E. Fabbro, Milano 2012 (BUR). For  the biography and works of Aristophanes: G. Mastromarco, Introduzione a Aristofane, Roma-Bari 1994 (Laterza).

For the edition of Demosthenes' "The betrayed Legation": C. Fuhr (ed.), Demosthenis Orationes I 3, Lipsiae 1914 (Teubner); for the translation: Discorsi e Lettere di Demostene II 1, a cura di L. Canfora et alii, Torino 2000 (UTET); at pages 217-257 of this volume is a useful introduction to the speech. For the practice of rhetoric in the court in classical Athens: L. Canfora, 'L'Agorà: il discorso suasorio', in  G. Cambiano, L. Canfora, D. Lanza (edd.), Lo spazio letterario della Grecia antica I. Tomo I: La Polis, Roma 1992 (Salerno Ed.), pp. 379-395. A summary of the ancient rhetoric is in A. Plebe, Breve storia della retorica antica, Bari 1996.

It is also recommended: C. Bearzot, La giustizia nella Grecia antica, Roma 2008 (Carocci), which deals with the evolution of the concept of justice from archaic to hellenistic age.

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

The programm for non-attending students is the same as for attending students.  

Course books

For the edition of Aristophanes' "Wasps": Z. B. Biles, S. D. Olson, Aristophanes. Wasps, Oxford 2015 (Oxford Unversity Press); for the translation: Commedie di Aristofane I, a cura di G. Mastromarco, Torino 2007 (UTET) or Aristofane. Le Vespe. Introduzione di G. Paduano. Traduzione, apparati e commento di E. Fabbro, Milano 2012 (BUR). For  the biography and works of Aristophanes: G. Mastromarco, Introduzione a Aristofane, Roma-Bari 1994 (Laterza).

For the edition of Demosthenes' "The betrayed Legation": C. Fuhr (ed.), Demosthenis Orationes I 3, Lipsiae 1914 (Teubner); for the translation: Discorsi e Lettere di Demostene II 1, a cura di L. Canfora et alii, Torino 2000 (UTET); at pages 217-257 of this volume is a useful introduction to the speech. For the practice of rhetoric in the court in classical Athens: L. Canfora, 'L'Agorà: il discorso suasorio', in  G. Cambiano, L. Canfora, D. Lanza (edd.), Lo spazio letterario della Grecia antica I. Tomo I: La Polis, Roma 1992 (Salerno Ed.), pp. 379-395. A summary of the ancient rhetoric is in A. Plebe, Breve storia della retorica antica, Bari 1996.

It is also recommended: C. Bearzot, La giustizia nella Grecia antica, Roma 2008 (Carocci), which deals with the evolution of the concept of justice from archaic to hellenistic age.

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.