Epic, history, philosophy, tragedy, comedy, lyric: invented or reinvented by the Greeks and Romans, transmitted from the ancient Mediterranean to modern world literature. Whether you are completely new to this material, or looking to connect texts already read with texts not yet read, in this course we will explore the foundations of western literature and thought. Homer and Virgil; Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides; Herodotus and Tacitus; Catullus and Ovid; Sappho, Plato and more: great authors who have been shaping great conversations for over 2000 years. Three lectures each week, team-taught by the entire faculty of the Department of Classics; twice-weekly discussion sections in which you will find out how these texts talk to each other and how they can talk to you. This course is offered every quarter (Aut, Win, Spr).
Professors Blondell, Clauss, Connors, Gowing, Hinds, Kamen, Levaniouk, Levin-Richardson, Topper and Stroup; Ms. Simas.