The course proposes the study of a topical subject: the Poet from the archaic age to the hellenistic age. The topic will be discussed by means of the reading of chosen passages from poems and of Gorgias' Encomium of Helen and Isocrates' Helen.  

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

- the necessary skills to read in the original language literary works concerning the Poet in the ancient Greek society;

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

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

- the skills and the tools to face a similar study also with regard to other important writers in the acient Greek world, through a study consistent with the professional figure of the student.

In the first part of the course the students will translate and comment on some important passages concerning ancient Greek poetry: 

Iliad, 1, vv. 1-16; 2, vv. 484-498

Odissey, 1, vv. 1-10

Hesiod, Theogony, vv. 22-49; Opere e giorni, vv. 645-662

Tyrtaeus, fr. 7 Gentili-Prato

Solon, fr. 2 Gentili-Prato

Theognis, vv. 19-26

Xenophan, frr. 7, 15, 17, 18, 19 Gentili-Prato

Alcaeus, fr. 129 Voigt

Ibycus, fr. S151 Page-Davies

Simonides, frr. 542, 543 Page

Pindar, fr. 43 Maehler

Callimachus, Aitia, I, fr. 1, vv. 1-30; Giambo 13, vv. 30-33; Inno ad Apollo, vv. 105-113; Epigramma 28

Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica, 1, vv. 1-14; 3, vv. 1-10.

In the second part of the course the students will translate and comment on Gorgias' Encomium of Helen and Isocrates' Helen.

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

None.

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

Educational seminars and conferences by Italian and foreign scholars may be added to this course.

Teaching

Traditional classroom lessons and blended lessons.      

Attendance

Knowledge of Greek language is required. Active participation in the lessons is strongly advised.

Course books

The poetic texts can be found inside the Moodle platform. 

For the edition of Gorgias' Encomium of Helen: Gorgia, Encomio di Elena. Testo critico, introduzione, traduzione e note a cura di F. Donadi, L'Erma di Bretschneider, Roma 1982, oppure Gorgia, Encomio di Elena, a cura di G. Paduano, Liguori, Napoli 2007

For the edition of Isocrates' Helen: Opere di Isocrate, a cura di M. Marzi, UTET, Torino1991

For a general view of the topic is recommended the reading of one of the following texts: 

M. Detienne, I maestri di verità nella Grecia arcaica, Laterza, Roma-Bari 1983

B. Gentili, Poesia e pubblico nella Grecia antica, Da Omero al V secolo, Feltrinelli, Milano 2017 (cap. IX: ('Poeta, committente-pubblico, ovvero a norma del polipo'; cap. X: 'Attività intellettuae e condizione socio-economica')

R. Ioli, Il felice inganno. Poesia, finzione e verità nel mondo antico, Mimesis, Milano 2018

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 S. Girolamo Library.

Assessment

The oral exam will consist of questions on the arguments dealt with in the lessons and on the history of Greek literature, and on the translation and a commentary on some of the texts read and analyzed during the course. 

About the assessment:

Excellent - students who demonstrate: an excellent knowledge of ancient Greek language and literature; good critical and in-depth skills; a solid ability to connect the main issues addressed in the course; use of appropriate language for the specific discipline.

Good - students who demonstrate: a good knowledge of ancient Greek language and literature; a good knowledge of the contents, lacking however strong critical and in-depth skills; a modest ability to connect the various issues dealt with: use of appropriate language for the specific discipline.

Sufficient - students who demonstrate: a sufficient knowledge of ancient Greek language and literature; basic knowledge of the topics dealt with, despite some possible weaknesses; use of inappropriate language.

Negative - students who demonstrate: an insufficient knowledge of ancient Greek language and literature; insufficient knowledge of the topics dealt with; significant difficulties; use of inappropriate language.

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

Blended lessons.

Attendance

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

Non-attending students can contact the teacher for explanations. 

Course books

The poetic texts can be found inside the Moodle platform. 

For the edition of Gorgias' Encomium of Helen: Gorgia, Encomio di Elena. Testo critico, introduzione, traduzione e note a cura di F. Donadi, L'Erma di Bretschneider, Roma 1982, oppure Gorgia, Encomio di Elena, a cura di G. Paduano, Liguori, Napoli 2007

For the edition of Isocrates' Helen: Opere di Isocrate, a cura di M. Marzi, UTET, Torino1991

For a general view of the topic is recommended the reading of one of the following texts: 

M. Detienne, I maestri di verità nella Grecia arcaica, Laterza, Roma-Bari 1983

B. Gentili, Poesia e pubblico nella Grecia antica, Da Omero al V secolo, Feltrinelli, Milano 2017 (cap. IX: ('Poeta, committente-pubblico, ovvero a norma del polipo'; cap. X: 'Attività intellettuae e condizione socio-economica')

R. Ioli, Il felice inganno. Poesia, finzione e verità nel mondo antico, Mimesis, Milano 2018

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 S. Girolamo Library.

Assessment

The oral exam will consist of questions on the arguments dealt with in the lessons and on the history of Greek literature, and on the translation and a commentary on some of the texts read and analyzed during the course. 

About the assessment:

Excellent - students who demonstrate: an excellent knowledge of ancient Greek language and literature; good critical and in-depth skills; a solid ability to connect the main issues addressed in the course; use of appropriate language for the specific discipline.

Good - students who demonstrate: a good knowledge of ancient Greek language and literature; a good knowledge of the contents, lacking however strong critical and in-depth skills; a modest ability to connect the various issues dealt with: use of appropriate language for the specific discipline.

Sufficient - students who demonstrate: a sufficient knowledge of ancient Greek language and literature; basic knowledge of the topics dealt with, despite some possible weaknesses; use of inappropriate language.

Negative - students who demonstrate: an insufficient knowledge of ancient Greek language and literature; insufficient knowledge of the topics dealt with; significant difficulties; use of inappropriate language.

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.